Assembling your Blue Wave DirtBlaster Automatic Cleaner:  How to assemble DirtBlaster Cleaner?

It is really simple east to assemble the all pieces if you follow the below steps.

STEP 1: ATTACH THE SEAL
To install the seal locate the word “UP”.  Face it up towards the body of the cleaner.  Gently stretch the seal over the foot pad of the cleaner until it sets itself into the groove as illustrated.  Once in place the seal should rotate and move freely.
NOTE: The seal is not reversible. It must be installed with the flat side facing down towards the pool liner and the pleated side facing upwards.

STEP 2: ATTACH THE DIVE FLOAT RESTRICTOR
The dive float restrictor is attached by sliding it over the cleaner’s body as shown. It is fastened by sliding it over the ‘U’ shaped locking clip on the body of the cleaner. Make sure the locking tabs on both sides snap securely into place.
NOTE: The dive float restrictor should be installed with the float facing up.

STEP 3: ATTACH THE ROLLER BUMPER STRAP
Insert the bottom end of the strap into the slots provided on the top and bottom of the main body. Make sure both ends snap in securely.

STEP 4: ASSEMBLE THE HOSE
Your cleaner hose comes in 3’ sections. The hoses are connected by inserting the male cuff of one hose into the female cuff of another. Twist the sections together until a snug fit is established. Assemble enough sections of hose to reach from where the cleaner connects to your skimmer to the opposite end of the pool, plus one section. For example, if you have a 21’ round Above Ground pool, you will need to connect 8 sections of hose for a total of 24’ of hose.
NOTE: One of the hose sections has 2 female ends. This section should be fitted last and will attach to the pool’s vacuum connection.

STEP 5: INSTALL AUTOMATIC REGULATOR VALVE (optional)
This valve is strongly recommended for optimal pool cleaner performance, however it is only necessary in instances where there is excessive pump flow. Excessive suction could make the cleaner move too fast and could damage the vacuum’s components and/or decrease DirtBlaster’s ability to navigate the pool. In these instances, the regulator valve must be used. This will help restrict flow of water and make DirtBlaster operate more efficiently.
NOTE: Automatic Regulator Valve must be installed so the bypass port is facing down and is below the water level.

STEP 6: INSTALL EYEBALL DIVERTER
To install the eyeball diverter, remove the original eyeball from the return by unscrewing the lock ring. Replace the original eyeball with the pool cleaner eyeball diverter. Replace the lock ring and tighten. The best way to position the eyeball diverter is so the flow is directed downward. This will help prevent the return flow from interfering with the pool cleaner’s movement.

NOTE: In order for your DirtBlaster Pool Cleaner to work properly the hose needs to be completely primed. The easiest method of priming the hose is to simply put the end of the hose up to the pool’s return fitting (eyeball) with the pump running. This will force water through the hose and purge out the air. Keep the pump running until there are no air bubbles coming out of the end of the hose.

DirtBlaster Parts

PART NAME	ABOVE GROUND PART #	IN GROUND PART #
1) Body	——-	——-
2) Float Restrictor	NEP2058	NEP2063
3) Eyeball Diverter w/ O-Ring	NEP2053	NEP2053
4) Hose Weights (3 pack)	NEP2056	NEP2056
5) Automatic Regulator Valve	NEP2060	NEP2060
6) Hose Cone	NEP2055	NEP2055
7) Roller Bumper Strap	NEP2065	NEP2065
Pleated Seal	NEP2059	NEP2064
9) M/F Hoses 3’x1.5”	NEP2057	NEP2066
10) F/F Hose 3’x1.5”	NEP2054	NEP2062

Troubleshooting

FAQ: Pool Cleaning Equipment

Sometimes we all need a little help clarifying pool product lingo. Here we present six Frequently Asked Questions regarding pool cleaning equipment and care.

1) The suction-side cleaner is moving very slow? What could be the problem?
It is advisable to check the pump basket for debris, ensuring that the filter is clean and water is flowing properly. Also check the throat of the cleaner for any obstructions. Obstructions also may be found where the hose attaches to the suction line. Check hose for splits, obstructions, or holes. If a pool contains a lot of leaves from surrounding trees, an in-line leaf trap is recommended for use with the suction cleaner.

2) The suction-side cleaner isn’t cleaning the entire pool. How can this be improved?
First off, the hoses may be too short. Another common cause is that the cleaner itself may be following the flow pattern of the water in the pool—in other words, strong flow from wall return jets will push the cleaner into a pattern. The remedy is to adjust the return port wall fittings, or add wall fittings to the return ports. It helps to point the fittings down or at a downward angle. If the pool doesn’t have wall fittings at the return ports, there are alternative wall fittings made by the manufacturers to divert the flow.

