Why I can't use this vacuum?

[KrisIL]

Why I can't use this vacuum for above ground pool? Will it tear my liner? Bottom of my pool has wrinkles and it's really hard to use regular vacuum with brushes. This kind will really help me enjoy the cleaning. Are the companies saying you can't use it on vinyl pools just in case? Please tell me I can use it.
HDX HDX Pro Flexible Vacuum-67310 - The Home Depot

 

[pabeader]

I think it's because the liner mightl get sucked up to the vac head. At least that's what I thought when I went looking for different heads. My pool is fiberglass, so no problem for me. But I think I would worry about vinyl.

 

[KrisIL]

I think it's because the liner mightl get sucked up to the vac head. At least that's what I thought when I went looking for different heads. My pool is fiberglass, so no problem for me. But I think I would worry about vinyl.

I don't think this is the reason. There is 23,000 gallons of water on the vinyl. So much pressure on it that I don't think this will happen. Also most of the vacuums for above ground pools use same concept but instead of wheels they just suck along the linear. Like this one

 

[cfherrman]

Volume does not matter, it's height. Pool A with 1 million gallons at 36" height and pool b with 5,000 gallons and 48" of height, pool B has more weight on the liner. At 52" there is less than 2 psi on the liner

 

[KrisIL]

Volume does not matter, it's height. Pool A with 1 million gallons at 36" height and pool b with 5,000 gallons and 48" of height, pool B has more weight on the liner. At 52" there is less than 2 psi on the liner

Yes and this is about 290lbs per square foot. I don't think the vacuum will have that much power to suck the liner in.

 

[pabeader]

Okay, so what about thinking it the other way? Maybe the vac head will suck down to the liner and then there's a chance it could damage it?

 

[KrisIL]

Okay, so what about thinking it the other way? Maybe the vac head will suck down to the liner and then there's a chance it could damage it?

But most of the vacuums (for plaster or liner pools) are designed to work the same. For example:
This cleaner Jet.com - Prices Drop As You Shop is allowed to be used in above ground pools with liner.
But the one above not. Still both of them are designed so they connect to your pool pump. So same suction power from both of them. Both have wheels and both hit the walls and drive around the pool.

 

[cfherrman]

Yes and this is about 290lbs per square foot. I don't think the vacuum will have that much power to suck the liner in.

How much in/mg does the pump suck? The vac might spread it out over the whole vac or just is one spot. If it's close to one spot 2 psi is not hard to overcome in the 1 1/2 diameter tube.

I am not saying it's fine or not, just there is a little more to think about.

 

[KrisIL]

How much in/mg does the pump suck? The vac might spread it out over the whole vac or just is one spot. If it's close to one spot 2 psi is not hard to overcome in the 1 1/2 diameter tube.

I am not saying it's fine or not, just there is a little more to think about.

Look at this one Aquabot Mamba Pool Cleaner by AquaProducts . It sucks with one single hole on the bottom. Still safe on vinyl pools. I still think the liner is not going to get sucked in.

 

[CJadamec]

The wheels on the one from Home Depot are the risk for your vinyl. There are too many edges which could rip and tear the vinyl. Even the expensive robots that people buy for 500+ can wear a hole in a vinyl liner. Have you tried something like the Aquabot mamba? Something like that should be able to navigate over some wrinkles in the liner and should be gentle on your liner.

As for the liner getting sucked in to a tube yes pretty much any pool pump is capable of sucking a hole in a liner. You have both the negative pressure generated by the pump as well as the force of the water and the atmosphere trying to push the liner into the hose. You would have to pretty much take the suction hose off the brush head and place it directly on the liner for that to happen though.

 

[KrisIL]

You would have to pretty much take the suction hose off the brush head and place it directly on the liner for that to happen though.

I definitely agree with this.
I tried something similar to Aquabot mamba and it always get stuck in the stream of water coming out of the outlet. No matter which way I point the outlet, as soon as it get to the stream it will stay there. Maybe I was doing something wrong , don't know. Gave up after one season.
Also about the wheels. There is a lot of cleaners out there that are made specifically for vinyl liner pools and they have plastic hard wheels which I think will damage the linear quicker. I would like to buy this one https://www.amazon.com/PoolSupplyTown-Heavy-Duty-Professional-Grade-Flexible-Professionals/dp/B001BQGMBI/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_86_tr_t_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=7CRP1BNK5R04PGYQ7C06 instead of the one from homedepot. Homedepot version has plastic wheels , the one from amazon has urethane wheels

 

[Richard320]

If that head gets sucked down to the bottom -- and it will, it happens to me in my paster pool all the time -- the wheels could dent whatever's beneath the liner. And then you'll forever have nice divots to catch dust. Just buy a vinyl vacuu, It's got the brush attached HDX Pro Vinyl Liner Vacuum-67311 - The Home Depot

 

[CJadamec]

The brush that Richard linked to is what I have and I use it to get all the stuff the creepy crawly lil shark doesn't get.

 

[KrisIL]

Do you guys know if it work good on wrinkled bottom?

 

[Richard320]

Do you guys know if it work good on wrinkled bottom?

Sorry, no. No wrinkles in my plaster.

 

[KrisIL]

The problem is I have some nasty wrinkles on my bottom vinyl. When I drag over the brush it will catch on the wrinkle and swivel up. Same thing is I push it. It will get stock on the wrinkle and just gave me hard time. That is why I'm trying to find something with wheels.

 

[CJadamec]

I don't have any significant wrinkles in my liner but if I do push to fast the vacuum head will flip around. A lot of times when I get tired of using the pole I swim with the vacuum head on the hose sucking up everything I see in the pool. Call me crazy but I find that super peaceful.

Personally I wouldn't put one of those roller heads on my liner out of fear of the rollers hurting it. Someone else who has used one might have a different opinion tho. Have you tried to smooth the wrinkles out?

 

[KrisIL]

I don't have any significant wrinkles in my liner but if I do push to fast the vacuum head will flip around. A lot of times when I get tired of using the pole I swim with the vacuum head on the hose sucking up everything I see in the pool. Call me crazy but I find that super peaceful.

Personally I wouldn't put one of those roller heads on my liner out of fear of the rollers hurting it. Someone else who has used one might have a different opinion tho. Have you tried to smooth the wrinkles out?

I did. No luck. Richard actually has a good point. If the suction is pretty strong rollers might dig into the liner and leave grooves in it because of the sand under. Probably this is the reason why you can't use it in the above ground pool with liner.