Venturi leaf vacuum

[mariane]

I'm looking to purchase this leaf vacuum system for use without a pump. This one requires the use of a garden hose and adds water as it vacuums the leaves. The battery-operated ones are at least $150, and we're not interested in spending that much.
We live in Metro Detroit and want to use it until the water freezes but don't like the idea of adding water just to pump it out. We are not using a winter cover. Long story about that.
Has anyone purchased this and what is your opinion?
Thanks

Pureline Venturi Pool Leaf Vacuum with Swivel Wheels and Brushes - PL0046​

 

[an1vrsy]

When I lived in SoCal, our pool was surrounded by trees. Well after windy days, I used one and it worked great to capture and get the leaves out of the pool. It doesn’t really add that much water, at least to our pool. The benefit on removing the massive amount of leaves to the detriment of adding a minimal amount of water, in my case was a wash. YMMV.

 

[ScudBar61]

I have one. Works great. If you have a hose bib off your pool pump, you could run it without adding water.

 

[mariane]

I have one. Works great. If you have a hose bib off your pool pump, you could run it without adding water.
View attachment 541978

Thanks for your reply.
We have an above ground pool and, sad to say, have already lowered the water level and blown out the lines, preparing for the hard freeze.
So, we'll have to remember this in the spring and summer when we need to add more water and when we need to remove leaves without getting the in-wall vacuum cleaner hocked up.

 

[mariane]

I'm updating this post to let you all know we ordered the leaf cleaner. Shipment was canceled by Amazon (don't know why) and then reshipped just in time for the temperature drop and hard freeze.
We were getting ready to return it when the weather changed and we had a thaw, which then made it possible to clean out the leaves (there were a lot of them) and it worked great. Then had to drain off the water it adds due to our winters and hard freezes.
This was a couple weeks ago. We're back to a hard freeze for a few days and then a major thaw again right before Christmas. We'll determine if we need to remove any more leaves (we have one tree that waits to drop its leaves until December).
Thanks to you all for your help.

 

[duraleigh]

By far, the best way to remove leaves is with a leaf net. I;m glad the vacuum worked for you..........I had limited success with it removing massive amount of leaves.

My best strategy was to scoop (forever) with the leaf net and then use the vacuum leaf cleaner to get the leaves I could not scoop. Any method will be dependent on the amount of leaves but it looks like you have found a strategy that works for you

 

[ScudBar61]

One other option-get a submersible water pump that hooks up to a water hose. Put it inside a 5 gallon bucket inside your pool. Hook up the water hose to your leaf vacuum. then you’re just using pool water. Then you also have a way to pump out your pool if needed.

 

[mariane]

One other option-get a submersible water pump that hooks up to a water hose. Put it inside a 5 gallon bucket inside your pool. Hook up the water hose to your leaf vacuum. then you’re just using pool water. Then you also have a way to pump out your pool if needed.

Thanks for the input!
Question: Were you able to control the submersible pump's output so as not too strong a stream of water?
We do have a submersible pump but thought the output might be too strong for the Venturi.

 

[ScudBar61]

most of those pumps are single speed, so varying the flow rate is probably not an option. My pump puts out about 30% more than the hose bib at my house. I doubt that would overwhelm the venturi.

 

[mariane]

most of those pumps are single speed, so varying the flow rate is probably not an option. My pump puts out about 30% more than the hose bib at my house. I doubt that would overwhelm the venturi.

Great. Thanks!

 

[Mayorb]

Just to verify, these are standard equipment, and can be found on every pool maintenance truck.
They don't do well for bulk leaves, those piles have to be scooped out with a leaf rake.
Once you can see individual leaves, or small piles, bring this tool in. They can also be adapted to attach to a powered cleaner hose (cleaner with its own booster pump) without adding water, and usually stronger venturi action than a garden hose.

 

[mariane]

Just to verify, these are standard equipment, and can be found on every pool maintenance truck.
They don't do well for bulk leaves, those piles have to be scooped out with a leaf rake.
Once you can see individual leaves, or small piles, bring this tool in. They can also be adapted to attach to a powered cleaner hose (cleaner with its own booster pump) without adding water, and usually stronger venturi action than a garden hose.

Thanks Mayorb. We only get small piles of leaves so it worked well.
In the spring we'll need to add water anyway so using the garden hose will probably work well for us.

 

[1poolman1]

Thanks Mayorb. We only get small piles of leaves so it worked well.
In the spring we'll need to add water anyway so using the garden hose will probably work well for us.

Many pool equipment installations include a hose bib between the pump and filter for draining a bit of water from the pool. Attaching a hose there will usually give enough pressure and flow (VSP on a higher or "quick clean" setting) to run the leaf-vac without adding additional water to the pool if it is not necessary.

 

[mariane]

Many pool equipment installations include a hose bib between the pump and filter for draining a bit of water from the pool. Attaching a hose there will usually give enough pressure and flow (VSP on a higher or "quick clean" setting) to run the leaf-vac without adding additional water to the pool if it is not necessary.

We have a 1 1/2 HP single speed Doughboy pump. DIY setup with 1 1/2" pvc pipe. We might be able to add a hose bib. This could work well in the spring when we have to add water to open the pool.
We have to lower the water level before a hard freeze when closing the pool, so using the hose bib after closing would not work for us. We can't put off closing till December, when the one tree drops its leaves, in case of a hard freeze.