Edit ArticleHow to Choose a Pool Cleaner If you own a pool, you probably want that pool to maintain its clean, sparkling blue water. Some people choose to hire a person or a company to keep their pools clean. However, there are many products on the market that can help you keep a clean pool on your own. There are manual pool cleaners that you will need to operate, or automatic models that can be left to clean the pool on their own. Choose a pool cleaner that is reliable and affordable, and works well for your lifestyle. Assess the cleaning needs of your pool. Notice if your pool collects a lot of leaves or other debris and determine what kind of dirt gets on the pool walls. This will help you choose a cleaner. Consider the size of your pool. If you have a larger pool, a manual cleaner will take you a longer time to clean it. Consider a manual pool cleaner. This type of pool cleaner looks like a vacuum. You will run the vacuum over the pool floor, walls and steps, pulling in dirt, leaves and other debris.

Choose a manual cleaner if you do not mind spending your own time keeping the pool clean. This option might work well if you have an above-ground pool or a smaller in-ground pool. Buy a manual pool cleaner if you are on a budget. best steamer for sofaMost manual pool cleaners cost between $100 and $200. best carpet cleaners denver coThey are more affordable than automatic models.best way to clean nail polish from carpet Use a manual pool cleaner if you are a perfectionist. best buy wet dry vacuum cleanersThe manual option will give you the ability to oversee the cleaning of your pool. what automatic pool cleaner is the best

You will likely see any missed spots while you clean. Choose a suction side automatic cleaner if you have fine dirt particles in your pool, such as sand. This type of cleaner connects to your skimmer and uses your pool's filter to move around.swimming pool vacuum amazon Expect to pay between $200 and $500 for a suction cleaner. Consider a pressure-side pool cleaner if you have a lot of large debris, such as leaves or acorns. This type of cleaner uses the water pressure to roll over the pool's surface and suck dirt into a bag. Expect to pay between $400 and $900 for a pressure-side pool cleaner. They are more expensive because they come with a motor and a dedicated water pressure line. Look for environmentally friendly models of pressure-side pool cleaners. They do not use a motor. They rely on the pool's water pump for their power. Choose the pressure-side pool cleaner if you want your investment to last.

With the proper care, this type of cleaner should last at least 10 years. Choose a robotic pool cleaner if you want a pool cleaner that works on its own. These self-contained machines move around the pool on their own and scrub the floor and walls. Prepare to pay more for a robotic pool cleaner. The most basic models start at around $600, and with additional features they can cost over $3,000. If your only concern is leaves and debris on the surface of the water, consider a solar powered pool cleaner.not Talk to a sales associate in a pool supply store about your pool. A professional can help you decide between the pool cleaners available, and make a recommendation on how often you need to clean your pool. Ask about specialty cleaners for above-ground pools. Most automatic pool cleaners can be used for either above ground or in-ground pools, but some cleaners are sold specifically for above ground pools and use the existing pool filter and pump.Many consumer websites rank and review different models and brands of pool cleaners.

Find out what users like and dislike about the different products. Talk to other pool owners. Find out how your friends and neighbors keep their pools clean, and ask for recommendations. Your pool is out there for a lot of people to see and swim in, making it crucial that your waters remain as clean as possible. Not just important for looks, debris removal is also vital to maintaining your pool’s chemical balance and preventing algae growth. The patented tread technology of SkimKingPRO propels it throughout the water collecting leaves, twigs, pine needles, bugs, dust, and pollen through its high-tech debris collection system, large enough for the biggest pools. No assembly, no installation, and no cords or hoses to get tangled up in. Put the SkimKingPRO in your swimming pool, press the power button, and move on to your next task. SkimKingPRO has programmable cleaning cycles allowing you to set how long you want it to work for. It also, lets you know when its debris container is full.

With its no-mess cleaning feature all you have to do is pop off the handheld container and dump debris with the rest of your waste. Debris type: Leaves, twigs, grass, pines needles, bugs, dust, pollenIf you want to cut down on pool cleaning costs and keep a happier, cleaner swimming pool, you should consider the best pool vacuum robot. These bots are designed to roll around the bottom and sides of your pool, filtering out debris while also cleaning the surface to help remove any new algae or other problems. The best of the best, and our #1 pick, is the Dolphin Nautilus Plus ($685.00), with it’s 60-foot swivel cable, intelligent mapping system, and thorough 2.5 hour cleaning cycle. This pool bot is both easy to use and very effective with 360-degree filtration, two different filters for fine and coarse particles, and cartridges that are simple to clean. That makes this model a great choice for more challenging pool shapes – but lets take a look at other factors that may be important to your unique situation.

One of the features we take a close look at is navigation. A pool bot isn’t much good if it can’t accurately read your pool shape and make sure surfaces are cleaned equally. The best options use digital mapping to scan the pool accurately, and then run a circuit without bumping into anything (something our Dolphin pick does particularly well). Great models can also scoop around the waterline and handle curves with ease. Then we took a look at cleaning and filtration. Filtering out debris is nice, but we prefer to see rubberized brush rolls that can take care of algae and other serious pool problems too. Filter systems can either be bags or cartridges, but they should be large and easy to rinse out at the end of a cycle. And when it comes to cleaning, powerful suction is also important! Our top picks have efficient pumping systems that can move a lot of water in a short time. Design is important as well. Simple designs that don’t require extra hook-up accessories or tubes are important: Our top picks all have pre-formed shells that don’t have any easily breakable parts, and are simple to open up if necessary.

