Removing blown in sand from pool

[ranchoreplete]

I live in the country and our land is extremely sandy. We have a 16x32 ft inground pool (uncovered in the winter). The wind has blown 20-40 mph all through March and April of this year. The bottom of the pool is completely covered in sand. My question is, can i vacuum this out without causing damage to my pump and impeller??

[PoolDoc]

I dunno, and I'm afraid the only way to find out for sure is to do it. If you have an inground vinyl pool, you probably don't have any other choice.

One possibility -- buy a cheap 2" trash pump, modify the connections a bit to hook up to a vac hose, and use it:

Champion 66520 2-Inch Gas Semi-Trash Water Pump (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00C2VF7K8/scouscho-20/)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81jJLtlYbCL._SX522_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00C2VF7K8/scouscho-20/)

[PoolDoc]

I should add that this is only a good idea if the trash pump is less expensive than your pool pump. If you have an AG pool of some type, you can do a siphon vacuum, though you may end up draining your pool completely. Still that might be better than killing your pump.

[CarlD]

I'm going to step up and say there's a better solution: That is a garden-hose drive vacuum like the black magic:
Poolmaster 28008 Black Magic Pool Jet Vacuum (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007PZN7S/scouscho-20/)
I think Bioguard used to make a similar one. But here's a similar one to the Black Magic:
Ocean Blue Water Products 130055B Standard Jet Vacuum (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0052SZC0S/scouscho-20/)Or, if you want a permanent investment, you could get a Pool Blaster rechargeable vacuum. It will be more expensive, but you'll use it for years after...I'm on my second.

Both options should pick up the sand without damaging anything. The Black Magic is basically a venturi with a catch-bag and the Pool Blaster's like a Dust buster where the bag is in front of the motor.

I like the idea of trying the Jet Vac head because they don't cost much, and ADD water via a garden hose rather than drain it, as a syphon would.

Ironically, the pressure-side cleaners like the Polaris work the same way--using the return pressure. However, you do NOT want that sand getting into the pump and filter.

[PoolDoc]

Thanks, Carl.

I'd forgotten about those . . . probably because I've never used one. That would definitely be the thing to try first.

I would caution that, while PoolMaster is a long time US brand, the other appears to be an Asian made 'brand-of-the-moment'. Even if PoolMaster's products are made in Asia, PoolMaster does some quality control. However, my recent experience with Asian made 'no real brand' products has been that the quality is AWFUL. So if you order the second model, try it immediately, so you can send it back to Amazon during their 30-day return window.

[CarlD]

Ben, I don't disagree. Personally, I'd go with the Black Magic. The Biogard one I have from a zillion years ago was as well-made, if not better, than the Black Magic, but I don't know if it's available. Luckily, they are very simple gadgets and harder to screw up. I just offer options.

The Pool Blaster is a far more expensive option but as I said, I'm on my second and I wouldn't be without it! I have not used a suction side vacuum in 8-10 years, not since I got the first when it was still called a "PoolBuster" (to mimic DustBuster--I guess they got sued for using a similar name).