- [Narrator] Along with the right pool chemicals
and regular cleaning, good circulation is a crucial part
of keeping your water clean and clear,
and bad circulation means your water
can quickly become stagnant and start growing algae.
Luckily, all it takes for good pool circulation
is the right return jet placement,
and some simple filter system cleaning.
Check it out.
(upbeat music)
(water splashing)
First, how does pool circulation work?
It's a simple process, but each step is critical
to keeping your water moving and filtered.
Step one, water flows out of the pool.
Your pool pump sucks in the water from the pool
through the skimmer and that's that rectangular port
with the flap door in the pool wall.
Step number two is water flows
through the pump and the filter.
Once the water is sucked out of the pool by the pump,
it passes through your pump and into your filter.
The filter cleans the water
by removing debris and contaminants.
Step number three, water flows back into the pool.
After it passes through the filter,
the water is pushed through the pool return jets.
So how do you improve pool circulation?
The first key is making sure
that your return jets are positioned properly.
Your pool jets keep the water moving and return clean water
from the filter system back into your pool.
They also help distribute chemicals throughout your water
so things like chlorine doesn't just sit in one spot
in your pool.
For good circulation, you'll need to direct the water flow
from your pool return jets.
Return jets should be multi-directional,
meaning you can adjust them.
If your jets aren't adjustable,
it's worth purchasing new jet fittings that are.
How should you aim the return jets in your pool?
Well, if your pool only has one jet,
point the jet toward the skimmer and downward.
This will help push water from the bottom of the pool
towards the surface.
If you have more than one jet,
point the jets in the same direction at a 45 degree angle
toward the bottom of your pool.
No matter how many jets you have,
make sure the pool jets aren't pushing water directly
at the skimmers or aiming towards the pool surface.
The skimmer can only pick up debris
if the surface of the water is calm and not moving too fast.
That's also why you want to make sure that your water level
in your pool is reaching halfway up the skimmer.
Also, when your return jets are aimed
at circulating the water at the bottom of your pool,
you'll help mix that cooler water
with warmer water towards the top,
giving you a more even temperature in your pool.
Now, what if your jets are blowing bubbles
or the water flow is weak?
If you see a lot of bubbles coming out of your return lines,
or you have weak jets,
you might have an air leak in your filtration system.
This usually occurs between the skimmer
and the pump and the leak could be at the unions,
pump seals or strainer lid.
Another reason your water flow might be weak,
a dirty filter system.
By the way, if you're looking for help
taking care of your filter system
and the rest of your pool, check out our free
Pool Care Cheat Sheet at SwimUniversity.com/CheatSheet.
It's a totally free, easy-to-use guide to help you
keep your pool water clean and clear.
Okay, so one of the quickest ways to improve
your pool circulation is to clean your filter system.
A clean filter means your pump can push more water
through your hoses and out through your pool's return lines.
Start by removing any debris from the skimmer baskets
and then make sure that your filter itself is clean.
If you're using a sand filter, backwash your filter
if your reading is 10 PSI above the normal reading.
If you're using a cartridge filter, check it for buildup
and spray it down in between filter changes,
or if your filter is reading 10 PSI above normal.
Now, if you want good circulation,
how long should you run your pool filter?
Well, this depends on your pool's turnover rate.
The turnover rate is the amount of time it takes
to circulate all the water in your pool
through your filtration system.
Every pool should turn over its water once daily
and that usually means running your filter system
for at least eight hours a day.
Now, if you're wondering if you have the right size pump
and filter for your pool, check out our other video
on how long you should run your pool pump.
Finally, let's talk about dead areas.
These are spots in your pool
that naturally have poor circulation
like behind ladders, above your pool steps,
underneath your skimmers and cracks, corners and crevices.
Sometimes dead areas are unavoidable
and that means manually taking care of them
by brushing your pool.
So brush your pool at least once a week,
especially in those dead areas to help break up debris
or algae and get them flowing into the filter.
And if you have any more questions about pool cleaning
and maintenance, go check out our free Pool Care Cheat Sheet
at SwimUniversity.com/CheatSheet.
And that's it.
That's how to keep your pool water circulating properly.
If you found this video helpful, leave a comment
or hit the light button and be sure to subscribe
for more pool maintenance tutorials throughout the season.
That's it.
Thanks again and happy swimming.