What could be the most annoying event while cleaning the swimming pool? Hoses keep coming out of could be one of them, right? It may happen because we don’t really know how to hook up hoses for above ground pool.
If we don’t hook up hoses, we won’t be able to clean our pool at all. The pool filter, skimmer and pump are the most essential equipment in the pool cleaning process. And we connect all of them together with pool hoses.
First, we need to assemble the equipment so that it doesn’t consume time unnecessarily. Then we need to connect the pool filter, skimmer and pump together with hoses, just like wires connect electronic devices.
After that, we need to prime our pump; it’s required because if there is air in the pump, the pump won’t be able to function and eventually break down. Finally, we need to adjust the water flow so that we either don’t get a low flow of water or a high flow of water and the water pressure doesn’t damage our hoses.
The Basic Equipments you need to hook up hoses for Above Ground Pools
Before we jump into hooking up hoses from the get-go, we really need to learn about those hoses. There are various types of hoses when it comes to swimming pools.
If we look into only above-ground pools, then the list would narrow down. Filter hoses, vacuum hoses, backwash hoses, intex hoses, etc. are the types we need for above-ground swimming pools. You can get an in-detail view right here.
Alright, now let’s talk about a few pieces of equipment that are required for above-ground pools and how they usually function.
· Pool filter
· Skimmer
· Pump
The top entry for the list is the pool filter. Obviously, it means the filtration system of the swimming pool. But what roles do hoses play in pool filtration?
Pool waters need to be cleaned and sanitized, and pool filters are the ones that get the job done. It uses pool filter hoses to filter the water to throw it back into the swimming pool.
The next piece of equipment on the list is the skimmer. The skimmer and pool filter are somewhat connected to each other. Though skimmer is mostly found in in-ground pools, it is possible to see them in above-ground pools also.
The skimmer sucks out the water from the swimming pool, it uses a skimmer basket to collect debris, algae, and bacteria from the water and store them there. Then it sends the water to the pool filter to sanitize the water. After the entire filtration process, it sends back the water through filter hoses to the swimming pool.
The final equipment here is a pump (main pump if there are multiple pumps). So, what role does a pump play in above-ground pools?
The pump can be considered the heart of the circulatory system of a swimming pool. It drains out the water through hoses and distributes them among all other equipment like skimmers, pool filters, etc.
In conclusion, hoses are the only equipment that can connect all these pieces of equipment together. So, it’s essential for us to know how to hook up hoses on above ground pool.
Hooking Up Hoses: Step-By-Step Guide
Hooking up hoses is a piece of cake if you have learned it once. But for the newbies, it could be bothersome to do it without any prior knowledge. And that’s where we come to help you with it. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to set up hoses for above ground pools. Let’s dig into it.
Assembling the equipment
Before going through any of the setting up processes, we need to assemble the equipment correctly. Without proper assembling, the equipment could fall out easily. There are multiple cases where people don’t know how to keep pool hose from coming off.
You need a pool vacuum head to connect your hose’s head to it. A hose would definitely have two open ends. The other end would go with the skimmer. That’s it if you use a pool vacuum. What if you are trying to use your pool’s own filtration system to clean the pool? You need to use the main pump for that.
Connecting the hoses to the filter, pump and skimmer
Take one open end of your pool hose. Now, locate your pool’s skimmer. You could find the skimmer at the side of the pool (it’s basically hanging on the side with a basket submerged in the water).
Once you have found the skimmer, take your hose clamp and attach it to the hose’s open end. Now, place the hose clamp in the skimmer. Skimmer would navigate the water to the pool filter.
Once you have placed the hose clamp in the skimmer well, you need to take the other end of the pool hose and connect it to the main pump. You could use a hose clamp there too. The pump will generate suction to move the water to the skimmer, and then to the pool filter.
Priming the pump
Priming is basically taking out the air from the pump, so that water could flow through it without any suction loss or any other difficulties.
It’s necessary because if you don’t prime your pump, air will interrupt the water flow, taking up space enough to make the pump malfunction. Air can also get into hoses; thus, you will also need to know how to get air out of pool vacuum hose.
Now, how can you prime a pump? Make sure your pump’s power is totally turned off. Open the relief valves, and attach a hose to them. Now, turn on the water flow and wait until it enters the tank. Then, turn on the power. Your pump is being primed!
But if you are still having trouble with priming, you can watch this tutorial video.
