Results for "manual vacuum"

Equipment Medium 8-24 hours wait time, 30-60 minutes vacuuming 175 👍 0

Can You Vacuum Pool After Shock? Complete Safety Guide

Last night my wife casually mentioned our 20,000 gallon inground pool still looks cloudy after yesterday's calcium hypochlorite shock treatment, and now it's all I can see. I added about 2 pounds of shock around 7 PM, and now this morning I'm wondering when it's safe to start vacuuming.

I have a lot of debris that settled to the bottom overnight, including some leaves and dirt that blew in during a storm. My test strips are showing the chlorine is still pretty high - looks like it's reading around 8-10 ppm this morning. I don't want to damage my pool equipment or create any safety issues, but I'm eager to get the pool cleaned up since we have guests coming over this weekend.

What's the recommended waiting period before I can safely vacuum? Should I wait for the chlorine to drop to a certain level first, or is there a standard timeframe I should follow regardless of the chemical readings?…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes setup 147 👍 0

Can You Leave Pool Vacuum On All Night? Safe Operating Guide

Standing in front of my computer cart with a robotic vacuum for my 20,000 gallon inground pool — is leaving it running overnight worth it or just asking for expensive trouble? The pool gets pretty messy with leaves and debris, and I feel like running the vacuum for 8-10 hours straight would really help get everything spotless.

My main concerns are whether it's actually safe for the equipment to run that long, and if there are any risks I should be aware of. I have a newer robotic cleaner that I bought last season, and it seems to handle well during normal 2-3 hour cleaning cycles. The pool's circulation system runs 24/7 anyway, so I'm not worried about that side of things.

Has anyone had experience with extended overnight vacuum runs? I want to make sure I'm not going to damage my equipment or create any safety issues by leaving it unattended for that long.…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes research 146 👍 0

Does Costco Sell Pool Vacuums? Complete Availability Guide

Noticed my pool's looking rough this week and planning to tackle a deep clean Saturday — what vacuum equipment should I have ready from Costco? The pool store told me I definitely need a good vacuum to keep it clean, but their prices seem pretty steep.

I'm a Costco member and was wondering if they carry pool vacuums? I'd love to save some money if possible, and I trust Costco's return policy in case I mess up and buy the wrong thing. Do they have a decent selection, or should I stick with the pool store? Any guidance from experienced pool owners would be amazing!…more

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4.3 (6,200 reviews)

Equipment Easy 60 minutes 144 👍 0

Does Lowe's Have Pool Vacuums? Complete Buying Guide 2024

Looked at my pool this morning and decided I'm done paying someone else to clean it — just need to figure out if Lowe's has decent pool vacuums worth buying. Last week they tried to convince me I needed a $2,000 robotic cleaner when all I want is something decent to keep my pool clean without breaking the bank.

Does anyone know if big box stores like Lowe's actually carry pool vacuums? I'm hoping to find some options there since they usually have better prices than the specialty pool shops. I don't mind doing the research myself - just need to know what brands and price ranges to expect so I can make a smart purchase without some salesperson breathing down my neck.…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 142 👍 0

Can You Vacuum Pool Table Felt? Safe Cleaning Methods

Spilled a drink on our pool table last night and my wife grabbed the vacuum before I could stop her. Now the felt looks roughed up and I'm terrified we ruined a $3,000 table. Can you actually vacuum pool table felt safely or did we just make an expensive mistake?…more

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Equipment Easy 30 minutes 138 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Vacuum? Complete Equipment Guide 2024

Wondering if anyone else had their manual skimming routine work perfectly on their old above-ground pool but this inground one still looks swampy? I've been trying to maintain it with just skimming and brushing, but there's always debris settling on the bottom that I can't seem to get rid of. My neighbors keep telling me I need some kind of vacuum, but I have no idea what type would actually work for my setup.

I have a medium-sized inground pool that gets a decent amount of leaves from the trees overhead, especially in fall. I'm willing to put in some manual work if it saves money, but I also don't want to be out there for hours every week. What should I be looking for in a pool vacuum, and do I really need one or are there alternatives that actually work?…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 138 👍 0

How to Vacuum Pool Without a Skimmer - 4 Easy Methods

Before the pool season even starts, my skimmer cracks from freeze damage every single year, leaving me staring at a swampy disaster. I've been dumping shock and algaecide for weeks but I know I need to vacuum out all this debris and dead algae to actually win this battle.

