my pool cleaner keeps getting stuck

The reason I purchased the was because my pool service company recommended it. I've since replaced both my Kreepy Krauly and that pool service company. The Kreepy Krauly is one of the most popular pool cleaners around and operates based on suction from the skimmer or vacuum line. The Kreepy Krauly is rather easy to install and comes with an easy to The main problems I had with the Kreepy Krauly are: The only favorable things I can really say about the Kreepy Krauly is that it's easy to operate and it can be left in the pool 24/7 (when there are no swimmers) as long as you don't mind the noise Another issue that I had with the Kreepy Krauly, given its noisy performance was the fact that in the summer of 2004, I installed the Pool Pilot DigitalThe Pool Pilot controls the pump as well as generate chlorine. feature of the Pool Pilot is that, if the temperatures drop below 40F, it will run the pump for an hour to prevent the equipment from freezing.

I live in Santa Barbara, so the temperatures only drop below 40F at around 3 AM, perhaps 5-10 times a year. However, with the Kreepy Krauly attached, if the temperature drops below 40F, you're in for an early wakeup call! If those problems weren't enough for me to retire my brain dead Kreepy Krauly, there was an occassion when the unit happily sucked up a small orange that somehow fell into the pool. Fortunately, I was home at the time when I heard my pool's pump choking on something. pump off, removed the Kreepy Krauly and noticed that the orange was stuck at the skimmer opening. Luckilly, it was something that I could see. I can just imagine what would have happened if the orange was stuck in an inaccessible location. Even so, the orange was wedged snugly into the skimmer opening and I couldn't grasp it with my fingers. I ended up taking a knife and cutting it into small pieces so that the pump would be able to continue its normal operation.

year ago and am quite pleased with it. This review is copyright Phil Schwartz Return to Product Reviews Return to The home page of Phil SchwartzIt's a steaming hot day and you're about to cool off with a quick dip. A long, tall glass of your favourite tipple is waiting poolside. Only one problem: the pool is filthy. Are you going to spend the next hour laboriously cleaning the slime, grime and leaves? Or will you hightail it to the nearest pool shop for a pool cleaner? I think we all know the answer to that. We've not tested pool cleaners, but you can see our pool fence reviews here. Do your research before diving in Pool cleaners sit in sun and chlorine for most of their working life (which does sound a little like a good holiday…) and can clock up more than 1000 km a year. Some cheaper models may not last the distance. When CHOICE tested pool cleaners in the past, we found several were prone to getting blocked and others neglected some areas of the pool.

Pool cleaners can't clean a very dirty pool, so you won't get out of this task altogether. Give the pool a good manual clean at the start of each swimming season or when you haven't run the pool cleaner for a while. Suction, pressure or robotic? There are three types of pool cleaner out in the market: suction, pressure and robotic. Suction cleaners attach with a hose to your skimmer box and use the suction created by your filtration system to suck up grime. Most pool cleaners you'll come across are suction models. There are two kinds of suction cleaners: Inertia driven suction cleaners clean in a random pattern. While they will cover every inch of your pool, it may take some time. They work well in pools with curved walls and no sharp corners. The popular Zodiac and Kreepy Krawler models are this type. Geared suction cleaners, such as The Pool Cleaner model, move in a pre-determined pattern and will clean your pool surface in the shortest time possible.

They can easily get into tight corners which makes them suitable for smaller pools with lots of steps and sharp ledges. Geared cleaners have more moving parts than the random pattern models, so they will probably need more maintenance. Cheaper than other types of pool cleaners. If you leave them permanently in the pool, they fill up the skimmer box, meaning extra effort for the pump (and potentially damaging). When they are attached, the skimmer box isn't taking in anything from the surface of the pool - which means everything goes to the bottom, making more work for the suction cleaner. Pressure cleaners are more powerful than suction cleaners. Most models operate with an additional booster pump which needs a separate hose connection in the pool wall. These can be expensive to retrofit so look at another model if your pool doesn't already have one. Pressure cleaners that connect directly into your existing pool pump may put strain on the filtration system. Can reach into tight corners.

Collect everything from fine sand to rocks and leaves. Can be faster than suction cleaners. More expensive than suction cleaners. Probably need more maintenance. Robotic or electric self-propelled cleaners Robotic pool cleaners run on electricity so you'll need a power point close to the pool. Good for large pools. Can be inconvenient – you need to place them into the pool for a cleaning session and then remove them. Don't tend to filter water while cleaning. Probably the most expensive of the automatic pool cleaners. Other features to look for when buying a pool cleaner Your pool cleaner should be able to cope with different pool shapes and sizes by adjusting hose buoyancy and main flow. Some have a deflector so the cleaner is less likely to get stuck in one place. Make sure the hose reaches from one end of your pool to the other, plus a metre or two. Ability to navigate steps Some cleaners can climb steps if needed.