Vacuum for 12' Intex Easy Set?

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TxBuckeye

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Jul 29, 2017
32
San Antonio, Tx
Tried searching on vacuums but got way to many hits for way to many sized pools (i.e. bigger ones). I have the basic 500 gal pump. Is there any vacuum worth it with such a small pump volume? I have the two outlet houses, which I imagine lowers the suction even more. Just wonder if there are any worthwhile pumps or perhaps home-made vacuum options out there?

Thanks.
 
I have your exact same pool. After a few months with the size pump you have, I went out and got a slightly bigger one, which handles a standard vacuum just fine. Even so, I don't use it but MAYBE once a season because I suck most dirt out with a 15' clear vinyl 1/2" tube, you know, fill the tube with pool water and keeping one end in the pool, throw the other end over the rim. Voila! Instant vacuum. For the small scope of vacuuming our size pools require it's perfect. Yes you lose a little water doing it this way, so you gotta throw the garden hose in to get it back up, but I like to think it's good to keep replenishing it with fresh.
 
Thanks all. I'll try the hose first. I have a few left over small hose pieces from my previous season's version, which failed. Wonder if I can make one out of those pieces? I'd hate to spend as much on the vacuum as I did on the pool! But if I must...
 
Our first season we ran with the standard 500gph pump. I did use it to vacuum. I plugged up one of the filter inlets so the full pump force was drawing from one inlet. I found I could use a standard ABS 4" to 3" reducer plus a few more reducers from the plumbing department to act as a vacuum hose adapter. I used a standard pool vacuum hose.

It sucked--well actually it vacuumed as expected. What didn't work was I couldn't use a vacuum attachment on the hose was the pump wasn't pulling enough water to pick stuff up. I ended up duct taping the hose to my pole and just doing it with the hose directly. The other issue was how fast my filter would clog and reduce flow to almost nothing. I'd have to stop, turn off the pump and clean or replace the filter at least once often twice during a vacuum session.

We've since upgraded to a 1000+gph pump and sand filter which works waaay better. I also rigged up a diy leaf canister that attaches to the pump inlet that I can use hairnets in to catch most of the detritus instead of clogging up my sand filter (which is a small 12" one). This setup works much better but is a pain to setup. I only vacuum once a week. I usually try to just scoop stuff out with the skimmer net.
 
ashtonfitzgerald said:
I usually try to just scoop stuff out with the skimmer net.
Click to expand...

That's what I've been doing. It usually isn't much of an issue but unbelievably we had TWO days of rain in a row in San Antonio!!! I cleaned it after the first one, it rained again, filled it back up with stuff. So now I have to do it again. This made me realize how nice a vacuum would be. I'm going to swing by Lowe's today and grab a 15' hose for $7 if they have one in stock. It's worth a shot. If it doesn't work, I'm not out much.
 
OMG, I'm so dumb! I forgot I had an extra pump left over from last year's failed pool. I only had two of the hose sections left over (the others had green mold in them so I tossed them), the one longer piece and then one of the shorter pieces. I duct taped those together and have hooked it up to the "sucking" port of the spare pump. So all the suction will be directed to the hose. I don't have a hose for the "exhaust" end but I'll just let the water pump on to the ground. Here's hoping!

p.s. I'm using a filter in it because I am afraid the exhaust would clog otherwise. Is that a waste, would it be ok without a filter in it for just vacuuming?
 
Rocks, grit and twigs can cause a jam on the pump impeller. Running without a filter is asking something to snag it--the openings are pretty small.

I would pick up a second sump pump hose or something the proper diameter to at least send the vacuum waste back into the pool. Water levels drop quickly when you're pumping it out.
 
harrenst said:
I have your exact same pool. After a few months with the size pump you have, I went out and got a slightly bigger one, which handles a standard vacuum just fine. Even so, I don't use it but MAYBE once a season because I suck most dirt out with a 15' clear vinyl 1/2" tube, you know, fill the tube with pool water and keeping one end in the pool, throw the other end over the rim. Voila! Instant vacuum. For the small scope of vacuuming our size pools require it's perfect. Yes you lose a little water doing it this way, so you gotta throw the garden hose in to get it back up, but I like to think it's good to keep replenishing it with fresh.
Click to expand...

After my failure with using the extra pump, I went and grabbed a 15' hose today. Figured I'd give it a try before I went trying to find more 1-1/2" vac hose.
 

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TxBuckeye said:
After my failure with using the extra pump, I went and grabbed a 15' hose today. Figured I'd give it a try before I went trying to find more 1-1/2" vac hose.
Click to expand...
i did the same thing a few years back.. Spare pump hose and graabbed a shop vac head and tapped everything up. Worked pretty good just a real pain to get it to prime. I ended up buying one of the pool blaster vacume it was way easier and faster
 
Yep, the 15' hose worked fine. No a super suction or anything. But I walked the pool clockwise to get everything to gather in the center, primed the hose, and it worked just fine. $7 sounds much better than $60. And it drained very little water. Didn't even need to add any since the pool is a tad high from a couple days of rain anyways. Only down side was my back wasn't digging the bending over. But for often as I should have to do it, that's fine.
 
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