Pool vacuum cleaner: which vacuum cleaner for your swimming pool?

Rather than cleaning the bottom of your pool with a simple pool broom, equip yourself with a vacuum cleaner! There are different models of pool vacuum cleaners: manual or automatic, they make it easier to clean your pool. Find out what is the point of equipping yourself with a swimming pool vacuum cleaner, what types of vacuum cleaners there are, how to choose the best pool vacuum cleaner, how to connect it, and how to use it.

Pool vacuum cleaner

Why choose a pool vacuum?

The pool vacuum cleaner, whatever type you choose, is one of the essential accessories for keeping your pool clean and making your swim enjoyable. It allows you to vacuum the bottom of the pool and the walls of all dust and any algae that could settle and become encrusted.

Which vacuum cleaner is for your swimming pool?

Each type of pool has its own vacuum cleaner. All swimming pools are not cleaned in the same way and are not equipped in the same way. Some have skimmers, a broom socket or simply a pump and a filter. Manufacturers have therefore created different vacuum cleaners to meet the needs of each pool owner. Thus, it is important to choose the right pool vacuum cleaner. 
For example, there are vacuum cleaners for above-ground pools, others are specially designed for pools coated with a pool liner, or for concrete pools.

Good to know: consisting of a handle and a broom head, the pool vacuum cleaner is easy to handle. Go around the basin, simply pointing your vacuum cleaner at the places to be cleaned.

The different types of pool vacuums

To clean your swimming pool, you have the choice between different types of vacuum cleaners:

The manual pool vacuum cleaner:

It is not equipped with a brush but it simply sucks up the dirt present at the bottom of the pool (leaves, insects, hair).

The vacuum broom:

It sucks up impurities and brushes the bottom of your pool. The vacuum broom is connected to the water filtration system, by the broom socket or the skimmer. This type of broom is also called a “hydraulic robot”.

The electric pool vacuum cleaner: 

It has no hose and works with batteries or a battery. It has a maximum autonomy of 3 hours and the dirt in the water is retained in a filter bag independent of the pool filter. It is really light and very handy to use.

Good to know: most pool vacuum cleaners do not require any special installation work: they work with the pump, or plug into the filter, or even simply into an electrical outlet... The choice is yours!

How to choose a pool vacuum?

A swimming pool vacuum cleaner is chosen mainly according to the equipment of your swimming pool, its surface, and also according to the coating of your pool.

If your pool is equipped with a skimmer or a broom socket, you can opt for a hydraulic broom or a manual vacuum cleaner. On the other hand, if your pool is an above-ground pool and it is not equipped with any skimmer or broom socket, it is recommended to choose an electric broom which does not require a special connection to operate. Robot vacuums are reserved for large swimming pools.

Also, note that the head of your vacuum cleaner must be adapted to the type of coating of your pool. For a liner, it is better to choose a special head because the liner could be damaged. For shell or concrete pools, a vacuum cleaner head with rollers will be more suitable so as not to scratch the bottom.

Good to know: even if you decide to choose an automatic vacuum cleaner, it is always interesting to have a manual or electric vacuum cleaner at home to complete the work of the robot or to compensate for a possible breakdown.

How do you hook up a pool vacuum?

It is very easy to assemble a pool vacuum cleaner but it is important to follow certain steps when connecting the pool vacuum :

• Mount the broom on its telescopic handle and put the hose that will connect the broom to the socket in the pool
• Expel the air that is present in the pipe to avoid sucking in air and thus preventing the pump from losing its prime and running dry.
• Connect the hose to the broom or skimmer socket, taking care to keep the hose under water.
• Start the filtration in the emptying position (after the wintering period) or by only opening the valve of the broom intake or the skimmers to increase the suction power.

How to use a pool vacuum?

For the cleaning of your swimming pool to be optimal and effective, it is important to respect a few simple gestures:

• A few hours before vacuuming, clean the walls the night before with a brush so that the dirt falls to the bottom of the water overnight.
• Slowly vacuum the surfaces to be cleaned to suck up impurities and prevent them from resuspending in the water.
• Clean the stairs and the shallowest part of your pool first and gradually move towards the deepest part.
• Don't forget any corners and focus on the angles.

Let your automatic vacuum clean the pool!

The automatic pool robot vacuums impurities from your pool independently. The automatic vacuum cleaner is ideal for swimming pools with a flat or slightly sloping bottom. More expensive than a manual pool vacuum, it can be programmed to clean the bottom and walls of your pool over a certain period of time. You no longer have to worry about cleaning your pool.

How do have a clean swimming pool?

In addition to using the pool vacuum to clean your pool, it is advisable to use other accessories to make the job even more efficient. The swimming pool net allows you to remove all the dirt present on the surface of the water, for example, while the wall brush makes it easier for you to access difficult areas and allows you to clean vertically. These accessories are sold most of the time in pool vacuum kits.

Good to know: For thorough cleaning after the wintering period, it is possible to use a high-pressure cleaner. It will allow you to overcome all stains and encrusted limestone.