Pool Vacuum Use [ When and How Long to Run ]
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If you own a swimming pool, one of your biggest concerns is keeping the pool clean. A pool vacuum will keep the pool clean and free of many contaminants. So, you must have a pool vacuum cleaner. First-time pool vacuum users often ask about how often to run pool vacuum.
You should clean the pool water at least once or twice a week to keep the water clean and safe. However, if you find dirt, debris, and algae in the pool, you should clean them ASAP. Above all, seasonal cleaning is a must to use the pool.
In this article, I will be covering how often you should vacuum your pool, how long you should do it and the benefits of doing it regularly.
So, without wasting any more of your time, let’s get right to it.
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When Should You Use A Vacuum Cleaner To Clean Your Pool?
How often you have to vacuum a swimming pool actually depends on how fast it becomes dirty. Dirt and debris can easily accumulate in your swimming pool.
If you do not clean the pool timely, you will face serious problems because of algae growing in the swimming pool.
Here is how often you will need to vacuum clean your pool:
Weekly
Even if you do not use your swimming pool every day, it is advised to vacuum the pool at least once a week.
Cleaning the pool weekly means less use of chemicals, and you can prevent the chance of algae growing in the water.
During summer people often use the swimming pool. They can take a lot of debris with them in the water.
If there are trees near the swimming pool, leaves and small twigs can fall into the pool quite often. You may not be able to clean everything on your own.
Vacuuming will help you to get rid of them. Thus, it should be cleaned twice a week.
Seasonal Cleaning
Right before fall or winter, it is time to close down the pool. During the off-season, you are not going to use your pool.
That does not mean you do not have to clean it. You will be shocked to see dirt and algae accumulate in the pool even when the pool is covered.
In fall and winter, tree leaves and branches somehow find their way to the pool. You may skim the leaves off from the pool, but it does not ensure proper cleaning.
Thus you have to run the vacuum cleaner to get the debris in the bottom of the pool.
The pool is active or not; it does not matter. You should vacuum the pool a few times every month. It also means less work when you activate the pool again for the swimming seasons.
Finally, when it’s time to reopen your swimming pool, you can vacuum it again.
After Raining and Storms
Weather can be unpredictable. Strong wind blows during storms which can carry dirt, debris and leaves to the pool. Small animals and insects are often found in the water after the storm.
Muds with different kinds of pollutants get washed into the pool water because of rain. Therefore, it becomes necessary to use a vacuum cleaner after bad weather.
After Extreme Use
Summer means pool parties, and pool parties mean a lot of people who are going to carry sand and debris into the pool. Extreme use of the pool will make the water dirty very quickly.
All the pollutants will gather under the swimming pool.
So, when you and other people use the swimming pool excessively, you should vacuum it more often.
Vacuuming just once or twice will not be enough to keep the water safe. You have to clean the pool right after extreme usage no matter how often it is.
Spot Cleaning
Sometimes you have to vacuum the pool before the scheduled time. You have to inspect the pool and the water every day.
If you find any unexpected part of your pool dirty or affected with algae, run the vacuum over that part.
Also, your pet or other animals can jump into the pool anytime. When that happens, it is not possible to get out the fur or feather by yourself.
In this case, a vacuum cleaner is the only option.
How Long Should You Run A Vacuum Cleaner?
The general rule of thumb is, to run your vacuum as long as it takes to clean the pool. And turn it off as soon as the pool is free of any debris,
There are mainly two types of pool vacuum cleaners which are manual and automatic. Here is how long you should run a vacuum cleaner in the pool:
Manual Vacuum Cleaner
Manual vacuum cleaners are always necessary to clean extremely dirty pools. It is not sure how long it may take to clean the pool with a manual vacuum cleaner.
The dirtier your pool is, the longer it will take you to vacuum it. In extreme cases, you have to clean the pool surface, floor, sides, and steps. It will definitely take hours to clean them.
After cleaning with a manual vacuum, you can run an automatic vacuum cleaner to make sure you have cleaned out all the pollution.
Automatic Vacuum Cleaner
An automatic or robotic vacuum cleaner can save a lot of time. Most of the automatic vacuum cleaners take about two to four hours to clean an average size swimming pool. Again, it depends on how dirty the swimming pool becomes after usage.
You may need to interrupt the cleaning process once or twice to clean the filter bag. Other than that, the machine will nicely do the cleaning job.
But you should know that when you are cleaning a very dirty pool full of debris and algae, you have to clean some of the parts with a manual vacuum cleaner.
Therefore, it may take some extra time to clean.
What Are The Benefits of Vacuuming The Pool?
So, why is vacuuming your swimming pool so important? Can you skip cleaning for a week if you see the pool is not seriously dirty?
Well, sometimes algae grow in places that you may not see right away. The water will feel slimy and start to smell really bad.
In addition, the pH level of the water will be hampered. Here is how vacuuming the pool benefits you:
- Prevents algae: Algae blooms in dirty water. Too much algae in the water will create an odor. Because of regular vacuuming, algae will not grow in the pool. Thus, the water will remain fresh.
- Maintain pH level: Rain, heat, and dirt affect the pH level and chlorine level of the water. To maintain the chemical balance and pH level, you need to mix sanitizing chemicals. A vacuum cleaner mixes the chemicals evenly in the pool water. Thus, the chlorine and pH level is preserved.
- Keeps the Pool Attractive: No onewants to swim in a dirty pool. If no one swims in the pool, then what is the point of having a pool? By vacuuming your pool regularly, you can get rid of the things that hamper the look of the pool. Your swimming pool will look aesthetic, and you will feel happy to swim there.
Learn How to Manage Your Pool and Hot Tub
Frustrated trying to keep your pool clear? Feeling confused about when to add the right chemicals? Get the perfect easy-to-use, illustrated ebook and video course today!
Conclusion
A pool vacuum is a piece of essential equipment to clean your swimming pool. So, as a beginner to pool cleaning, you must know how often to run a pool vacuum and how long you should keep it running. Use it at the scheduled time to clean the pool safely and effectively.
Thanks for reading and I hope this article has come to your aid in some way or another.