Yes, you can vacuum a pool on recirculate, but it won't filter debris - it only circulates water back to the pool. This setting is useful for extremely dirty pools to avoid clogging your filter system.
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Yes, you can vacuum your pool on the recirculate setting, but it's important to understand what this accomplishes. When vacuuming on recirculate, water bypasses your filter entirely and returns directly to the pool. This means debris gets stirred up and redistributed rather than being filtered out. However, there are specific situations where this approach is actually beneficial.
The recirculate setting is particularly useful in these scenarios:
Understanding your multiport valve is crucial for effective pool maintenance. On the recirculate setting, water flows from your pool through the pump and directly back to the pool through the return jets, completely bypassing the filter tank. This creates circulation without filtration, which serves several purposes:
The continuous water movement helps distribute chemicals evenly throughout the pool, prevents stagnation in dead zones, and allows you to vacuum without putting stress on your filter system. However, any debris you vacuum will remain suspended in the water column until it either settles again or you switch to a filtration mode.
Before starting, ensure your multiport valve is in the proper position. Turn off your pump, rotate the valve handle to "Recirculate," and restart the system. Allow the water to circulate for 5-10 minutes to establish proper flow patterns.
Set up your vacuum equipment as normal - connect your vacuum head to the telescoping pole, attach the vacuum hose, and prime the hose by holding it against a return jet until it fills completely with water. This prevents air from entering your pump system.
Move slowly and deliberately across the pool surface. Since you're not filtering debris, rushing will only create more turbulence and suspend particles higher in the water column. Work in overlapping patterns, similar to mowing a lawn, to ensure complete coverage.
Pay special attention to areas where debris tends to accumulate: around steps, in corners, near skimmers, and in the deep end where heavier particles settle. Take your time in these problem areas.
This is the key question many pool owners have. When vacuuming on recirculate, debris follows one of several paths:
Heavy debris like sand, leaves, and larger particles will often resettle to the bottom after the water movement stops. This is why many technicians vacuum on recirculate first, then allow settling time before switching to filter mode for a final cleanup pass.
Fine particles and algae remain suspended longer. These require chemical treatment and proper filtration to remove completely. If you're dealing with algae, maintain your shock level chlorine (determined by your CYA level using the FC/CYA chart) while circulating on recirculate.
After vacuuming on recirculate, you'll need to complete the cleaning process. Allow the pool to sit undisturbed for 2-4 hours to let debris settle. Then switch your multiport valve to "Filter" mode and run a complete filtration cycle.
For sand filters, you may need to backwash more frequently during this process. DE filters should be monitored closely for pressure increases, and cartridge filters may require mid-cycle cleaning if dealing with heavy debris loads.
When using recirculate during pool recovery, maintain proper chemical balance. If you're performing a SLAM treatment, keep your free chlorine at shock level (typically 10-12 ppm for pools with 30-50 ppm CYA). Test and adjust every few hours, adding liquid chlorine as needed to maintain levels.
The recirculate setting is excellent for chemical distribution. New additions of chlorine, pH adjusters, or algaecides will circulate evenly without being removed by your filter media.
Consider these alternatives depending on your situation:
Waste/Drain setting: If your system allows, vacuuming to waste removes debris permanently but requires makeup water. This is ideal for heavy debris situations when you want immediate removal.
Filter setting with frequent backwashing: For moderately dirty pools, vacuum normally but backwash or clean your filter more frequently to prevent clogging.
Manual removal: For large debris like leaves or toys, hand removal before vacuuming reduces the load on any system setting.
Regular maintenance prevents situations where recirculate vacuuming becomes necessary. Skim daily, brush weekly, and maintain proper water chemistry to prevent algae growth. When your pool stays clean, standard filtration vacuuming is always more effective than recirculate methods.
Monitor your filter pressure regularly. If pressure rises quickly during normal vacuuming, it may indicate the need for filter cleaning or a switch to recirculate mode to protect your equipment.
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