How To Vacuum A Pool (Manually)

If you need to vacuum a pool, for any reason, keep reading. This guide should answer your questions and make the process a cakewalk.

Why Vacuum your Pool?

Why not vacuum your pool? It’s just like vacuuming the carpet in your house. Keeps it clean and gets rid of any debris that has settled. And it helps prevent mold, which is pretty much the indoor equivalent to pool algae. But we digress.

Here a few specific circumstances where you would want to vacuum your pool.

-As part of an effective pool care schedule

-To clean up after an algae treatment

-To remove any tough or heavy debris on the pool floor (prevent that with these powerful pool care tips)

What you need

-Vacuum head/vac head

-Telescopic pole for vac head

-Vacuum hose (long enough to cover the full length of your pool, and then some)

*These items can usually be purchased together as a manual vacuum system. Check your local pool supply store.

Optional: Skim vac or vacuum plate

If you’re trying to figure out how to vacuum an above ground pool, you can still follow most of these same steps. Skipping whatever doesn’t apply.
The most important parts here are your skimmer, filter system, and vacuum.

Before you begin

Make sure that your filter system is working correctly. And of course, that it’s clean.

And if you’re wondering how to vacuum a pool with a cartridge filter, or how to vacuum a pool with a sand filter, you’re in luck! The process is exactly the same, aside from making sure the filter is clean.

Here’s a list of resources that should help you if you come across any problems:

Filter System

How to Troubleshoot Your Pool Pump

Cleaning your filter

How to Replace Pool Filter Sand

How to Replace Your Pool Cartridge Filter

Now without any further ado, here’s the part you’ve really been waiting for:

How to Vacuum a Pool

Here’s how to manually vacuum your pool:

1.) Grab your telescopic pole and firmly attach it to the vacuum head 

• Make sure it’s a snug fit, and that the pole clicks into place

2.) Take your hose and attach it to the plastic outlet on the vacuum head

• If the hose moves around or slides, you may want to use a hose clamp to ensure a tight grip

3.) With your hose and telescopic pole attached, lower the vacuum into the pool

• Keep lowering  the vacuum until the head rests on the pool floor

4.) Before you put the vacuum in the water, walk over to your skimmer and remove
the basket

• This will save you time during a later step

5.) Next, grab the free end of your hose and press it against a return jet to clear the line

• This fills the hose with water while pushing out any air that’s lingering. Allowing for full suction power
• Do this until you see bubbles rise flow out of the vacuum head at the bottom of the pool

6.) Grab the free end of the hose and cover it with your hand

• This will stop the water from flowing out and prevent air from entering

7.) Walk over to your skimmer and firmly attach the free end of the hose
to the suction hole at the bottom

IMPORTANT: Run the free end of your hose through the skimmer door opening in your pool to connect it to the suction hole.
Avoid pulling the hose out of the water and into the suction hole, as this creates a pocket of air in the hose.

• If you have more than one skimmer, choose one to plug
  • Remove the basket, and use a tennis ball to plug the suction hole. This will divert all the suction force to the skimmer you
    attach the vacuum hose to

If you’re using a vacuum plate, place it in the skimmer and attach the hose to the outlet

8.) Time to vacuum

• Start at one end of the pool, and move the vacuum forward in backward
  at a slow and steady pace (going too fast will move around debris)
  • Think of it like mowing your lawn with a push lawn mower

(If at any point you lose suction, simply repeat Steps 5 – 7)

Need a live visual example?

Here’s an excellent video tutorial from Lucy’s Pools:

How To Vacuum A Pool VIDEO

Closing thoughts

After following the steps in this guide, your pool floor should be looking squeaky clean. Although vacuuming your pool takes a few extra minutes, it’s totally worth it. And it’s a part of good pool maintenance — also something you definitely want to integrate into your pool care schedule.

If you’re a new pool owner and have some more questions, check out our Pool Owner Guide. You’ll find valuable info on everything from pool heaters to pool chemistry.