Why Is My Pool Vacuum Sticking to The Floor? Your pool’s suction vacuum is great help, but it cannot be 100% problem-free – no machine ever is. Therefore it is not surprising when users complain about their pool cleaner sticking to the pool floor. A few simple things like increased water pressure may be the cause. But first, you could google search your specific cleaner model to find other people with the same issues and how they tackled it. Nonetheless, we have an answer for you. 

If your pool vacuum cleaner keeps getting stuck to the pool bottom, chances are that the suction pressure between your cleaner and the pool floor is too much – which is unusual. Most of the time, this happens because your cleaner’s brushes are worn out due to use. In that case, changing it may eliminate the problem. 

Alternatively, you can reduce the water pressure by adjusting the flow control valve so that the pool cleaner operates normally. However, suction pool cleaners need suction to clean your pool properly. Hence, if your cleaner’s brush is bad, reducing the pressure will not help you much because now, your cleaner may resume working but might not clean your pool properly. 

Why Is My Pool Vacuum Sticking to The Floor?

Your pool vacuum works on the same principle as your regular home vacuum. The only difference is that it sucks in water instead of air, taking in debris as it encounters them. But sometimes the suction pressure created is strong enough to make the cleaner stick to the ground. In that case here are a few things you can do: 

Adjust The Flow

This is an obvious solution if you’re using an automatic pool cleaner, only it comes with a few cons(more on that later). However, adjusting the water flow translates to adjusting the pressure; an appropriate level seems to work for many pool owners and we think you should try it out. First, you have to figure out where your pool’s flow keeper valve is located. It looks like this: 

Flow keeper valve

This device helps to regulate the flow of water into the pool cleaner. It has a spring-loaded valve which you can use to open or close the water supply. Adjust it to the appropriate level until your cleaner stops sticking to the floor.

Con

However, check your pool cleaner unit to make sure the brush is not worn out. In that case, reducing the water pressure may prevent it from cleaning your pool properly. 

Main Drain Suction

In-ground pools have their main drains situated on the bottom of the pool. This means that when it’s actively raining, the suction pressure generated can be intense. If your automatic pool cleaner comes close to the active main drain, the machine’s suction combines with the main drain’s suction, securing your pool cleaner in place. You must rescue your cleaner ASAP to prevent damage to its components. 

 

The way to tackle this is to turn off your main drain while your pool vacuum does its work. This way, there’s less chance that your cleaner gets stuck in operation. Alternatively, locate the main drain controls at the pump and adjust the flow until it’s weak enough to be of no consequence. 

Why Is My Automatic Pool Cleaner Not Moving? 

Pool cleaners come in different variants based on working principles: Suction side, pressure side, and robotic. The kinds of hassles you will encounter varies from type to type. Let’s take a look: 

Suction Side Pool Cleaners

If your suction pool cleaner stops moving, inspect the cleaner hose. If it’s not firmly fixed to the suction line in the cleaner line. If, however, the cleaner hose is attached firmly, you may need to check for something else: holes/leaks In the hose. 

Holes in the cleaner hose will significantly reduce the suction power of the vacuum and as such, your cleaner may stop moving. Make sure that there are no holes in the hose; replace the hose if your find one. 

 

Additional, suction side pool cleaners are susceptible to blockage at the ‘throat’. They are suitable for tiny particles like sand; they struggle with and get clogged by troublesome debris like leaves, twig, etc. Check that the device is not clogged or connected improperly. 

Pressure Side Pool Cleaners

In this case, check that the booster pump is on and working properly. Also, since a pressure-side pool cleaner is propelled by the pressure generated by the water flowing through it, it will not move if your pool’s pump is turned off. Check that the pump is turned on. 

 

In addition, your pressure-side pool cleaner may stop moving if it comes from head to head with troublesome debris. Because they’re shaft, belt, or chain-driven, the right size of stone at the right place might bring it to a halt. 

Robotic Pool Cleaners

Robotic pool cleaners are the most versatile of the lot, hence, they don’t encounter as many hassles as the pressure side or suction side variant. For one, they’re self-contained and don’t depend on the pool’s circulation system to work. But on occasions, they may even get stuck. First off, check that they’re securely connected to the power supply. 

