How to Choose the Best Pool Cleaners

Pools are amazing features to have in the backyard of your home, and they provide endless hours of enjoyment for children and adults alike. However, maintaining a pool can also be a lot of work, especially when it comes to cleaning. When you have a pool, you need to make sure that you have the best automatic pool cleaner for above and in-ground swimming pool owners to make the process of cleaning it a lot easier.

Unfortunately, many people don’t know what they’re looking for when choosing the right pool cleaners, which can lead to less-than-ideal results. This guide will give you the basics of pool cleaners to help you decide what to buy.

Kinds of Pool Cleaners

Before you start looking for specific models, you need to know first the different types of pool. The most crucial factors in determining the right pool cleaner include pool size, shape, nature of contaminants, frequency of usage, and budget. These factors will tell you whether you need a suction side, pressure side, or robotic pool cleaner. Let’s take a look at these types one by one.

Suction-Side Pool Cleaner

The suction side operates with the pool’s dedicated suction line or connects to the pool’s skimmer. It uses a suction created by the pool pump to push the cleaner around the pool.  The machine scrubs and vacuums the pool surfaces while the filter takes the dirt away from the pool. The suction side is the cheapest among the three types.

Suction side cleaners work great in removing small particles, but they can strain your pump and filter if the pool is too dirty. Heavy items like pebbles, nuts, leaves, or twigs can damage the machine. If your pool has a high debris load, you can connect an in-line leaf canister to the device’s hose to prevent clogging of the pump basket.

Pros:

1.      Least expensive among the three

2.      Least moving parts

3.      Easy maintenance

4.      Best for removing fine debris

Cons:

1.      Needs washing after every use

2.      Poor performance in removing big debris

3.      Needs a pool pump to work which can lead to the latter’s early wear and tear

Pressure Side Pool Cleaner

This type of cleaner uses the pressure of the water flow from the return line to mobilize the machine.  Pressurized water drives the cleaner around the pool, which sends dirt into an attached filter bag. In reality, the water that is released back into your pool is what powers the device.

Unlike suction cleaners, this type does not use the pool’s filtration system to weed out dirt and debris. Rather, it captures the particles using a filter bag. This mechanism reduces wear and tear on your filtration system and extends your pool components’ life. 

A pressure side is more practical for sifting out leaves and other big materials than suction or robotic cleaner. It also helps circulate and distribute warm water if your pool is heated.

Pros:

1.      Less expensive

2.      Easy maintenance

3.      Can remove big debris

Cons:

1.      Needs a pool pump to work which can lead to the latter’s early wear and tear

2.      May require an extra booster pump to reach most parts of the pool

3.      Not energy-efficient

4.      Needs to empty and clean filtration bag after use

Robotic Pool Cleaner

Robotic cleaners are the best automatic pool cleaners in town, suitable for all pool types. They are propelled by a low voltage engine plugged into a regular GFCI outlet. Unlike the first two, this type is not tied to your pool gear in any way. Any dirt collected is retained in a filter canister inside the device. Because of this, its filter needs to be cleaned out regularly before storing. 

Robotic cleaners save the pool filter from working extra hard with a lot of trash since it has its own filter. This technology extends the life of your pool equipment and increases the duration between filter cleanings. Their filters have a remarkably high filtration efficiency, with some models that can filter out particles as fine as microns. This type is for you if you want thorough cleaning to promote healthy swimming.

Pros:

1.      “Plug and play” convenience

2.      Built-in filtration system

3.      Energy-efficient

4.      Some models can even climb walls and stairs

5.      Can cover more areas

6.      Remote-control options

7.      Some models are Bluetooth capable

Cons:

1.      Expensive

2.      Needs to empty and clean filtration bag after use

Factors to Consider Before You Buy

Now that you know the types of automatic pool cleaners let’s look at some of the factors you need to consider when buying one.

Pool Size

The first consideration must be the pool size. If you have a large pool, it could mean that there will be more gunk a cleaner will have to deal with. In this scenario, you need a cleaner that can handle larger amounts of garbage. It also implies that cleaning takes longer, costing you more money on your energy bill. Thus, if you have a big pool, you should think about purchasing an effective cleaner with a robust filtration system.

Pool Shape

The pool’s shape is also essential to consider. Many people ignore this, but it is crucial in selecting the right cleaner for your pool. Is your pool a standard rectangular or square shaper, or does it have a more unusual shape, like kidney-shaped (curved) pools? This is essential since some models are better suited to curved pools. Some pool cleaners are also suited for stairwells, acute angles, and corners. 

Pool Materials

Swimming pools are built from materials like concrete, vinyl, pebblecrete, and fiberglass. Each of these materials has unique characteristics that impact the performance and outcomes of various pool cleaners. Make sure to choose a made intended to clean the material from which your pool is constructed.

Pool Depth

The depth of your pool is another element that is easy to miss. If you have an in-ground or above-ground swimming pool, its depth is critical since deep pools will need a long hose to reach the bottom and the area on the other side. 

Kind and Severity of Debris

Is your pool close to a beach? Is it enclosed by trees? While having a beachfront or a pool surrounded by woods has many advantages, these features also influence the type and amount of debris that enters your pool. This is vital since certain pool cleaners struggle to pick up large amounts of leaves and twigs. Or if there are heavy things to be vacuumed, such as sand.

Final Words

As you can see, there are many things to consider before rushing to the store and picking any automatic pool cleaner you like. Apart from those mentioned above, you also have to factor in the cost, cleaning schedule, warranty, and frequency of cleaning.

Aside from this guide, we suggest you also look at the user reviews of the product you’re eyeing on. This will tell you what others