Many pools use sand filters to clean the water. Basically your pool pump pulls the pool water through the sand so that tiny dirt and debris gets filtered by the sand as the water moves through.
A cool thing about this setup is that you can leverage your pool pump to provide the suction and filtering that you need to vacuum out debris in your pool.
To manually vacuum a pool with a sand filter, you need a pool vacuum head that will connect it to your pool’s skimmer. The skimmer is connected to the pool’s filter pump and any debris and dirt will end up in the skimmer basket which you will have to drain at the end.
Whether you have an in-ground pool or an above-ground pool, it is important to be on top of your pool upkeep. In this article, I will give you a detailed guide on how to vacuum your pool with a sand filter to keep your pool clean.
How To Vacuum Pool With Sand Filter
Keeping your pool clean is important if you want to keep using it. There are health risks if a swimming pool is not maintained for a long time as it can be a breeding ground for bacteria that can make you sick. Debris that falls into your pool can also cause health issues and physical injuries so it’s best to vacuum your pool at least once a week to keep it clean.
There are several pieces of pool equipment you need to clean your pool:
- Vacuum hose
- Vacuum head
- Skimmer vacuum plate (should fit snugly in the pool skimmer)
- Pool vacuum pole or telescopic pole
- Skimmer net
- Pool brush
Steps to vacuum a pool with a sand filter:
- Remove any large leaves or debris
Before you do any vacuuming, prepare your pool first by removing any large leaves or debris in it. You can use a skimmer net attached to a pool pole to remove any leaves or debris before you vacuum your pool. This will prevent large leaves and other debris from getting lodged inside your pool’s filter.
If you do not have a skimmer net, you can use a regular rake to remove any leaves from the pool. But, you have to use a net if there are rocks and other debris that a rake can’t catch. Investing in a skimmer net is a good idea since you will most likely use it all the time.
You can also use a pool brush to scrub down the floor and walls of the pool. Let the dirt settle down before you vacuum your pool.
- Check if the filter has been backwashed
Backwashing the filter before vacuuming your pool is optional but, if your pool is dirty, you want to check anyway. Backwashing the filter will reverse the flow of water and dislodge any trapped dirt and debris in your filter.
Extend the filter’s backwash hose if it has one and switch off the filter system (if it is on). Turn the multivalve port handle to the “backwash” filter then switch the system on again. This will start the backwashing process.
Wait until the water in the filter system’s sight glass clears out then switch off the filter system. After that, turn the handle to “rinse”, then switch the filter on again. Let the filter rinse for about a minute then switch off the filter. Turn the handle back into the “filter” setting, then set up your pool vacuum.
Make sure the filter system is switched off before turning the handle to change the filter setting.
- Set up the pool vacuum
Make sure you have a pool pole, vacuum head, vacuum hose, and a skimmer vacuum plate. A skimmer vac plate allows the skimmer to catch any debris before it can enter your plumbing system or the pool pump strainer basket.
To set up your pool vacuum, connect the swivel end of the vacuum hose to the vac head and the other end to the skimmer vac plate. Submerge the hose with the skimmer vacuum plate end in water and let the hose fill with water to remove any air inside the hose. To check which the swivel end is, rotate the hose’s cuffs and see which one rotates 360 degrees, that is the swivel end.
Cover the skimmer vac plate’s opening with the palm of your hand to keep the water in and air out and place the plate to the skimmer. If you have two skimmers, insert the skimmer vacuum in the skimmer nearest the filter system.
Once the hose is attached to the pool vacuum head and skimmer, attach the vacuum head to the pool pole then place the vac head in the pool.
- Switch the filter system on
After you’ve set up your pool vacuum, make sure the filter system is on the “filter” setting then switch on the filter system.
Adjust the valve settings before you start vacuuming the pool. If you have multiple skimmers, leave the skimmer valve (where you attached the skimmer vac plate) on, then switch off the other skimmer valves. Switch the main valve off or leave it 3/4 off, depending on what gives you the best suction.
Now, you are ready to vacuum the pool.
- Vacuum the pool
Start vacuuming your swimming pool gently so as not to disturb the dust and dirt on the bottom of the pool. Work your way around the pool making sure you vacuum all the dirt and debris. If the dirt and debris float at some point, you will have to wait until they settle on the pool’s floor before you can vacuum them again.
After you are done vacuuming the pool, switch the filter system off, remove the vacuum from the pool, and remove the vacuum hose from the vacuum head and skimmer.
- Empty the skimmer basket
Take out the skimmer vacuum plate and take the skimmer basket out. Drain any debris left and put the skimmer basket back then put the skimmer cover back.
- Backwash the filter
Backwash the filter again, especially if there was a. lot of dirt in your pool.
Turn the handle of the multiport valve to “backwash” and switch the filter system on again. Backwash the filter until the water in the sight glass is clear. Once the water is clear, switch the filter off, turn the handle to “rinse”, switch the filter on, and let the filter rinse for about 1 minute.
Switch the filter off after it is done rinsing then set the filter’s mode to “filter” and then switch the filter system back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What setting do I put my sand filter on to vacuum my pool?
Put the sand filter setting to “filter” unless you are vacuuming to waste. If you are vacuuming to waste, place the filter in the “waste” setting. This will pump the dirt and debris through the backwash line instead of the pool’s filter.
Why is my pool bottom dirty after vacuuming?
As time goes by, the sand in the filter system breaks down into smaller particles and it gets into the pool. This turns the pool water dirty or murky. Replace the sand in your filter if this happens as old sand can lose its ability to filter the pool’s water.
Can you vacuum algae from the bottom of the pool?
Yes, you can. You need to set the filter setting to “waste” so that the algae can bypass the filter. Using the “filter” setting when vacuuming algae can cause your filter to be contaminated and the pool will not clear up.
For algae problems, you need to shock your pool and chemically treat the cartridge filters to remove algae completely.
Final Thoughts
Having a pool is fun, especially during the summer season when it gets super hot. But, maintaining a pool can be hard if you do not know what you are doing or do not have the right equipment. Whether you have an above-ground or inground swimming pool, it is best to maintain your pool regularly.
This article talked about a detailed guide on how to vacuum swimming pools with sand filters. Hopefully, this helped you be on top of your pool maintenance to keep your pool sparkly, clean, and ready to use.
