Skim Vac Question

[rcasper05]

I'm about a month into pool ownership and have been manually vacuuming my pool based off of the questionable instructions from a YouTube video. They removed the skimmer basket and stuck the hose directly into the skimmer, which I did as well until I had a eureka moment thinking "wait where is all of this going". I have no trees in the yard, and its a really small pool so there has been minimal large debris being vacuumed up. I'm thinking no damage done being that its only happened a few times. But I'm just glad I realized that now.

I've looked at skim vac plates, but I'm struggling to figure out what model skimmer I have. It's a Latham pool, and the box says Latham on it but I can't find a serial number. The only skim vac plates that comes up when I search "Latham" with it are $60-$70, while I'm seeing others online for $15. Anyone know if a skim vac plate like from another company like Hayward could potentially work? Also, do these things even work? I'm struggling to imagine that I'd get much suction with the hose being attached above the skimmer basket. Plus, 90% of what I vacuum up is tiny black specs from my new roof. These would end up going right through the basket anyway, but sending that through the pump make me a bit worried

Should I look into something like a Pool Blaster that has its own catch? The pool is only 9k gallons, so I can't justify $500 plus on a robot.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jimrahbe]

05,

I am not sure how a skimmer vac plate would help???

Seems to me you need some type of in-line filter like the following..

Amazon.com

That said, I use a robot cleaner and don't have much experience with manual vacuuming.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[DrewLG]

90% of what I vacuum up is tiny black specs from my new roof. These would end up going right through the basket anyway, but sending that through the pump make me a bit worried

Hairnets in your skimmer basket will keep small debris out of your pump and filter. I use these; they work great for regular skimming action and I expect that they'll work fine with your vacuum, too: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PSFDT6W

They only cost 10 cents each, so they're disposable.

 

[1poolman1]

I'm about a month into pool ownership and have been manually vacuuming my pool based off of the questionable instructions from a YouTube video. They removed the skimmer basket and stuck the hose directly into the skimmer, which I did as well until I had a eureka moment thinking "wait where is all of this going". I have no trees in the yard, and its a really small pool so there has been minimal large debris being vacuumed up. I'm thinking no damage done being that its only happened a few times. But I'm just glad I realized that now.

I've looked at skim vac plates, but I'm struggling to figure out what model skimmer I have. It's a Latham pool, and the box says Latham on it but I can't find a serial number. The only skim vac plates that comes up when I search "Latham" with it are $60-$70, while I'm seeing others online for $15. Anyone know if a skim vac plate like from another company like Hayward could potentially work? Also, do these things even work? I'm struggling to imagine that I'd get much suction with the hose being attached above the skimmer basket. Plus, 90% of what I vacuum up is tiny black specs from my new roof. These would end up going right through the basket anyway, but sending that through the pump make me a bit worried

Should I look into something like a Pool Blaster that has its own catch? The pool is only 9k gallons, so I can't justify $500 plus on a robot.

Thanks in advance!

Unless you are vacuuming gravel through the pump, what you have been doing through the skimmer is what has been done "forever" with pools with no issues, especially with modern pumps. Just don't go after larger items like leaves or you will find that you can clog the plumbing quite easily.