Quick tip: Always rotate the wearable parts on the cleaners and replace those wearable parts when needed. These parts will prevent the need to replace more expensive components.
3) The robotic pool cleaning unit will not move. What is stopping it?
If the indicator light is not glowing on the transformer, ensure that the transformer is turned on and that the 3-volt fuse isn’t blown. (The indicator light can be glowing even though the fuse is blown.)
Also check the electrical outlet with another electrical appliance to ensure power is available.
If the power is available and the fuse is good, try wiggling the power cord plug from the unit to the transformer. Older units may begin to short out at the plug; a new plastic female plug may be required.
Inspect the unit itself while it is partially underwater. Is the pump motor receiving power? Is there water gushing out of the top of the unit? This would indicate that power is reaching the unit.
Additionally, is the pulley on the drive belt side turning? If not, this may indicate a shorted motor, or a corroded drive T, which would also require motor replacement.

Quick tip: Always ensure that belts tight and in good repair, as they often become stretched and weaken over time. If the belts are “skipping” and are not locked into the grooves of either the drive pulley or the wheel tubes, they may require replacement. Check that the wheel tubes are in proper position with bushings in place on either end. If the tubes are not straight, the drive belts will not be tight.
4) The robotic unit does not pump. What is the problem?
If the unit moves, but does not pick up any debris, lift the unit up near the surface of the water. Does water gush out of the top? If not, the pump motor may be shorted.
Unplug the unit and pull it out of the water. Remove the vent cap on top of the unit and check that the impeller does not have string wound around the base. Turn the impeller by hand to check spin. Plug in unit and check spin. If there is no spin, the pump is probably shorted.
Another reason may be that the pump motor is not working properly is if the unit won’t climb the walls very far before falling off. The pump motor provides the suction it needs for climbing.
5) Should a pool be brushed regularly?
A pool brush normally is attached to a telescopic pole, and is most commonly used to brush algae off of the walls. Brushing a pool will keep dirt from occupying the small pores and starting small organic farms. Steel bristled brushes—called algae brush—are very effective on algae. However, do not use a steel brush on a vinyl-lined pool.
Done regularly, brushing reduces the time spent vacuuming. Brush from the shallow end toward the deep end in overlapping strokes. Circle the pool towards the main drain, and much of the dirt will be swept up into the filter in this manner.
6) It takes too long to scoop out leaves from the pool. What is the fastest and best way to do this?
Using a leaf skimmer to scoop out the leaves will slow the process dramatically. It is best to first use a leaf rake, which is much like a leaf skimmer but has a deep bag-like net instead of a flat net. A leaf rakes holds many more leaves with each scoop. Also, a leaf rake allows the water to pass through much easier when it has leaves in it than a leaf skimmer does, thereby preventing the water wave that results in front of a leaf skimmer from pushing the leaves away from it.
A leaf rake also is much easier to use when scooping leaves from the pool bottom. When scooping the bottom, extend the pole out as far as possible, face the Leaf Rake back towards you, and pull towards you. This will scoop up the leaves as you pull.

Quick tip: The best way to keep leaves out of a pool in the first place is to empty the skimmer basket(s) often. Rather than letting the skimmer basket fill up, dump the basket as needed. This may be several times a day, but it’s still a lot easier than getting leaves off the bottom. For pool systems wherein the pump is on a timer, run it longer so that the skimmer(s) are working longer.

It cannot be stressed enough how important cleanliness and sanitation are in regards to your above-ground pool. During winter, your pool is most susceptible to potential damage caused by nature. This article will be your guide to the types of damage winter can inflict on your above-ground pool, and the measures you can take to prevent them and keep your pool safe during the coldest months of the year.

After the summer months have come and gone, you must protect your pool, as nature will wreak havoc on your above-ground pool during the winter months if you are not prepared. The types of damage that can happen during wintertime are numerous and varied. Snow and sleet constantly falling from the sky can land in your pool and eventually start to freeze into ice. Ice stuck to the walls of your above-ground pool can weaken the walls of your pool, essentially turning it into a giant ice cube tray, and can cause heavy rusting and thinning of the walls once spring comes around. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can hit your above-ground pool and weaken the structural integrity of the pool’s frame and walls, even without the presence of humidity from the summer months. In addition, algae is constantly growing around your above-ground pool, even during the winter months, and you may find a large infestation of algae in and around your pool without a proper deterrent.

