A pool vacuum works by creating suction to remove dirt and debris from the bottom and sides of your pool, channeling it through the pool's filtration system.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
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Suction Creation: Pool vacuums, whether manual or automatic, rely on the suction created by your pool's pump and filter system.
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Debris Collection:
- Manual Vacuums: You manually guide the vacuum head along the pool floor. The vacuum head is connected to a telescopic pole for reach and a vacuum hose that connects to the skimmer or a dedicated vacuum line.
- Automatic Vacuums: These vacuums move autonomously around the pool, powered by either suction or electricity. Suction-side vacuums use the pool pump's suction, while robotic vacuums have their own internal motors and filtration systems.
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Filtration: The collected debris is drawn through the vacuum hose and into the pool's filtration system (usually a sand, cartridge, or DE filter). The filter captures the debris, cleaning the water before it's returned to the pool. Some robotic vacuums have their own self-contained filter canisters, eliminating the need to route the debris through the main pool filter.
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Waste Removal: The filter media (sand, cartridge, or DE) will eventually become clogged with debris, reducing its effectiveness. Backwashing a sand or DE filter, or cleaning a cartridge filter, removes this accumulated waste.
Here's how it works with a sand filter (the example given in the reference):
- The vacuum plate sucks up dirt and debris.
- This material travels through the vacuum plate and into the pool pump.
- The pump then pushes the water and debris to the sand filter.
- The sand filter traps the dirt and allows the clean water to return to the pool.
- After vacuuming, backwash the sand filter to remove the collected debris.
In essence, a pool vacuum acts as a specialized extension of your pool's filtration system, focusing its cleaning power on the pool floor and walls. The suction pulls dirt and debris through the vacuum and into the filter for removal.
