Maintaining the cleanliness of a pool is essential for commercial pool management services. Investing in the right manual pool vacuum is important, since it can either heighten or lessen the workload. A manual vacuum set up consists of three basic pieces of equipment: the vacuum head, hose and pole.

Assess your basin
Before you purchase a vacuum, you should figure out what type best accommodates your pool basin. Facilities with relatively shallow depths will have a wider variety to choose from. Sites with deeper pools have to consider the increased buoyancy. If you’re concerned about whether your staff members will be able to keep the vacuum down on the deep end, consider weighted heads. It is also important to consider the construction of your pool when selecting a vacuum head. A pool with a vinyl liner, for example, calls for a different type of head than a plastered pool.

Depending on the shape of your pool, you may want to invest in a few different vacuum heads. A rectangular attachment will allow you to cover a lot of ground, but may not be ideal for curves. A triangular head will let you get into the corners easily, but may not cover much surface area. Some models feature a construction that allows the user to steer the head by twisting the pole.

Don’t make it hard
Additionally, pool vacuum heads come with a variety of features. Some are simply brushes, whereas others are equipped with wheels for enhanced mobility. Cleaning a pool can be difficult and exhausting work. Analyze your budget to see whether you can afford a wheeled model to ease the task a little bit. Bear in mind that wheels may damage your tiles, so reach out to professional pool maintenance services for tips.

A larger sized head would allow workers to clean quickly, but a smaller one would allow them to maintain the pool basin in more detail. Try to find a happy medium between the two or purchase a large one for general coverage and a small one for problem areas with heavier debris buildup.

It is important to note that in manual vacuum setups, none of the suction is created by the equipment. The suction source is either the pool’s filtration pump or a dedicated vacuum pump. In other words, the power of the vacuum’s suction will be constant regardless of the head in use. Consequently, bigger vacuum heads will enable staff to cover more surface area by distributing suction over a greater area, while smaller heads will concentrate the suction over a smaller footprint.

You’ll also have to think about what kind of pole and hose you’d like to buy. According to SFGate, plastic holds up better against chemicals and won’t corrode. However, they will crack over time, making this type a cycling purchase. On the other hand, metal is much more durable, but also prone to corrosion. These will require maintenance. Bear in mind that metal will not work well in salt chlorine systems.

Most poles utilize a telescopic construction, enabling the pole to be collapsed for storage when not in use. Sizing your vacuum hose and pole is easy. Both items should be long enough so that staff members can vacuum the vast majority of the pool while standing in the same place. This will expedite the cleaning process by eliminating the need for staff to stop cleaning the pool while the vacuum setup is relocated. Finally, low-priced extras such as fence-mounted pole hooks and Velcro hose straps are prudent measures that will keep your manual vacuum setup neatly stored and undamaged.

Outsource it
It’s advised to clean the pool at least weekly when using a manual vacuum. However, the proximity of trees and other landscaping features, as well as the level of traffic at your facility, will more often than not require the pool to be vacuumed daily if it is to maintain a respectable appearance. The easiest option is to hire professional pool maintenance services to do the work for you. They will have the proper equipment, knowledge and staff to keep your pool in top condition day to day.