An above-ground swimming provides a lot of fun but one thing you should never forget is to give it standard maintenance and care. You should always ensure that you are swimming in clean and safe water at all times. Fortunately, an above-ground pool does not require as much maintenance as an inground pool does but to maintain the water sparkling clean, you’ll need to vacuum the pool regularly. Vacuuming helps to prevent algae from growing on the pool walls and floor.
A good sign that your pool needs vacuuming is when the water turns cloudy. If this happens you’ll need to vacuum the pool immediately. There are contaminants that sink to the bottom of the pool which will require vacuuming to get rid of.
A pool vacuum cleaner should be on top of your list when you are budgeting for your above-ground pool. There are different types and models of above-ground pool vacuums for different sizes and designs of pools. Their prices can vary a lot depending on features, functions, and the size of the pool the vacuum can efficiently clean.
A fine example of an efficient vacuum for an above-ground pool is the Zodiac Ranger Suction Side Automatic Above-Ground Pool Cleaner. The Zodiac Ranger is quite effective in cleaning all types of above-ground pools except Intex soft-sided pools. It can even clean a pool with a 72-inch dished-out bottom.
Zodiac Ranger
The automatic pool vacuum cleaner comes with an AG Disc that enables the Zodiac Ranger to glide on the bottom of the pool, on the sides, and around the steps to ensure the whole pool is thoroughly cleaned.
Two ways of vacuum cleaning an above-ground pool
Whether you have just installed a new above-ground pool or taken over the duties of cleaning and maintaining one, there’ll come a time when it will be essential to vacuum the pool. There are basically two ways of doing it namely via the use of automatic pool vacuum cleaners or simply doing it manually using the traditional pool vacuum. The automatic way is faster and less tedious and in some cases provides a more thorough clean because it is not physically demanding.
For instance, with a robotic pool cleaner such as the Pool Rover S2 40, you can clean a pool of any shape and surface to a depth of 40 feet, which makes this automatic robotic pool vacuum a great choice for above-ground pools. It cleans the pool floor, the cove, and walls. Its sleek design allows it to maneuver all around the pool. The Pool Rover gives you an efficient hands-free pool vacuuming ability.
Pool Rover S2 40
The manual pool vacuuming system involves the use of a head with rollers and brushes on it, a large roll of plastic hose, and a long fiberglass or metal pole. The work involved may seem tedious but it is nothing compared to what you’ll be required to do to balance the water chemistry if you neglect to vacuum the pool. The debris on the bottom of your pool gradually leads to algae growth which can easily turn your pool into a slimy green mass of water.
What you need to clean the above-ground pool manually
Here are some of the key things you’ll need to vacuum clean your pool:
- A pool rake or a skimmer
- The vacuum head with brushes or rollers
- A vacuum hose
- A long metal or fiberglass pole
- A skimmer disc if you can get one. This is optional.
- A strong commitment to get the work done
Removing large debris from the surface
Start by using the pool rake or skimmer to remove all the bugs, leaves, and any surface debris from your pool. A general leaf rake can sufficiently handle this task too. If you are using a skimmer ensure that its basket is cleaned out when it fills with debris. Another easier alternative of cleaning surface debris is by using a Water Tech PoolBuster Max CG pool cleaner.
Water Tech PoolBuster Max CG
This handy pool vacuum is lightweight, easy to use, and does not need any hoses or cords. It can quickly remove all debris from the surface of the pool including leaves, algae, and even sand at the bottom of the pool. Once you’ve removed surface debris, turn on the pump and ensure water is running through the pool’s filter.
Insert the vacuum head into the pool
Before you insert the vacuum head into the water, attach the vacuum head to the swivel end of the hose. Fix the head to the extension metal or fiberglass pole. You can then lower the assembly to the bottom of the pool. Finally, lock the pole into the right position and leave it leaning on the side of the pool. Make sure the pole can easily be reached by the water return outlet.
Fill the hose with water by holding its free end in front of the water return outlet. Hold the pole firmly with one hand to ensure that it does not float back to the surface as air is being expelled from the hose. Fill the hose with water until there are no bubbles coming from the vacuum head below.
Vacuuming the bottom of the pool
Simply slip the skimmer disc to the skimmer to start the vacuuming process. There are vacuums that will require you to plug the hose end into the suction port. If this happens make sure to pull out the hose end out of the water to fix the skimmer disc as fast as possible without letting in air into the hose.
From a position where you can view the bottom of the pool clearly, start moving the head back and forth over the pool’s bottom in slow motions. Make sure to overlap your previous path every time you pass the head over the pool bottom surface. Keep on vacuuming until the entire floor is completely clean.
For a more thorough clean, you can opt to go for the Hayward SP1068 Triangular 3 Brush Pool Vacuum Head.
Hayward SP1068
This efficient pool vacuum cleaner has a see-through design and long-wearing brushes that can loosen even the toughest algae spots at the bottom and sides of your pool. It has a contoured shape that allows it to reach corners easily. It is also great for cleaning pool steps.
Related article – learn how to choose the best pool for your yard.
