Swimming in your family pool with your dog is fun until it’s time to clean the filters.
As much as we want to give them fun exercise in the water, we also don’t want to damage our pool.
Can dog hair ruin a pool pump?
No, it can clog the system, but a good pool pump is strong enough to carry dog fur with regular maintenance.
Find out how dog hair can clog a pool filter and the level of difficulty in getting rid of it.
Learn how to get dog hair out of the pool and how to protect the filter from fur.
Look at our recommendations for the best pool pump, filter, and skimmer for dog hair.
Does Dog Hair Clog a Pool Filter?
Yes. Dog hair can clog a pool filter, but it doesn’t necessarily damage the whole system.
Different resources will tell you that one dog is equal to three, twenty, or even fifty people in the people at once.
This implies that their hair and dander can affect the filtration system more than humans can.
Watch this video of an owner of five Golden Retrievers and what happened to his Intex pool.
According to him, the filter needs to be cleaned every 6 to 8 hours for a few days.
Look how much fur ends up on the drain. The owner plucks it off with his bare hands. You will also see more fluff floating on the surface and under the water.
Even if you only have a small puppy that isn’t prone to shedding, dog hair floating on the pool surface is unavoidable, especially if they love to swim.
Even though dog hair won’t ruin your pool right away, it can still lead to costly repairs in the future if you let the skimmer or pump basket stay clogged for a long time.
Is It Hard to Get Dog Hair Out of Pool?
Yes. It can take more effort to clean a pool with dog hair than a pool without, but the process is the same.
Even if you don’t have a dog who swims in the pool, you will still need a hand vacuum.
If you have a cartridge filter, you will need to clean the filter more frequently. The same is true if you have a sand filter. You’ll have to backwash it more frequently.
Having a skimmer sock is a requirement if you have a dog who enjoys taking a dip in the pool.
This item catches dog hair to make the removal easier before it reaches the actual filtration system.
If you don’t want to keep coming back for cleaning, try using a larger or stronger filtration system. It will allow your swimming pool to clean itself more efficiently.
Aside from removing dog hair from the pool, you also need to adjust the chlorine level of your pool from time to time. But if you have a chlorine generator, this makes it easier.
How to Get Dog Hair Out of Pool
Here’s a step-by-step guide to removing dog hair from the pool.
Get Skimmer Socks
Skimmer socks are a must-have if your dog swims a lot in the pool. The fine mesh material hinders the hair and dander from passing through the skimmer basket holes and filter.
Remember that skimmer socks only work to keep debris from the pump filter if the pump is switched on. If it’s off, then it’s useless.
A cheap alternative to skimmer socks is a hairnet, pantyhose, or knee-high stocking. Any material with the same nylon mesh can also keep dog hair away from the basket and filter.
Remove the Skimmer Lid
Remove the skimmer lid and pull out the skimmer basket. If there is any dog hair, make sure to pull it out and clean the basket.
Next, wrap the skimmer sock’s edges around the basket’s rim.
Make sure to clean the skimmer basket regularly to avoid clogging.
Turn the Pump On
Place the basket back along with the lid and turn the pump on. As mentioned, the skimmer socks will only collect dirt and hair if the pump is working.
Let it run until the pool is free from dog hair. Then, remove the basket from the skimmer.
Use a Pool Cleaner
An automatic pool cleaner will help vacuum your pool and collect all the debris that doesn’t go into the skimmer socks.
In only a few minutes, the quality of your pool water will also improve.
The XtremepowerUS Premium Automatic Pool Cleaner can help you clean your pool. It’s easy to use and doesn’t require any electricity.
You can attach the automatic vacuum to your existing filtration system and let self-navigate around the water for optimal cleaning.
You can even try a robot vacuum for your pool.
The Bigzzia Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner is completely waterproof and uses a powerful upgraded motor to provide powerful suction.
The best part? It has two suction doors and brushes at the bottom. It cleans leaves, dirt, debris, buds, and sand from your pool.
