A Short Guide On Automatic Pool Cleaners

If you are considering installing a pool, you might have some concerns about how much time you will need to spend cleaning it.

Right?

Well, don’t let that stop you because there are plenty of great automatic pool cleaners out there. And, no, not pool cleaning companies, although that would be your best option if you choose to pay someone to clean your pool for you. But that’s not what we’re talking about here. We are talking about equipment—automatic pool cleaning equipment.

What Is an Automatic Pool Cleaner?

An automatic pool cleaner is a vacuum cleaner for your pool and it’s designed to clean the dirt, sediment, and debris from your pool automatically, with very little human intervention. There are three different types of automatic pool cleaners and they are suction, pressure, and robotic.

1. Suction Pool Cleaners

Suction pool cleaners attach to a skimmer, dedicated vacuum line in the pool wall, or other suction port. Then the cleaner uses the suction from the pool’s filter to vacuum the pool. And the pulsating water is used to create the motion. In addition, some cleaners are designed to climb walls, some have wheels, and others have rubber disks that lay on the pool floor.

The Benefits of a Suction Pool Cleaner

• They are the least expensive pool cleaner on the market.
• Uses fewer parts than other pool cleaners which means there are fewer parts to break.
• They are very easy to install and use.

The Drawbacks of a Suction Pool Cleaner

• Clogs at the unit or pump basket more easily than other cleaners.
• The speed at which it cleans will depend on your pump size and the flow of the water.
• More human intervention is needed because you have to connect and disconnect it from the skimmer if you want to clean the surface.

The Average Cost of a Suction Pool Cleaner

There is a wide range of prices for a suction pool cleaner, but you could expect to pay anywhere from $100-$400 depending on the model you choose.

2. Pressure Pool Cleaners

Pressure pool cleaners are the most popular types of cleaners and they attach to a pool return or dedicated line for the cleaner. These cleaners come in two different options, which are booster pump powered cleaners or filter pump powered cleaners. The booster pump cleaners are more powerful than a filter pump cleaner and can be run on a time-clock if it’s attached to a dedicated line. They are also much faster, meaning most pools can be completely cleaned in less than two hours. The filter pump cleaners are not as powerful and have to be manually attached and removed in order to shut them off.

The pressure pool cleaners have wheels, a filter bag, hose, and return-jet hose. These work using the pool pump to push the unit through the water while it cleans your pool, then sends the loosened debris and other fine particles up through the filter bag.

The Benefits of a Pressure Pool Cleaner

• They are quick and powerful and can easily handle medium and large debris.
• The booster pump cleaners are completely automatic and can shut themselves off.
• These are completely independent of the filter system which means they don’t rely on the pool pump and filter.

The Drawbacks of a Pressure Pool Cleaner

• The booster model is expensive to install if you use a dedicated line and time-clock.
• These have more moving parts; therefore, require repairs more frequently.
• The booster pump model uses more energy.

The Average Cost of a Pressure Pool Cleaner

Just like anything else, there are plenty of options to choose from when buying a pressure pool cleaner. However, you could expect to pay anywhere from $265-$900 depending on the model you choose. Contact your local pool company to learn more about which option is best for you.

3. Robotic Pool Cleaners

Robotic pool cleaners don’t attach to your pool’s system. A robotic pool cleaner only uses 24 volts to power the onboard motor, pump motor and drive motor. And some of the newer models are jet-propelled so they only have one motor.

The robotic pool cleaners have a debris bag and that’s it, so they are easily emptied when they are full. In addition, the in-ground robotic pool cleaners can also climb the walls and scrub your waterline as well.

The Benefits of a Robotic Pool Cleaner

• The prices have been coming down on these over the last few years.
• They are quick, thorough, and some can even program themselves.
• Easy to install and no assembly is required, just plug them in and let them go.

The Drawbacks of a Robotic Pool Cleaner

• Some models can be a bit expensive.
• They are more fragile than other units so they are more easily damaged.
• These clog more easily, especially when large debris is present.

The Average Cost of a Robotic Pool Cleaner

Yep, you guessed it! There are a bunch of robotic pool cleaners to choose from so the prices are all over the board with these as well. However, you can expect to pay anywhere from $400-$4,700 for residential models. So again, don’t hesitate to contact your pool company for advice and recommendations about which model is best for your particular situation.