Pool sweeps basically work like vacuum cleaners, only underwater. They roam your pool removing debris, saving you the time and effort of doing the job by hand.
Sweeping your pool is an important part of pool maintenance. Clearing foreign material from your pool keeps the water nice and inviting. Moreover, by eliminating the leaves and twigs they like to feed on, sweeping reduces the number of insects who'd like to use your pool.
Types of pool sweeps
Homeowners rely upon three basic types of pool vacuums to keep their pools clean.
- Suction side vacuum system: This system uses your pool’s pump and filtration system. The sweep attaches to a suction port that pulls water from your pool and filters it. The suction from the pump enables your sweep to move around the pool collecting debris.
- Pressure side pool sweep: Pressure sweeps operate on the pressure side of the filter pump. They are powered by water being pushed to the cleaner, usually by a separate booster pump. This type works best for pools that are more likely to catch (and contain) large debris.
- Robotic pool sweep: These self-contained systems run on electricity rather than water pressure. The self-propelled unit sucks up debris as it scrubs your pool’s hard surfaces. These robotic models also filter the water, giving you the option of saving energy (and money) by switching off your pool’s filter system for the duration of the sweep’s cleaning cycle.
Whatever type of sweep you choose, proper maintenance is essential. These pool sweep maintenance tips will help keep your unit operating efficiently.
Suction sweeps
- With every installation, start with a clean filter.
- If you are reactivating your sweep after some time off, perform a flush of your plumbing lines.
- Make sure the sweep is disconnected from the pump (or pool wall) before cleaning its filter.
- After cleaning or backwashing the filter, let the filtration system run for at least five minutes. This will ensure that the plumbing lines are thoroughly flushed.
- Always remove the sweep from the water before adding pool chemicals.
- To reduce the risk of accidents caused by suction trapment, install approved back lock fittings on all the suction installations along your pool’s wall.
- Always remove the sweep from the pool before allowing swimmers to enter the water.
- For off-season storage, shut off the pool pump, remove the sweep from the water, drain it and disconnect all hose sections. Store the unit (including its hoses) in a dry, covered location.