 

If there’s a problem with the connection but your robotic assistant won’t start moving, inspect the unit for signs of damage, wear and tear, or anything out of the ordinary. Robotic cleaners come with a plethora of helpful functions. Check to make sure that all the settings are where they should be. 

Most importantly, make sure that seals are still intact and not admitting water into your unit; water in the unit’s electrical parts may damage it irreparably. 

Where Does The Weight Go On a Pool Vacuum? 

If your pool cleaner is having trouble staying on the floor in the deep end, you may need to attach a weight to your pool cleaner’s hose. Adding weights to your pool cleaner assists it to have firm contact with the pool floor for proper cleaning, especially in the deep and other trouble spots. 

Being less dense than the pool water, the clear hose tends to float, so adding the right weight helps it to clean better. 

To place the weight appropriately, follow the procedure below: 

• Make sure the pool cleaner is switched off. Place it in the deep end of the pool. 
• Observe how it sits on the pool floor. Many pool cleaners struggle to stay flat against the floor in the deep end. 
• If the unit is not level with the ground, take note of the part that’s lifted: front seal or back. Place a weight towards the end of the first hose section, close to the beginning of the second hose. 
• If it won’t still sit flat, add a second weight between the beginning to middle of the third hose away from the cleaner head. A pool cleaner yearly needs a third weight. 
• Adjust the weights as necessary until perfect. When your cleaner sits flat against the cleaner should have no problems cleaning your pool – even in the deep end. 

Note: If after attaching the weight your cleaner stays in one position, remove or adjust one of the weights so that the unit can move freely to clean your pool. If your pool cleaner does not move even after removing or adjusting the weights, check for air pockets or blockages in the hose. 

Why Is My Pool Cleaner Not Cleaning? 

If your suction pool cleaner works but doesn’t seem to clean or pick up debris as it should, it may be that there’s an obstruction in the suction throat. You may need to check the suction throat to clear out any obstructions in it. Suction pool cleaners don’t do well with sizable debris like leaves or plastic wraps that could easily cause an obstruction. 

If instead of cleaning the entire pool, it leaves various portions of the pool untouched, you can make minor adjustments to the pool cleaner’s cleaning pattern and speed. If you have a pressure-side pool cleaner, it’s possible to increase its speed. Simply close the bleeder valve attached to the pool circulation. 

For suction cleaners, however, you can increase working speed by closing other valves while the cleaner is working. 

For pattern adjustment, you can adjust the position of the thrust jet at the rear of the cleaner. The position of the jet enables the cleaner to move about the pool randomly. Hence, changing the position of the jet from, say, 1 o’clock position to 11 o’clock position will help to keep the pool cleaner in a new pattern. Hopefully, it will begin to touch the neglected areas. If not adjust the thrust jet until you’re happy. 

Tip: 

If your pool cleaner gets stuck in certain areas of your pool, use 90° hose adapters pointing face down for the wall return jet. 

Why Is My Pool Cleaner Not Climbing Pool Walls?

Most automatic pool cleaners are designed to clean the pool floor as well as the walls. If your pool cleaner no longer climbs the walls or has trouble doing so, you may still troubleshoot by adjusting the pool cleaner’s cleaning pattern and speed. Adjusting the cleaning pattern may produce different results, but depending on what you get, you can fine-tune it until you get the settings right. 

 

Check that there are no suction or pressure leaks in the hose connecting the cleaner. A leak may lead to a reduction in cleaning power and speed, and this is a major reason why pool cleaners don’t climb walls as they should. A healthy hose will give the pool cleaner all the traction it needs to climb the wall and vacuum efficiently. Also, make sure the hose is not blocking the cleaner’s path. Incorrectly placed hose floats can tangle the pool cleaner. 

How Do You Keep a Kreepy Krauly From Getting Stuck? 

