How To Make A Pool Vacuum Using A Garden Hose

Pool vacuums are designed to clean debris that settles at the bottom of a pool. Swimmers may carry dust and dirt into the pools during swimming sessions.

Kids are also likely to leave large debris into their inflatable kiddie pools while playing. Since commercial pool cleaners are expensive, you may consider using homemade pool cleaners. A garden hose provides the best alternative to commercial pool vacuum cleaners. It is a cheaper option to go for in case a pool’s pump filter becomes faulty.

How to make a pool vacuum using a garden hose

Requirements

You will need the following in order to clean a pool using this method.

Garden Hose: This is a flexible tube made of soft rubber. Both ends of the tube are open and can be fitted to various devices for specific functions.

Vacuum Bag: A major component of a vacuum cleaner, this bag serves the purpose of creating suction. It prevents debris from flowing back into the pool during the cleaning process.

Telescoping Pool Pole: Pool owners agree that a telescoping pole is important in carrying manual cleaning in the pool. These poles come in different lengths depending on the size of the pool. Conventionally, it is used in skimming water to capture floating debris. It can also be fitted to a brush on one end and used in cleaning the walls of a pool.

Plastic Funnel: The smaller size of the intake port in a garden hose means that you will take a considerable amount of time covering a small surface area.  Alternatively, cut a 500 ml plastic bottle at 45 degrees and attach it to the hose. It will serve the same purpose as the funnel.

Step 1

Ensure the garden hose is of the right length. You will have to consider the size of your pool in choosing the size of the garden hose.  For instance, a small inflatable kiddie pool won’t require a long garden hose since the bottom of the pool is not very far. However, for a permanent pool with both deep and shallow ends, you will have to use a garden hose with a reasonable length. 

Step 2

Once the length has been determined, connect one end of the garden hose to the vacuum bag.  Ensure the vacuum bag is connected to the appropriate end of the garden hose. This will be determined by the side of the garden hose connected to a valve that fits the vacuum’s bypass. Vacuum cleaners are always fitted with a vacuum bag.  For a perfect homemade pool cleaner, consider using household vacuum components from the household cleaner.

Step 3

For the next step, fit the telescopic handle to the garden hose.   The remaining end of the garden hose may be fitted with handles holes that fit the telescopic handle. If you encounter problems in fitting the handle to the horse, consider manually tying the end of the garden hose to the telescopic handle.  This can be achieved by using a rope to tie a knot.  Ensure the rope is clean to avoid introducing dirt back into the pool.

Step 4

Once the telescopic handle has been fitted to the garden hose, hold it firmly and use it to lower the vacuum into the pool.  Ensure the handle touches the bottom of the pool to provide a good surface area for the garden hose.

Step 5

Scan through the floor of the pool paying keen attention to the dirtiest parts.  Repeat this process severally but slowly ensuring there is enough time to suck in water through the garden hose pipe.  Fine debris and dirt settling at the bottom of the pool will be sucked into the garden hose due to the low pressure exerted by the vacuum bag.   This could be explained scientifically.  The suction creates a negative pressure within the garden hose. The pressure in the pool is, therefore, greater and pushes water and debris into the garden hose.

Step 6

After exhaustively cleaning the floor of the pool, gently remove your homemade pool vacuum from the pool. This process has to be done slowly and patiently to prevent stirring dirt in the water.  This also explains why the water circulation system has to be switched off to ensure water in the pool is still. After removing the pool vacuum from the water, carefully untie the knot used to attach the garden hose to the telescopic handle.  Remove the garden hose nozzle attached to the vacuum bag.  Empty the debris bag and clean the vacuum.

How a garden hose pool vacuum works

In demonstrating how a garden hose vacuum sucks in debris and dirt from the bottom of a pool, imagine drinking water from a bottle with a straw.  Sucking into the straw creates a lower pressure than the surrounding atmospheric pressure thus pushing water into your mouth. A vacuum bag operates by creating negative pressure.

An electric motor connected to the vacuum bag spins a fan that sucks in the air just like the mouth does to a straw.  Using a long garden hose will help ensure the electric motor and the vacuum bag are quite a distance away from the pool for safety reasons.   It is worth noting that the suction power generated by the pool vacuum depends on the size of the intake valve of the garden hose.  This means that a smaller intake valve generates a greater suction power. Before using the pool vacuum, ensure there are no air bubbles coming out of the garden hose.

Verdict

Swimming pools are one of the best recreational facilities.  Having a swimming pool in your backyard may help save the trip of visiting public pools during the summer.  Apart from constructing permanent pools, parents may consider purchasing inflatable kiddie pools for their kids. Maintenance of swimming pools requires keen attention to detail and thorough commitment. A garden hose vacuum provides a perfect solution for removing fine debris settled at the floor of the pool. Cleaning your swimming pool using this method is cheap and effective.