How Do You Hook Up A Pool Vacuum To Sand Filter

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Keeping the swimming pool clean is not an easy task, and you will need help from pieces of equipment such as pool vacuums. So how do you hook up a pool vacuum to a sand filter?

While there are many helpful pieces of equipment to keep the swimming pool clean, you need to install them properly.

I recommend getting help from a professional if you do not know how to but if you want to try something at home, then do read this post for some really easy hacks that actually help!

When it comes to pool vacuums, there are three easy steps that you can follow to install them properly.

Pool vacuums are a great help, especially for above-ground pools like Intex pools.

They are responsible for keeping the debris out of the pool.

Debris will inevitably get into the pool but removing it should not be a neglected task as it can be a huge problem.

The debris in the pool will not only make your swimming pool look bad, but it will also cause irreversible damage if left untreated.

They can slowly rip through the pool liner and make holes.

The debris and other microscopic organisms can also damage the pool vacuum if you do not use it properly.

So follow the guidelines below on how to install the pool vacuum to your filter.

Table of Contents

Things You Will Need

Before we start, you need to get all the things that you need to properly hook up the pool vacuum to your sand filter.

There are a few things that you might need to buy for the process.

However, you do not need to worry about those as most of the things you need are in the pool vacuum or the pool itself.
This is an important task if your pool doesn’t have a skimmer.

Hooking up a pool vacuum to a sand filter is usually done with above-ground swimming pools like Intex pools.

This is because they do not have their filtering system or skimmer to keep them clean.

Here are the things that you will need to hook up the pool vacuum to your sand filter.

Make sure to get them first before installing the pool vacuum to ensure top performance from it.

Pool Vacuum Head

Pool vacuum heads are usually made with plastic parts and will usually fit most poles.

It has a universal size, so if you have a pretty common pool vacuum, buy the universal one.

However, some companies sell their pool vacuum head to enhance the pool vacuum’s performance with the best vacuum head, so you need to make sure about it.

The best pool vacuum head is the weighted heads, as they are easily managed and will float on water. So if you can find one in the nearest store, then you should go for those heads.

Telescoping Pole

The telescoping pole is the one that you hold and drive around the swimming pool.

They have thin and lightweight materials for maximum ease of handling them in the pool.

They are usually universal, which means that they fit easily on most nets, pool skimmers, and hooks.

So make sure that you get one that fits the type of skimmer that you will use, the Coleman pool skimmer can be a good choice here.

Also, they usually sell telescoping poles in different lengths, so make sure that you get the one that can reach the bottom of the pool. It will be pretty useless if it does not reach the bottom.

Vacuum Hose

The vacuum hose is the one that connects the pool vacuum, skimmer, and sand filter. It transfers the vacuum from the pump to the head of the pole and sucks the debris into the filter.

Like the pool vacuum heads, vacuum hoses usually come in a standard size that fits most swimming pools. There might be a problem with these if you have a different system.

Ensure that your swimming pool and pump has the standard returns and system to make sure that the universal vacuum hose fits perfectly with your pool system to make the most out of the vacuum.

Skim Vacuum Plate

This special type of equipment allows you to connect the pool vacuum to the pool skimmer basket. The skimmer basket is a larger type of filter that holds all kinds of debris.

It is beneficial to have this part as it will hold more debris. I prefer investing in this equipment because it allows me to clean more without worrying about emptying the strainer basket.

This will also allow you to skip the process of turning the pool pump on and off after cleaning. You will just need to keep an eye on the skimmer and empty it once it is full of debris.

Procedure

Since you now have everything you need, you can start installing the pool vacuum to your sand filter and cleaning the pool. Follow the simple instructions below on how to do this process.

Step 1: Prime Your Pool Vacuum

Priming the pool vacuum is a very important process as it will help the vacuum get more from the suction. It is a simple process of removing all the air from the hoses and the vacuum itself.

Removing the air from the pool vacuum will ensure that the vacuum remains strong. That way, you will get all the stubborn debris that gets stuck in the pool liner to clean it properly.

