Choosing an Automatic Pool Cleaner – What you Need to Know

Automatic pool cleaners afford you rest and relaxation from the daily grind of pool cleaning.

Automatic pool vacuums eliminate the need for you to spend your sunny days manually vacuuming your pool. Why spend time vacuuming your pool when you can be relaxing in it?

Swimming pool cleaners come in a nice variety of styles and sizes to suit any pool size or budget. They allow you to vacuum your pool with a simple flip of a switch, thereby freeing up your time and making the chore of pool maintenance a pleasant one.

The three, different types of automatic pool cleaners include:

• Automatic Pressure Side Cleaners – Automatic pressure side cleaners work through the use of water pressure. This type of automatic cleaner works off the water pressure coming from the pool’s main pump. The water pressure drives the cleaner around the pool and forces debris into the attached bag.

Automatic pressure side vacuums offer many benefits, as they do not suck large debris into the pool filter or pump basket. Instead, it goes into a separate bag where it can be discarded. Automatic pressure side cleaners can run off the pool’s main pump or off a separate, booster pump.

Automatic pressure side cleaners may prove very useful if your pool is located near trees, as it is very efficient at picking up large pieces of debris, such as twigs and leaves.

• Automatic Suction Side Cleaners – Automatic suction side cleaners rely on suction to move them about. They act like a moving drain, catching small debris and scrubbing the walls of the pool.

Automatic suction side cleaners actually agitate along the bottom and sides of the pool and suck the debris right into the pool’s filter. Although these types of cleaners can remove more particles than a standard cleaner with a separate bag, they are not a good choice if your pool is inundated with larger debris, such as twigs and leaves.

Automatic suction side vacuums are inexpensive to install, as they do not require any additional plumbing or pipes.

• Robotic Automatic Pool Cleaners – Robotic automatic pool vacuums consist of all-in-one units which are driven by their own, internal motors. They require a GFCI connection (use the services of a qualified electrician to install a GFCI outlet for you). They feature powerful pumps, on-board diagnosis systems which report problems and even “learn” the shape of your pool, and can be operated with remote controls.

Robotic automatic pool cleaners vacuum debris into their own filter using a separating pump located in the unit.

Robotic automatic pool cleaners are great at vacuuming up small debris, such as sand, and can efficiently scrub the pool’s liner, the tile and even the steps. Although they are very expensive – typically about $700 to $2,000 – they are often a good investment for the right type of pool.

Learn more about automatic pool cleaners by talking to your local pool and spa dealer who can recommend a pool cleaner that is right for you.