Adjusting the water flow
It’s fairly necessary that you cannot just put a random suction power to the pump, right? You need to check for the water’s speed. If the flow of the water is too much for your hoses to handle, the hose could get damaged due to immense pressure.
Your pump must have a regulator that could handle the suction power of the pump. Keep it low at best, but if you notice your pool is being cleaned way too slowly, then try to put more pressure to accelerate the flow of the water.
Alrighty, we are done with the guide to properly hooking up the hoses for the above ground pool. Now, there are some tips to place the hoses properly and route them accurately.
Get a long hose to cover the distance between the pump and the skimmer
Your hoses should be put into a place where your hose wouldn’t be tight enough to get damaged or leaked. Skimmer and main pump are equipment that is placed somewhere permanently. Although, your above-ground pool can be moved.
If you want to place your hoses well, you first need to buy a hose long enough to cover the distance between the pump and the skimmer. For routing, you could just place the hose submerged in the water. That way there will be nothing to interrupt the water flow.
For safety precautions, you could use tape to hook up the hoses with any equipment. That’s how it won’t come out easily. And as we said, you don’t have to worry about the hose if you place it submerged in the water. You could ask for a swimming pool expert to secure your suction line.
You could use hose clamps to place the hoses perfectly in the skimmer and attach it well to the pump. You can get all sorts of equipment from any swimming pool service.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
All the troubles won’t get away if you just follow the guides to know how to hook up the vacuum hose on the above ground pool. Yes, you could also use vacuum hoses instead of regular hoses.
There could be many more difficulties that you need to overcome. The chances of running into those issues depend on how careful you are with your vacuum hoses.
Leaks in the hoses
Leaks can be a serious issue in a pool hose. It will make a way for outside air to get into the hose, resulting in suction loss. Water will eventually come out of the hoses; the amount will depend on how large the leak is.
Low water flow
No, it is not the water flow we were talking about earlier, it is kind of a water flow that doesn’t give us the authority to take control over it. In other words, you could say that there is suction loss and that’s why the flow of the water is low.
These are the common issues you possibly could face while hooking up hoses in above ground pools. Let’s see how can we fix them.
Checking for leaks in the hoses
If you don’t want to run into such inconvenient problems, you have to check for leaks regularly. Sometimes, hoses will get leaked for no specific reason. You have to check the hoses before you go to clean the pool and make sure to check right after cleaning the pool.
Cleaning the filter
Your pool filter can get clogged if you don’t clean it frequently. Debris and dust could cluster up in the filter even if they are certain to get stuck in the skimmer. A clogged filter can decrease the performance of the entire pool filtration system.
Adjusting the water flow
Often times, the suction loss is responsible for low water flow which can be caused by hose leaks. So, you need to fix them up by any swimming pool professional.
Most times, the reason for low water flow is not adjusting the water pressure in the pump at the right value. Make sure you use your valves properly to set and adjust the water flow.
Maintaining and Storing Hoses
Maintenance of the pool hoses are truly critical. If your hoses are damaged, you cannot clean your swimming pool appropriately. Here are some tips you could use to store and maintain them.
Cleaning the hoses after each use
Not only cleaning, you need to check for leaks also after each use. That way you can secure and be consistent with your pool cleaning. And cleaning them regularly will make sure that the hoses don’t get piled up with debris.
Storing hoses properly to avoid kinks or damage
Kinks are also a reason why air will get into hoses. To keep them safe from kinks and damage, you need to store them in a proper circular motion. If you mess up with the circle, the hose will either get kinks or get damaged.
Maintaining the hoses correctly will help you make them live for longer. If you are careless while handling them, you have to pay for the deeds. An effective way to keep them safe is using plastic wraps. They won’t let any air or dust pass through.
You can also keep the hose clamps on the hose. They will be a barricade that won’t let anything pass through the inside of the pool hoses.
Conclusion
Every detail you need to know on how to hook up hoses for above ground pool is right here. We already talked about what equipment you will be using and how to set them up. The guide is all you need to properly set up the hoses.
Also, here are some issues that you could generally face, but don’t worry we have given the solutions too. You need to maintain the hoses well to make them live longer.
Try to check if there is any problem with the pump regularly. It is the heart of the pool’s circulation system just like the heart is like to body. Air getting inside both the pump and the hose can really be disastrous.
And if you want any more guides on swimming pools like how to open pool vacuum ports or something like that, you can contact us via email.
If you think you need an expert’s piece of advice, you can always go to them.
Read more, learn more:
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