How to Get Leaves Out of a Pool

Getting leaves out of your pool can be a challenge, especially if your pool is situated under lots of trees. Leaves clog your skimmer and filter, use up your chlorine, cause stains, and create the perfect environment for algae to grow, so removing them before they start to decompose and damage your pool is essential.

There are three ways to get leaves out of your pool:

1. Skim out floating leaves with a leaf net or skimmer net
2. Vacuum out sunken leaves with a pool leaf vacuum
3. Use an automatic or solar skimmer to remove leaves as they land on your pool

Here’s when to try each method of removing leaves:

Skim Out Floating Leaves with a Leaf Net

A leaf net holds more debris than a flat skimmer, so you spend less time emptying it. Attach the leaf net to a telescopic pole for easy reaching and move the net in one continuous direction across the pool’s surface. I call this technique the “Cast and Scoop Method,” which lets you pick up leaves without having to constantly empty your net. Start at one end of the pool and work your way across in smooth, overlapping passes.

Buy a heavy-duty leaf net. Cheaper nets break easily, and you’ll waste money replacing them throughout the season.

Vacuum Out Sunken Leaves with a Pool Leaf Vacuum

Some leaves will inevitably sink to the bottom of your pool. While a regular manual pool vacuum head may work, it can easily get clogged if you have a lot of leaves. A pool leaf vacuum is your secret weapon for heavy-duty cleanup.

This specialized vacuum head uses water pressure from a garden hose to create suction that pulls up large amounts of leaves and debris. Unlike your regular vacuum head, a leaf vacuum can handle large debris without clogging every few minutes.

Attach a garden hose and a telescoping pole to the leaf vacuum head. The water creates a low-pressure suction (Venturi effect) that forces water and leaves upward into the mesh vacuum bag for easy collection. Some pool vacuums use a battery-powered motor instead of water pressure from a garden hose, but they’re much more expensive. 

Use a Solar Skimmer or Automatic Skimmer to Remove Leaves

Both solar skimmers and automatic skimmers remove floating leaves without needing any manual labor it takes to skim a pool. The one you choose depends on whether you have direct sunlight or want to keep your pool system running.

Solar skimmers float across your pool’s surface, powered by built-in solar panels and picking up larger debris without requiring your pump to run. Solar skimmers cost more than automatic skimmers but don’t need any hose connections.

Automatic skimmers connect to your return line with a hose or use rechargeable batteries to move across your pool and skim its surface. These work well for consistent maintenance, but your pump must be running for them to operate, or you need to recharge the batteries.

Some models come with both solar power and a rechargeable battery.

Whichever model you choose, a solar or automatic skimmer will reduce how often you need to manually skim your pool, and is worth considering if you have lots of trees around your pool.

How to Stop Leaves from Getting into Your Pool

The easiest way to deal with leaves is to prevent them from entering your pool in the first place.

1. Cover Your Pool with a Mesh Leaf Net

Cover your pool with a mesh leaf net when it’s not in use. This stretches across your pool to catch falling leaves before they hit the water. You can remove the net and shake off debris as needed, rather than spending hours skimming every day.

2. Skim Your Pool Every Other Day

Regular skimming prevents leaves from sinking to the bottom of your pool. Skimming also stops debris from clogging your skimmer basket and filter.

3. Run Your Pump Longer and Check Your Skimmer More Often

Keep your pool water circulating more and check your skimmer and pump basket every other day during leaf season. This keeps your circulation system running smoothly. Your built-in skimmer will help catch some debris, but it can quickly become overwhelmed. Empty your skimmer basket weekly to maintain proper water flow. If your basket fills up between cleanings, empty it more frequently.

4. Remove Debris Before Uncovering

When removing your pool cover, always clear away all leaves first. Any debris on the cover could accidentally fall into your pool, creating significantly more cleanup work.

Use a soft broom to sweep leaves to the edges. Then use a cover pump to remove any standing water that has collected on top. Never pull the cover off without clearing it first.

Key Takeaways

• Use a heavy-duty leaf net attached to a telescopic pole for removing large amounts of leaves quickly and efficiently.
• Skim your pool every other day during leaf season to prevent debris from sinking and clogging your filtration system.
• Vacuum sunken leaves with a pool leaf vacuum that’s built for removing large debris.
• Consider automatic or solar skimmers to reduce manual skimming time, especially if you have many trees near your pool.
• Install a mesh leaf cover to prevent leaves from entering your pool, and keep the cover clear of accumulated debris.
• Empty your skimmer basket weekly (or more often during heavy leaf season) to maintain proper water circulation.

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