The problem is my skimmer is completely shot and won't be replaced for another week. Is there any way to vacuum without using the skimmer? I'm willing to try anything at this point - manual methods, different equipment, whatever it takes. I just need to get this gunk out of my pool before it gets any worse!…more

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Equipment Easy 45 minutes 138 👍 0

How to Vacuum Your Pool: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Called three pool stores asking which vacuum head to buy and got three different answers, now I'm more confused than when I started. Last time I tried, I think I messed up the connection and didn't get good suction.

What's the right order to hook everything up? And is there a technique to actually vacuuming that works better than just randomly pushing it around? I feel like I'm missing some obvious steps here!…more

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Equipment Easy varies by cleaner type 137 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Cleaners Take? Complete Timing Guide

Nobody warns you that every spring when you're getting the pool ready for summer, figuring out how long cleaning actually takes becomes this recurring nightmare. I want to make sure the water is properly cleaned before they jump in, but I'm not sure how long each type of cleaner needs to run to do its job effectively.

I'm considering getting either a robotic cleaner, suction cleaner, or pressure cleaner, but I need to know how much time each one requires per cleaning cycle. I want to plan the cleaning times around when the kids aren't swimming, so knowing the exact duration would really help me create a safe routine that keeps the water clean without interfering with their swim time.…more

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Filters Easy 45-90 minutes 130 👍 0

Can I Vacuum Pool on Waste? Complete Filter Setting Guide

Halfway through prepping for our pool party this Saturday, I realized I have no clue which filter setting to use when vacuuming all this debris. I've got some pretty heavy debris that's settled on the bottom of my pool after a storm, and I'm worried about clogging up my filter if I vacuum it all up normally.

The guy at the pool store mentioned something about using the "waste" setting when vacuuming, but I didn't really understand what he meant. Does this actually work, and when should I be using waste instead of the regular filter setting? I don't want to mess anything up since I'm still learning all this stuff.…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 128 👍 0

Can You Vacuum Pool on Recirculate? Complete Guide

Pulled a ton of storm debris out of our pool and now I'm trying to decide between normal filtration and recirculate mode for vacuuming.
The pool is so messy that I'm concerned about clogging up our filter system if I vacuum normally, but I also don't want to compromise water quality.

Can I vacuum the pool using the recirculate setting instead? I want to make sure I understand what this does - will it actually clean the water properly or just move things around? My main concern is whether the water will be safe and clean enough for the kids to swim in afterward, or if I need to take additional steps to ensure proper filtration.…more

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4.5 (11,300 reviews)

Pump Problems Medium 30 minutes 127 👍 0

How to Program Variable Speed Pool Pump - Complete Guide

Nobody warned me that after the pool guy installed my new variable speed pump yesterday, I'd be staring at this digital display like it's speaking ancient Greek. The installer basically ran off after hooking it up and now I'm supposed to figure out how to program different speeds throughout the day.

I get that I'm supposed to run it at different RPMs at different times to save energy, but honestly have no clue where to start. Like, what speeds should I use and when? And how do I actually punch this stuff into the control panel? My old single-speed pump was so much simpler - just flip the switch and forget about it!…more

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Algae Green Pool Medium 2-4 hours including wait time 126 👍 0

Should You Vacuum Pool After Adding Algaecide? Step-by-Step

I looked outside this morning and there's this overwhelming musty, swampy stench hitting me from the pool with chunks of dead algae floating everywhere after adding algaecide two days ago. The water looks like a swamp but at least it's not getting worse.

Should I be vacuuming this stuff up now or waiting longer? I don't want to mess up my filter with all this crud, but I also can't stand looking at this disaster anymore. What's the right timing for vacuuming after algaecide treatment?…more

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Maintenance Medium 15-20 minutes to read, 30-60 minutes to complete weekly tasks 125 👍 0

Weekly Pool Maintenance Checklist: Complete Expert Guide

Weekly pool maintenance involves testing and balancing water chemistry (pH 7.4-7.6, proper chlorine levels), cleaning skimmers and equipment, brushing walls, and vacuuming debris. Consistent weekly care prevents expensive repairs and keeps your pool safe for swimming year-round.…more

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Algae Green Pool Hard 3-7 days for proper treatment, 1 day for emergency closing 121 👍 0

Can You Close a Green Pool? Complete Winter Closing Guide

Our backyard pool is completely covered in thick green algae right now, but with winter coming and two young kids who love swimming, I'm not sure what to do.

I've heard that leaving algae over winter can make things worse, but I'm also concerned about using harsh chemicals with the kids playing nearby. What's the safest approach for families? Should I treat the algae before closing, or are there other winterizing options that won't create bigger problems come spring when the kids want to swim again?…more

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