In the suction side pool cleaner category, Kreepy Krawly is an efficient lot. But sometimes, they may choose a cozy spot to nest in. The major reason why a Kreepy Krawly may get stuck in operation is that the hose has begun to curl. As a result, your Krawly cannot move randomly to clean your pool because the hose now has a memory over time. Don’t worry, here are two quick ways you can fix the problem: 

Method 1 – The Sun Treatment

Over time, your genuine hose may reset and curl due to a prolonged stay in the water. Don’t worry. This method is a proven way to straighten your hose: 

• Remove the hose from the swimming pool. 
• Place it on the floor on a hot day for a few hours. The hose will straighten out and be ready to use again after that. 

Method 2 – The Hot Water Treatment

If the environment is cold, here’s how you can go about straightening the hose: 

• Lay the hose straight on the floor.
• Fill them with hot(not boiling) water at about 55°C. 
• Roll the coil until the water touches everywhere and it begins to u curl. 
• Empty the hot water and replace it with cold water. This should reset the hose. 

Using any of the two methods yields the same results. Now, your Kreepy Krawly will spend less time getting stuck and will reach the farthest ends of your pool to clean it. 

What Is The Best Kreepy Krauly For The Money? 

Kreepy crawlers are one of the most versatile suction-side pool cleaners out there. If you’re looking to buy a suction cleaner that spends less time getting stuck and gets the job done, here’s what we recommend: 

Best For In-ground Pools: Pentair 360042 Kreepy Krauly Suction-Side Pool Cleaner

The Pentair 360042 Kreepy Krauly Suction pool cleaner is ideal for in-ground pools and automatically removes debris and dirt on the bottom and walls up to the waterline. 

It will even clean the steps or pool ladder. Although some users acknowledge that it may get stuck along these areas, you may easily get it on track again by manually readjusting the cleaner hose. 

PROS

• Powerful suction.
• One moving part to extend useful life.
• Does not require a booster pump. 
• Price.

Cons

• Cleans slowly. 

Best For Above Ground Pools: Pentair Kreepy Krauly E-Z Suction-Side Vacuum

The Kreepy Krauly E-Z suction side vacuum is specifically designed for above-ground pools. It is affordable and works just the same as the Pentair 360042 Kreepy Krauly above. Like the in-ground version, you will find only one moving part: the flapper. Meaning you won’t have to fix gears or wheels as time goes on, saving you time and repair costs. 

The EZ can handle pool vacuuming and skimming at the same time. It can safely operate with swimmers in the pool although we recommend that you clean before or after swimmers for maximum effect. 

Pros

• Virtually maintenance-free. 
• Bumper straps for free movement.
• Quick setup. 
• Price

Cons

• Cleans slowly.

Why Does My Pool Vacuum Lose Suction?

The first thing to do if your pool vacuum loses its suction is to inspect the hose. Clogged tubes will have poor suction power. Check the connection and length of the hose. If you haven’t measured your pool size correctly, this could be a problem. If it is, you can take the measurement yourself. Ensure that the hose is the correct length. Once you use the right length of hose, the vacuum should work as it should.

Another common issue is a clogged or air-filled hose. If you see a hole in the hose and you need to vacuum ASAP, you can use a pool putty to repair it. This will be a temporary fix, however. If this doesn’t work, you may need to buy a new hose. 

A sizable obstruction on the pool floor may be the culprit. The obstruction may be a twig or rock that was sucked up while vacuuming. In that case, your timely intervention may prevent damage to the machine and restore it to normal working order. You can disassemble the intake valve in the pump by using a screwdriver. The valve directs the suction from the skimmer or drain. If the valve is broken, it will leak water and prevent proper pressure.

Conclusion on Why Is My Pool Vacuum Sticking to The Floor

When it’s time to invest in an automatic pool vacuum, keep your eyes out for the ones that require little to no maintenance or human supervision(like the ones we recommend in this article. These machines will cut your pool-cleaning time in half or more. However, you do not want to rush the initial setup because most complainers get it wrong at this stage. The result will be complaints of pool vacuum sticking to the floor or not reaching the entire pool. If you had issues with your pool vacuum, we hope that this article helped resolve it.