Automatic Pool Cleaners

In case you don’t know, an automatic pool cleaner is simply an underwater device that cleans the bottom of your pool automatically. This works out for us because sometimes we just don’t have the time to manually vacuum a pool. And with larger pools that job could be close to a four-hour process.

To anyone out there who owns a pool and does not own an automatic pool vacuum, we highly suggest you purchase one. If you hate vacuuming your pool then you’ll love an automatic cleaner. A clean pool makes you want to swim more often. That’s why you bought a pool in the first place.

As far as automatic cleaners go, there are 3 different kinds to choose from. We will start off with the suction-side cleaner.

The Suction-Side Cleaner

What this cleaner does is literally suck dirt and debris off the bottom of your pool and into your filter. This method is extremely effective since it's the way ALL manual vacuum cleaners work.

The reason this is the least preferable is because it’s as tough as setting up a manual vacuum and it’s not safe to leave it alone. Reason being is, if something gets caught in it, it will run dry and so will your filter and pump - which is not good. It can also cause a clog in your filter and pump as well.

This type of cleaner can be part of the less expensive models as well but we do not recommend this kind of cleaner. It works though!

The Pressure-Side Cleaner

This is definitely the most popular type of pool cleaner. If you ever heard of Polaris pool cleaner well then you’ve heard of pressure-side cleaners. These are cleaners that use the return line (the port that pushes water into your pool) instead of the skimmer, which is sucking water into your filter.

With a pressure-side cleaner it can run for hours as long as your pool is running. Some folks even let it run while people are in there but there is risk of stepping on it and breaking it.

The way this cleaner works is it uses water pressure to blow water up into a bag creating a water vortex and when it’s done cleaning the bottom of the pool you just empty the bag (instead of backwashing a filter like on a suction side cleaner.)

The Robotic Pool Cleaner

If you are looking to get the most efficient and easy to use cleaner then look no further than robotic pool cleaners. This cleaner combines the power of a suction-side cleaner with the easy and speed of a pressure-side cleaner. The only downfall to this type of cleaner is the price, which is significantly higher than most cleaners because it runs on electricity instead of using your swimming pool’s pump and filter system to power it.

The good thing about these types of cleaners is the fact that you can clean your pool without having to run your filter system and its much faster than all other cleaners. They have two motors, one for the pump and one that drives the unit. The pump sucks water and debris off the bottom, which gets filtered through a bag (much like a pressure-side cleaner). Then clean water is blown out of the top. This happens the same time where the other motor is driving the wheels along the bottom of your pool.

In conclusion, getting any type of cleaner will definitely benefit you in the short term and in the long term and will more likely cause you to swim and get more use out of the pool because it will always look inviting.