Have a Stronger Pool Filtration System
If it’s time to train your dog to swim in the pool, you know it’s also time to have a stronger filtration system.
They will begin to love the water and your old filter may not be able to handle it.
A larger and stronger filtration system will guarantee that the hair will not make the pool dirty right away.
Make sure you talk to your local pool professional for upgrade recommendations.
How Do I Protect My Pool Filter From Dog Hair?
Here are three additional tips to protect your pool filter from dog hair.
De-Shed Your Dog
You can brush your dog or use a de-shedding tool like the Furminator to prevent shedding in the pool.
The Furminator Undercoat De-shedding Tool has stainless steel teeth that can reach your dog’s topcoat to get rid of loose hair. The brush has a FUREejector button that easily releases the hair.
Brush your dog before going for a swim to reduce the amount of fur in the pool by up to 90%.
Use a Hand Vacuum with an Internal Filter
A hand vacuum is important whether or not you have a dog who swims a lot.
They work alongside the filtration system of the pool to gather debris and dog hair clumps on the surface and bottom.
Add an Extra Layer of Skimmer Basket
You can use another skimmer sock or skimmer basket to further prevent dog hair from reaching the filtration system.
A hairnet or pantyhose to double the filter will also do well to clear the pool.
Watch the Chlorine Levels
The pool filter is not the only thing to worry about when you have a dog who swims.
You also need to monitor your chlorine levels because high levels can result in irritated skin and fur.
Another reason to monitor the chlorine levels is that dogs have a very sensitive and keen sense of smell.
Be mindful of how much chemicals you are putting in your swimming pool.
You may opt for a salt-chlorine generator to keep the chlorine levels at bay.
Again, talk to your pool professional for advice on this.
Best Pool Pump for Dog Hair
An amazing pool pump should be powerful enough to clean your pool many times a day.
While there are three main types of pool pumps, we recommend Hayward W3SP2610X15 Super Pump if you have a dog.
It’s considered as the standard because it is the best-selling and most heavy-duty.
Its high performance makes it ideal for families that have dogs because it can sanitize the water better than other pumps.
Hayward can also handle large swimming pools and cool temperatures.
The pool pump’s strainer is 110 cubic inches so it can hold a lot of dog hair without ruining its effectiveness.
You can also try XtremepowerUS In-Ground Pool Pump if you want an affordable yet efficient pool pump.
The variable-speed model can work from low to high speed at 2- horsepower motor. It can also handle large pools with its large debris basket.
If you need more advice, or want someone to install it for you, your local pool shop is your best option.
Best Above Ground Pool Filter for Dog Hair
For a cartridge filter, we recommend Intex Krystal Clear Cartridge Filter Pump. At 1000 GPH, the filter is easy to install.
You only need to replace the Type A or C cartridges every couple of weeks.
The filter can improve the clarity of your pool water, enhance air freshness in the pool, and boost the filtration, making swimming more fun for our furry friends.
Learn what type of pools are best for dogs.
Best Pool Skimmer for Dog Hair
The best pool skimmer for dog hair is the PoolSkim USA’s Pool Skimmer.
This award-winning automatic pool skimmer can be installed directly to your water line to sift through the water and suction the waste.
It features a removable nylon bag below the skimmer which you can easily attach and remove. You can clean the bag and return or replace it with a new one.
Before buying this skimmer, make sure to check your pool manual because some need modifications for the threading system to operate correctly.
On the other hand, you can opt for a manual skimmer with a fine mesh frame, like the Sunnyglade Swimming Pool Cleaner to remove debris from the surface of your pool.
Always Remove Dog Hair from the Pool.
It’s unfair to stop your dog from taking a dip in the pool just because you don’t want to experience the hassle of removing fur from the skimmer socks every two hours.
Instead, invest in a high-quality pool filtration system that can carry bigger clumps of dog fur. This will reduce the need to maintain the filter as often.
You can also add extra layers of skimmer socks and baskets while using a vacuum to reach the debris on the pool floor.
Have a fun swimming session with your dog and make sure you also know how to get them out of an above-ground pool.