Despite the chaos nature can bring during the winter months, there is no need to panic. Every problem mentioned can be easily prevented to prolong your above-ground pool’s lifespan. A strong winter cover and tight winter cover seal will solve most of your problems. The winter cover, woven multiple times from heavy polyethylene scrim and coating, can withstand any amount of snow or sleet nature can throw at you this wintertime. Set-up is simple: just stretch the cover over the entire upper rim of the pool. The elastic band running around the edges will hold the cover in place. No additional tools are needed. The winter cover can stretch around the entirety of any above-ground pool style, with an added four-foot overlap around the pool’s upper rim, providing extra coverage for your pool and preventing any chance of a high build-up of snow to damage the pool’s interior. The winter seal is a tough poly blend film that wraps and seals itself around your pool’s rim, on top of the winter cover. When wrapped multiple times around the pool rim, the seal prevents strong gusts of wind in torrential winter scenarios from blowing the seal off of the pool’s rim and affecting the pool’s interior. Once springtime returns, the seal can be safely cut off of the pool rim and recycled. Note that these damage prevention methods only apply to the inside of the pool. The exterior walls of the pool will be able to withstand snow, ice and other harsh weather conditions without breakdown: only the insides of the pool need special protection.

Winter is not kind to any sort of swimming pool, which is why owning a well-constructed pool cover is vital to preserving your above ground pool throughout the winter and all other periods during the year containing inclement weather.

On the Ground Pools website, you will find two types of protective pool covers: 8-12 Year Winter Covers, and 12-15 Year Safety Covers. The main difference between winter covers and safety covers are that safety covers are specifically designed to cover and protect pools built into the ground: winter covers are designed to protect above-ground pools. Each safety cover has numerous hooks running along the edges of the structure that connect to the pavement surrounding the pool. Winter covers, on the other hand, have elastic covering on its edges, allowing it to overlap the sides of the above ground pool with ease. While it is true that the 15-year warranty of the safety cover is enticing, it does you no good if you have an above ground pool, as the design is not currently compatible with the different pool shape. Remember: above ground pools require a winter cover, pools built into the ground require a safety cover. Make sure you remember the differences when buying pool protection!

Every pool cover found at Ground Pools is made from the same brand: “Arctic Armor”. Arctic Armor is made and constructed from the strongest materials and has the best long term value for protecting your above ground pool. The longest the warranty coverage, the stronger and more powerful the cover is. Any pool you have can have a custom pool cover designed to fit its shape and diameter. For more information about above ground pools and their covers, visit Winter and Safety Covers.

An above ground pool is a fantastic way to swim, relax, and have fun all throughout the summer and late spring seasons. However, as they say, all good things must come to an end. Eventually (and it will most likely feel too soon every time), summer will end, fall will begin, the weather will get colder and unfit for swimming and outdoor activity. In order to protect the above ground pool from the upcoming poorer weather, you will need to purchase a winter pool cover. There are several choices of pool cover, however, so decisions and choices will have to be made.

Each winter cover found at Ground Pools is under the label “Arctic Armor”. Each cover is woven from strong polyethylene tapes that will keep any moisture or ice out from the inside of your pool. Every “Arctic Armor” pool cover is also put together with an extra foot of material, allowing an easier fit over the sides of the pool walls. “Arctic Armor” Winter Covers are, without question, the best value pool covers available.

The basic type of above ground cover is the 8-Year Winter Cover. As the name suggests, an 8-Year Winter Cover will last for 8 winters, coming with an 8-year warranty should any accident occur, before needing to be replaced. Every size and shape of above ground pool has a matching cover available for purchase. It doesn’t matter if you have a round or oval pool- there is an 8-year cover that will fit your needs and keep the elements from damaging your pool.

Those looking for something slightly more advanced than the basic set-up should consider the 12-Year Winter Cover for their above ground pool. Made from a polyethylene scrim and coating and woven more times in construction than the 8-Year, the 12-Year cover can withstand the harshest weather conditions, such as blizzards and hailstorms. In addition, the 12-Year cover can also, if necessary, handle extreme heat from the sun. Unlike the 8-Year, however, the 12-Year is only made for covering round pools with a 12’, 21’, or 28’ diameter.

Any pool you have can have a custom pool cover designed to fit its shape and diameter. For more information about above ground pools and their covers, visit groundpools.net.