This can also affect the warranty:  The durable design of our Dolphin pick is one reason that the warranty is a full 2 years instead of just one year. Hayward, meanwhile, offers up to a 3 year warranty depending on the model that you ultimately choose. We also pay attention to, for lack of a better word, handling. These pool bots are larger than many people realize, and then need to be easy to place in the water and (this part is important), and easy to safely remove without trouble or injury. Handles and lightweight designs are particularly important here. Our top pick got the weight down to 16.5 pounds, which is great compared to the 18-20lb range that most models come in at. While it’s sometimes hard to tell based on photos alone, one of the most important components of pool vacs is the cable. Cables should never tangle or get caught while the vacuum is running through its program. Models need to have swivel cables that re-orient themselves when necessary to avoid this…and they need to be long enough for your pool, preferably 40 feet or longer depending on your setup – and as you can imagine, more complicated hidden swimming pools may require even more cable than that.

The right swimming pool robot vacuum can save you money on cleanings, if you know what you’re doing and choose the right model for your pool. This is especially true if you have a pool that tends to struggle with debris (near to trees, frequently uncovered, in a windy area, etc.) and can benefit from frequent cleaning. The less time debris spends in the pool, the less chance of problems like algae developing, so frequent bot cleanings can contribute to the longevity of your pool – and it may not even cost that much electricity. A pool robot vacuum can also catch grime, slime, and other problems that you or a pool cleaner may not notice, especially if equipped with fine filtration beyond just a mesh screen. This is particularly useful for extra-large pools where the in-pool filter may not be able to handle everything effectively. Read More: 16 of the World’s Most Extraordinary Swimming PoolsCleaning Cycle: 2.5 Hours | Surfaces: Walls, Coves, Floor, Waterline | Cable Length: 60 feet

WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: Ease of use and excellent filtration mark this great beginner’s model. Not sure what pool bot to get? Start with this excellent Dolphin model, which does just about everything right. From full scrubbing for all pool shapes (including coves), to an extra-long cord, to cartridge filters that are easy to unlock and rinse, this pool vacuum robot is made to be useful…and the price is highly competitive for such a feature-rich model. The 360° suction ensures that more floating bits get capture by the bot, while the two rubberized rollers take care of nearly any pool surface out there. The Plus model also comes with scanning tech that learns the individual shapes of each pool so that it makes fewer awkward mistakes, and generally acts with more intelligence while it cleans. The two filters are divided into fine filtration and mesh for coarse filtration, for one of the most complete cleaning cycles we’ve seen yet. The model also has “waterline” cleaning, which means it pokes above the surface of the water a few inches to make sure all those floating bits get taken care of.

Additionally, with the modular components you can handle most maintenance tasks and replacements yourself, a great feature for new owners. However, keep in mind that the 2.5-hour cleaning cycle is a little long, so give this bot plenty of time to get the job done.Cleaning Cycle: 2 Hours | Surfaces: Walls and Floor| Cable Length: 40 feet WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: An affordable model ideal for smaller pools. Look for a less expensive model that can still get the job done? Try out this Smartpool model, which is designed primarily for smaller pools closer to home – suggested for 14′ by 28′ by 6′ pools or less. Fortunately, the model supports pretty much all surfaces (vinyl, fiberglass, concrete) and is relatively fast and lightweight for easy handling. It also has solid tracking technology – not quite Dolphin’s mapping system, but enough detection to avoid bumping off walls. The average cleaning cycle lasts for 2 hours before automatic shutoff, so it doesn’t take as long to run a cycle as the Dolphin model, either.

If you’ve got a small pool, this is the bot cleaner for you.Cleaning Cycle: |1.5 Hours | Surfaces: Floor, Walls, Coves, Waterline | Cable Length: 55 feet WHY IT’S A TOP PICK: A masterful unit that can handle even the most challenging pools – for a price. This Hayward pool robot vacuum is a high-end, super-fast model that’s excellent for pools which have more awkward shapes or cleaning needs. The high price is offset by the short cleaning cycle (two cycles recommended for the average pool), as well as the bot’s ability to handle pretty much every kind of pool you throw its way. The cartridge filters are easy to remove and clean, and the whole system is designed for quick, simple use on all pool surfaces, including pebble and tile. Plus, the motor is made to save electricity! If it wasn’t for the high price, we would have scored this model higher, but you may not want to pay nearly $1,000 for a pool bot that has many of the same features as models half the cost.

Read More: 20 Awesome Personal Swimming Pools That You Can’t Swim InControl panel installation and cables are an important part of pool vacuum cleaners, so you need to pay close attention to their requirements. Take a look at specs like output voltage (24 V DC, for example, is a common requirement) and make sure your electrical system can support it. This is especially important for models sold internationally, which may have varying power requirements. Never Rinsing the Filter. Rinse out the filter after every use! That’s why filter bags and canisters are there – they need to be cleaned out so that your pool bot operates effectively. Otherwise, you aren’t getting your money’s worth because the pool bot can lose suction and cleaning capacity when the filters are backed up. Not Taking Safety Precautions. Pool vacs add a bot and a long cord to your pool area. Be very careful when it comes to tripping or stumbling hazards. Even falling onto the bot in the pool can result in some serious injuries.

Pool bots should be used while the pool is empty, but we know it can be tough to find time when a pool is both uncovered and not in use. Be careful no matter what. Forgetting Other Pool Care: A pool bot does filter out dirt and scrub the walls, but that’s all it does. You can’t just forget about other types of pool care. Whether it’s you or a pool service, you need to make sure that the chemical balance of the pool remains optimal and that run times and temperature are both set as recommended. Improper chemical balances or temperatures will cause problems with algae and decay no matter how many pool bots you throw in. When looking for the best pool vacuum robot, remember to find one that works with your pool size, pool surface materials, electrical system, and pool shape. That’s a lot of variables! Research is your friend here – and remember, you can always call a pool cleaner or similar service and ask about which of our picks would be best for your pool situation.