- [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.
