Which Automatic Cleaner is right for my pool? Robotic, Suction, Pressure or Return Side Cleaner?
I get asked this question often on my website and YouTube channel and my answer depends on many factors which I will go over a little in this article.
My answer will vary from person to person but there are some general rules in choosing a cleaner. The most pressing questions are how much will a good cleaner cost and will it clean my pool effectively?
The price between the different cleaner types vary widely so it is better to focus on the price point in each category of cleaner. The most expensive cleaner types are the Robotic cleaners followed by the Pressure Side cleaners and the most affordable cleaners are the suction side cleaners.
Robotic Cleaners:
A good Robotic cleaner with all the bells and whistles will run you over $1,500 in most cases. Quite an investment but you do get a good return for your money. Today's robotic cleaners are much improved over the 1st generation which came out a few years ago. The motors are more reliable and longer lasting, they can now clean the walls and tile line and there are added features like a programmable cleaning cycle, remote control and an anti-tangle cord swivel. Most of the higher end Robotic cleaners come with a 2 or 3 year warranty. They are that well built and reliable and the manufacturer can offer the longer warranty since it is unlikely you will have to use it.
Some of the benefits of a Robotic Cleaner are:
It runs independent from your pool system which means your filtration system stays cleaner and it doesn't matter if your equipment is old or not functioning well.
There are no hoses to worry about and once you
are done cleaning the pool you can remove the Robotic cleaner and store it.
They clean the pool very well in most cases -the more expensive models will even clean the tile
line.
The Hayward Aquavac 500 is great choice with
just enough features to make it exceptional but keeping the price arond $1,000.
The negative factors are a high price point in most cases and the need to send it out for service vs fixing any problems yourself. Most now come with at least a 2 year warranty so that is not a deal breaker. They are highly reliable and effective pool cleaners.
Aquabot makes a line of affordable Robotic cleaners which retail for under $400 like the Aqaubot Rapids seen here in this video. Aquabot offers a 2 year warranty on their cleaners and
for the price they are surprisingly well made
and clean the pool very well. If you are on a
budget or don't feel like spending a $1,000,
then looking into one of these lower priced
Robotic cleaners would be a good option for you.
If money is not a factor then you may want to
get a top of the line Robotic cleaner like the Polaris 9550 Sport. This one has it all. A S
even day programmable timer that can be set for up to 3 weeks. A remote control that is very responsive and a very sturdy cart. The 9550
sport cleans the pool exceptionally well all
the way up to the tile line. It also has a cool function where it will come to the side of the
wall with a push of the button and climb up
to be taken out. A first class robotic cleaner
all around.
Pressure Side and Return Side Cleaners:
Polaris makes some of the best Pressure side cleaners on the market like the 3900 Sport.
I have several pressure cleaners on my pool route and they leave the pools spotless each week. If
you are having your pool built or remodeled maybe consider a Pressure Cleaner.
The Pentair Racer is the Premier Pressure Side cleaner. It works so well that it will clean your pool faster than any other Pressure cleaner on
the market. It has a huge debris bag and is powered by an extra wide feed hose allowing
for more water flow to the cleaner. There is an internal back-p valve so no water shooting out
of the hose and it has extra large front tires to maneuver effectively around your pool. A great choice.
The Return Side cleaner is a great option if you have a newer pool with 1 1/2" threaded return lines. This cleaner connects right into your existing return lines and works much like a Pressure cleaner with the exception that no booster pump is needed. I have these on several accounts and love them.
The Polaris 360 is the premier Return side
cleaner and is the most popular of them all.
The only major drawback is that since you need to restrict one or more return jets to generate sufficient pressure the skimming action of the
pool is reduced. It is not a deal breaker but something to be aware of. So if you have lots
of large debris in your pool and think a
Pressure Side cleaner would work, try a non-booster pump Return side cleaner as an
alternative to remodeling your pool.
The Hayward Poolcleaner Return side cleaner
is a great option for you. The hoses are long lasting and it has a large debris bag on top,
plus a well designed gear system that turns the cleaner in your pool to give you the most coverage. It is a great engineered product
that will effectively clean your pool each week.
Suction Side Cleaners:
The Voyager by IPP retails for close to $100
and is a very effective cleaner. It is well
engineered and backed by a three year warranty
on the body.
The Suction side cleaner is the one most popular on my pool route as they are affordable, effective and there are a lot of different models to chose from. In most cases I will suggest a good suction side cleaner since they are also easy to set up and easy to repair when something breaks.
The Hayward AqauNaut is the top sction side cleaner on the market. It is designed based off
of the PoolCleaner by Poolvergnuegen which Hayward purchased in 2013. It is a virtually flawless design and it will leave your pool
spotless each week. You can also purchase
the Hayward Poolcleaner or Hayward Phoenix
as all three are the same cleaner with different body color and design only.
So I hope this article and the videos have proved helpful as you make a decision on which automatic cleaner is best for your pool. You can post a question and I will be happy to answer it for you.
To learn more please visit my website:
http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/#!top-automatic-pool-cleaners-of-2015/ccs6
The price between the different cleaner types vary widely so it is better to focus on the price point in each category of cleaner. The most expensive cleaner types are the Robotic cleaners followed by the Pressure Side cleaners and the most affordable cleaners are the suction side cleaners.