First, attach the vacuum head to your telescoping pole and submerge it in the water. The hose and the vacuum itself will start to fill up with water, but the pressure will not be enough.

Attach the free end of the hose to the returning jet while the vacuum head is underwater. You will start to see the bubbles from the hose and the vacuum port go up the water as it fills up with it.

Allow all the bubbles to go out of the hose and vacuum. Do not lift the vacuum port head or the open end of the hose out of the water; it will gather air again, and you will need to repeat the process.

Step 2: Attach The Sand Filter

For above-ground swimming pools like Intex pools, there will be two holes connected with a sand filter. Usually, when you are in the pool facing the sand filter, the hole in the left is the filter’s suction jet.

If you are not sure, you can place your palm near the holes to feel if the water gets sucked or if it is being pushed back into the pool. Select the hole that sucks the water from the pool to the pump.

The hole will usually be free if the above-ground pool that you have does not have its skimmer. If it does, then you should remove the skimmer first and expose the hole behind it.

Then, attach the open end of the pool vacuum you had just put in the return jet. Remove it from the return jet but do not lift it out of the water and attach it to the skimmer inlet.

Step 3: Start Vacuuming The Swimming Pool

Once done attaching the pool vacuum’s open end to the inlet, you can start cleaning your swimming pool. Use the telescoping pool to move the pool vacuum around.

You can also test the vacuum first by putting your hand in the vacuum port to see if it has enough suction. Run the pool vacuum on the floors and the walls of your swimming pool.

When the pool vacuum starts to lose power, the skimmer basket can get clogged, so make sure that you check it. Empty it out and then start cleaning the pool again with the pool vacuum.

If the suction is still weak, then you can repeat the first two steps of the process and see if the suction is back to normal. If not, then you will need to check if there are problems with the sand filter.

Clean The Pool Vacuum

Once done cleaning the swimming pool, remove the pool vacuum’s open end from the skimmer inlet and then wash the hose’s head and the hose itself with fresh water.

Do not use the same water from the swimming pool as it will be virtually useless. First, spray the vacuum head with water from a garden hose to remove the debris stuck on it.

The main point of cleaning the pool vacuum with freshwater is to remove the debris stuck on it and remove the chemicals from the pool as it can degrade the materials’ quality.

Always Vacuum Your Pool Except When…

You should always clean your swimming pool to prevent it from degrading from the damages brought about by the debris, algae, and other microorganisms inside the swimming pool.

However, there are times when you should not vacuum the pool to avoid damages. That is when you opened up a swimming pool left for at least a few months covered and unused.

The algae inside the pool will overwhelm the sand filter and will damage it. Even if you try to filter it with the pool vacuum, the debris will only get stuck inside, so avoid doing that.

You will also need to shock the pool first to kill the algae inside and remove them. Algae that has been shocked is also dangerous with sand filters, so do not let it pass through it.

Even if you use the pool vacuum to remove the “shocked” algae, it will just clog the filter media, or even worse, pass through the pool vacuum and go straight inside the sand filter.

You should always avoid passing water into the sand filter, especially if it has used flocculants to treat it. Change the route of the water and clean it by using nets or manual skimmers.

You can still connect the skimmer inlet to the sand filter attachment, but set the filter to ‘Waste’ to prevent the water from damaging the pool filter with the chemicals in the water.

Setting it to waste bypasses the sand filter attachment and directly pours the water straight down the drain. The swimming pool can be refilled with fresh water and checked if the chemicals are balanced.

It is really beneficial if you have a “to waste” option as it can easily make the cleaning and draining effortless. Make sure not to always turn on the “to waste” setting as it can unnecessarily drain the pool.

Conclusion

The pool vacuum helps keep the swimming pool clean, especially if it does not have a skimmer of its own. It removes the debris from the pool that the filter attachment cannot reach.

Connecting it needs proper procedure and tools, so make sure that you get the things that you need. The instructions above will guide you on how to properly connect the pool vacuum.

Be careful when you vacuum the swimming pool to ensure that you do not damage the sand filter attachment. Keep the swimming pool clean but avoid unnecessary damages from happening!

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