Intex pools aren’t a big thing in outdoor recreation yet, but they’re the most pocket-friendly alternative to the in-ground pools. Available in different shapes and sizes, these above the ground pools can give you the same pleasurable swimming experience you get from the in-ground versions.
But when you’ve had the fun of your life and swum your lung out, the one task at hand that you must accomplish is to clean the pool so that it’s in good condition. From what we know, cleaning an intex pool manually can be a nuisance, not to mention time consuming. But unlike the in-ground pools, the intex above the ground models come with their unique vacuum cleaner, which not only takes a few minutes of your time to setup but also is very easy to use.
In this guide, we’ll look at what a pool vacuum is, how it works, the types, and how you can hook it to an intex pump gradually.
Let’s get started.
What’s a pool vacuum?
A pool vacuum is an electrical apparatus used to clean an above ground or in-ground swimming pool. Unlike the traditional model that you use at home, this device has an internal filter, which traps dirt and debris from water, while recycling the clean water back into the pool.
Types of Pool Vacuum
There are two types of pool vacuum cleaners: manual and automatic models.
Manual pool vacuums
When it comes to design, a manual pool vacuum features a telescopic rod and a brush head, which connects with a hose to a filter system. It’s the ideal option if you’re up to cleaning the floor of an intex above ground pool manually. In other words, you’ll use your hand to guide the suction cup on the floor of the pool. This will clean such dirt from the floor.
Automatic pool vacuums
Designed to clean the floor of a pool independently, an automatic pool vacuum connect to a filter system via a hose. The system generates a pressure, which cleans the pool without needing any input from a user. With an automatic pool cleaner, the setup does the work for you, and therefore there won’t be a point when you have to do manual adjustments.
It’s important to understand that both manual and automatic pool vacuum requires a connection. The only difference between the two is the type of movement involved.
How to Hook Up a Pool Vacuum to an Intex Pump
Hooking up a pool vacuum to an intex pump shouldn’t be difficult. Below is a systematic guide to do just that:
Step #1
The first step to connecting a pool vacuum to an intex pump is to make sure you have the right accessories to get the job done. You’ll need the following accessories: brush support A (4x), brush support B (4x), a hose adapter, a hose clamp, cleaner top, cleaner base, collar nut, gear module, Debris Net, Hose A, Hose B, Hose C (3x), Hose D (3x), and Brush (12x).
You can create small checklist just to make sure you have all these accessories in place. Also, it’s important to make sure that the garden hose you have is long enough to choose to connect the spigot to the furthest part of the pool.
Step #2
Take the two telescopic shafts that come with the intex pump and attach them to each other. To do this, simply insert one end with the other, and then use a blue locking mechanism to stick them together.
Step #3
Once you connect the two telescopic shafts that come with the intex pump, it’s time to align them with the vacuum head where you can see the spring. Proceed to pressing the springhead and plastic tips together and watch the shaft go through the head.
Step #4
As the shaft steadily moves into the vacuum head, attach a debris bag with the vacuum and make sure you tighten it properly.
Step #5
Take a garden hose adapter nozzle and attach it to the opposite side of the pool vacuum’s head. Don’t forget to clip the hose to the shaft; this will establish a secure connection between the nozzle and the vacuums head. Finish by winding the garden hose on the adapter nozzle.
Step #6
This is where you bring water into play, keeping in mind that its pressure is a very important factor to consider in the connection process. More often than not, the rule of thumb is to set the pressure between 1600 and 3500 gallons per hour. That should be sufficient for the vacuum to collect dirt from the pool.
Step #7
It’s now time to clean the pool until it’s in the best condition position. All you have left to do now is to hold the pool vacuum head and run it along the floor. This will go a long way to clean dirt and debris. Not to mention remove sediments from the bottom of the pool with ease.
How Long Should I Run the Intex Pool Pump?
The answer is it depends on a number of things, including chemicals used, filter types, pump size, and purifiers used. However, the general rule is that you should try to run the pump for 6 hours a day in winter and about 12 hours a day in summer.
Final Thoughts
As long as you follow the procedure we’ve given you above, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to connect a pool vacuum to the intex pump. Also, remember to exhaust the air in the filter and then allow it to run for about 20 minutes before you start working on your pool.
When it comes to cleaning your intex pool, make sure you do so gently. The last mistake you want to make is to cloud your pool’s water with dirt from the bottom, as this can be expensive and time consuming to fix.
It’s important that you don’t forget to backwash the filter after vacuuming the pool.