Robotic Cleaners:
A good Robotic cleaner with all the bells and whistles will run you over $1,500 in most cases. Quite an investment but you do get a good return for your money. Today's robotic cleaners are much improved over the 1st generation which came out a few years ago. The motors are more reliable and longer lasting, they can now clean the walls and tile line and there are added features like a programmable cleaning cycle, remote control and an anti-tangle cord swivel. Most of the higher end Robotic cleaners come with a 2 or 3 year warranty. They are that well built and reliable and the manufacturer can offer the longer warranty since it is unlikely you will have to use it.
Some of the benefits of a Robotic Cleaner are:
It runs independent from your pool system which means your filtration system stays cleaner and it doesn't matter if your equipment is old or not functioning well.
There are no hoses to worry about and once you
are done cleaning the pool you can remove the Robotic cleaner and store it.
They clean the pool very well in most cases -the more expensive models will even clean the tile
line.
The Hayward Aquavac 500 is great choice with
just enough features to make it exceptional but keeping the price arond $1,000.
The negative factors are a high price point in most cases and the need to send it out for service vs fixing any problems yourself. Most now come with at least a 2 year warranty so that is not a deal breaker. They are highly reliable and effective pool cleaners.
Aquabot makes a line of affordable Robotic cleaners which retail for under $400 like the Aqaubot Rapids seen here in this video. Aquabot offers a 2 year warranty on their cleaners and
for the price they are surprisingly well made
and clean the pool very well. If you are on a
budget or don't feel like spending a $1,000,
then looking into one of these lower priced
Robotic cleaners would be a good option for you.
get a top of the line Robotic cleaner like the Polaris 9550 Sport. This one has it all. A S
even day programmable timer that can be set for up to 3 weeks. A remote control that is very responsive and a very sturdy cart. The 9550
sport cleans the pool exceptionally well all
the way up to the tile line. It also has a cool function where it will come to the side of the
wall with a push of the button and climb up
to be taken out. A first class robotic cleaner
all around.
Pressure Side and Return Side Cleaners:
Pressure Side cleaners are extremely effective.
They have a large debris opening and a large bag
on top for debris. They can clean a large pool
in 2- 3 hours or less. The drawbacks are that
they need a separate booster pump installed
and a dedicated return line. So usually Pressure Cleaners are installed when the pool is
constructed or remodeled.
on top for debris. They can clean a large pool
in 2- 3 hours or less. The drawbacks are that
they need a separate booster pump installed
and a dedicated return line. So usually Pressure Cleaners are installed when the pool is
constructed or remodeled.
Polaris makes some of the best Pressure side cleaners on the market like the 3900 Sport.
I have several pressure cleaners on my pool route and they leave the pools spotless each week. If
you are having your pool built or remodeled maybe consider a Pressure Cleaner.
The Pentair Racer is the Premier Pressure Side cleaner. It works so well that it will clean your pool faster than any other Pressure cleaner on
the market. It has a huge debris bag and is powered by an extra wide feed hose allowing
for more water flow to the cleaner. There is an internal back-p valve so no water shooting out
of the hose and it has extra large front tires to maneuver effectively around your pool. A great choice.
The Return Side cleaner is a great option if you have a newer pool with 1 1/2" threaded return lines. This cleaner connects right into your existing return lines and works much like a Pressure cleaner with the exception that no booster pump is needed. I have these on several accounts and love them.
The Polaris 360 is the premier Return side
cleaner and is the most popular of them all.
The only major drawback is that since you need to restrict one or more return jets to generate sufficient pressure the skimming action of the
pool is reduced. It is not a deal breaker but something to be aware of. So if you have lots
of large debris in your pool and think a
Pressure Side cleaner would work, try a non-booster pump Return side cleaner as an
alternative to remodeling your pool.
The Hayward Poolcleaner Return side cleaner
is a great option for you. The hoses are long lasting and it has a large debris bag on top,
plus a well designed gear system that turns the cleaner in your pool to give you the most coverage. It is a great engineered product
that will effectively clean your pool each week.
Suction Side Cleaners:
This is the most familiar type of cleaner to most consumers and the most popular type. A suction cleaner works off of your pools existing pump and attached to the skimmer or a side/ vacuum port in your pool. Depending on the pool and type of
debris this can be the most effective and cost effective cleaner type for you. Most suction side cleaners retail for $400 or less.
The Voyager by IPP retails for close to $100
and is a very effective cleaner. It is well
engineered and backed by a three year warranty
on the body.
The Suction side cleaner is the one most popular on my pool route as they are affordable, effective and there are a lot of different models to chose from. In most cases I will suggest a good suction side cleaner since they are also easy to set up and easy to repair when something breaks.
The Hayward AqauNaut is the top sction side cleaner on the market. It is designed based off
of the PoolCleaner by Poolvergnuegen which Hayward purchased in 2013. It is a virtually flawless design and it will leave your pool
spotless each week. You can also purchase
the Hayward Poolcleaner or Hayward Phoenix
as all three are the same cleaner with different body color and design only.
So I hope this article and the videos have proved helpful as you make a decision on which automatic cleaner is best for your pool. You can post a question and I will be happy to answer it for you.
To learn more please visit my website:
http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/#!top-automatic-pool-cleaners-of-2015/ccs6
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