One of the traditional methods of cleaning a pool is to use a manual vacuum head. These attach to the same aluminum pole you use for the rest of your cleaning tools, but they also require a pool vacuum hose. When using a manual vacuum head, you need to make sure you have a high quality pool vacuum hose. Also, you must have a hose that can reach as far as you need it to. Many pool owners opt for robotic cleaners. However, situations will always arise where you want to break out the good old manual pool vacuum hose and head. So what should you look for in a pool vacuum hose anyhow? How should you choose one?
How To Choose A Pool Vacuum Hose
First, it’s a good idea to look at what type your pool is. If you have an above ground with tubular metal frame, your skimmer may accept a 1 1/4” diameter vacuum hose. Most of the time however, your vacuum hose will be 1 1/2” diameter. Your vacuum hose will plug into one of two places. First, you may have a vacuum port on the side of your pool. This is a dedicated place to plug in your vacuum. These are not used on most modern swimming pools. This is because there is a very real entrapment risk if the vacuum line is left on, and the port lid breaks off.
Next, there is the more common approach which works on almost every pool out there, the skimmer. What you do is remove the skimmer basket, and plug the hose into the unblocked hole. In some cases, you may plug into the rear hole if both holes are open.
There is something important thing to remember whenever you are using a pool vacuum hose. Fill the hose with water as much as you possibly can before you plug it in. This will prevent sucking air back to the pump. That can cause cavitation and break your suction capability temporarily.
How To Find Correct Length For Your Pool’s Vacuum Hose
Now that you know what size hose and where to plug it in, you need to determine how long of a hose you’ll need. You don’t want to get a hose too much bigger than you’ll need. However, at the same time, you don’t want to buy one that’s too short to reach the furthest corners from where you plug the hose in. A good rule of thumb is to buy a hose that’s the same length as the longest point of your pool.
This will give you the ability to reach the whole pool in most cases. Of course, this is dependent on where you will be plugging the hose into the pool. For example, maybe the skimmer is at the end of your pool. Then, you’ll want to buy a hose that’s longer than the full length of the pool. That way, you can easily reach the far walls of the pool.
Pool hoses are available in various standard lengths, from 18 feet to 50 feet. It’s important to make sure that your hose has a ‘swivel cuff’ which means it’s capable of twisting and turning while you vacuum without needing to be adjusted. Virtually every hose on the market has this, but it’s good to double check since some hoses intended to be used as extension sections do not.
Best Pool Vacuum Hose: US Pool Supply
One of our favorite pool vacuum hose companies is US Pool Supply.
- Professional heavy duty 1-1/2″ (38mm) x 30 foot (9m) spiral wound swimming pool vacuum hose with kink-free swivel cuff.
- A strong, flexible spiral wound crush-resistant hose that is built to last for many years! It’s constructed with durable EVA material that is UV and…
- The swivel cuff allows for kink-free maneuverability with no tangles. Connect the swivel cuff directly onto the vacuum head or accessory and connect…
Since pool vacuum hose manufacturers are nearly all making a commodity at this point, one of the major ways you can differentiate between them is warranty. US Pool Supply will replace your hose at any time for any reason within the first 5 years of ownership.
Yes, this requires keeping track of your purchase receipt. Furthermore, it likely requires you to mail the hose back to them when something goes wrong. Although, it’s a great peace of mind knowing your hose will last the test of time. If you buy the product above on Amazon, you won’t have to worry about digging up a receipt, they’re stored digitally in your account.
Pool Vacuum Hose Summary
In the end, a pool vacuum hose is one of those pieces of pool maintenance gear you need to have around. Hopefully this article helped you choose what size hose you need. Additionally, we wanted to explain why you might consider it necessary to have one. Keep in mind you should always keep safety the first priority. Pools are inherently dangerous, so it’s important to mitigate risk at all times.
