The pool cleaner works on all types of pool surfaces, tackles pools up to feet long, and comes with a fine-filter basket so you can start using it right away. Customers say it runs smoothly in uniquely shaped pools and doesn't get stuck on steps.
Unlike other models, this pressure-side pool cleaner doesn't require a booster pump and works for a wide variety of pool shapes and sizes. It's made with advanced cleaning technology that's powered by triple jets, providing optimal water pressure from start to finish. If your pool collects a lot of leaves, the Polaris automatic pool cleaner is an excellent choice thanks to its roomy filter bag.
Not only does it pick up debris on the waterline, but it also sweeps it off the pool floor. With more than 6, five-star ratings, shoppers love this cleaning tool for kiddie pools and areas with lots of foliage. Bridget Degnan. By Bridget Degnan April 20, Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Related Content pool cleaners. Best for Large Pools. Best for Small Pools.
You can set it to clean the pool at regular intervals automatically, even when you are not at home. In contrast, pressure and suction side cleaners need more time to set up and cannot clean your entire pool automatically, especially on sides and stairs, which you will have to clean by hand.
There are three types of automatic pool cleaners, as summarized in the table below. Side pressure pool cleaners attach to the pressure or return side of your pool system pump line. They rely on the pressure of the water coming back into the pool to function. The water coming into the pool goes through the pool cleaner and is emitted by jets underneath the unit.
The pressure from these jets of water moves the pool cleaner along while also agitating any debris stuck on the pool surface. If the pool cleaner has an integrated filter bag, it will collect most of the debris in the water. More expensive units like the Polaris carry their filter bags, which can be interchanged to handle the size of debris you are most concerned about removing.
Another issue with side pressure pool cleaners is they cannot climb walls nor stairs. They only clean the floor. Suction pool cleaners are attached to the suction side of your pool water system. This is the outlet where pool water flows out of the pool for filtration. Most suction pool cleaners only clean the floor and cove, but some like Kreepy Kraulys can climb walls using a rubber disk that sticks to the pool surface. Robotic pool cleaners are the most advanced and hands-off automatic pool cleaners you can buy today.
A robotic pool cleaner consists of a motor that drives wheels or tracks, a filter cartridge to collect debris, and a cable connecting it to a 12V safe power source. Unlike suction and pressure cleaners that use pressure for movement, robotic cleaners use 12V DC electricity. They are low voltage and well insulated to prevent short-circuiting or a shock. Most are connected to a GFCI ground-fault circuit interrupter outlet, which instantly cuts off power if it detects an electrical problem.
The cheapest robotic cleaners move around your pool randomly for hours then stop. They use brushes attached on the underside to scrub debris off the pool surface. An integrated vacuum then pulls the water through filters to collect the debris.
They can detect the size and shape of the pool and determine the most efficient cleaning path. They can also tell where they have cleaned, so do not waste time passing over the same areas again.
More expensive robot vacuums can be programmed to run at specific times of the day and days of the week. Some also come with remote controls you can use to direct the units to focus on trouble areas.
Robot pool cleaners are typically a bit heavy — 20 lbs are normal — so if you have back issues look for units that lift themselves up automatically and that have top-loading filter cartridges that are easier to remove. Automatic cleaners go for 3 hours or more, which is plenty of time to clean every inch of the pool surface. Automatic pool cleaners are especially helpful if your pool tends to get dirty frequently, or you suffer from oak tree debris as we do at my house. If you use a suction or pressure cleaner, you can leave your cleaner in for days at a time.
If you use a robotic cleaner, 1 or 2 cycles should be enough to get all the debris, sand, and algae out. Scrubbing and vacuuming a pool takes anywhere from 30 mins to 2 hours, depending on how dirty it is. An automatic cleaner needs just 3 hours to get your water sparkling again.
There is no doubt that a clean and well-maintained pool lasts longer. Too much algae, sediment, and debris can damage your pool. Automatic pool cleaners also reduce the wear and tear on your pool pump, heater, and water lines. Pool pumps consume a LOT of electrical power when they run. If you instead rely on an automatic cleaner to get most of the debris and algae outrunning it for hours — you may be able only to run the pump full-on every few days.
Robotic pool cleaners are especially energy-efficient. Because robot pool vacuums consume 12V DC power and use intelligent navigation algorithms to minimize cleaning time, they cost FAR less to clean a pool than an in-line pump filter, a conventional side pressure cleaner, or a suction automatic pool cleaner.
When buying an automatic pool filter, check whether there are any extra accessories you need. For all automatic cleaners, you may need to buy extra filter bags to collect different-sized debris, depending on your needs.
Finally, some heavier robotic pool cleaners and larger suction cleaners offer optional caddies that make it easier to lift and move these heavy units. They definitely are. Yes, many have a few issues and limitations, but they are huge time, money, and effort savers. No more wasting your precious weekends scrubbing the pool or paying money to have other people clean it. The best part is that you can clean your pool as often as you want, meaning it stays cleaner and healthier for your family.
Depending on cost, construction quality, and type of pool cleaner, the average lifespan of automatic pool cleaners is years. Pressure and suction side cleaners tend to last years while Dolphins and other robotic pool cleaners can last years with proper maintenance. Every pool situation is different, so cleaning frequency varies. If your family enjoys the pool daily, you probably need to clean it daily. The same goes if your pool is near trees that dump leaves, acorns, and twigs into the water.
Other pools can do with a once or twice a week cleaning frequency. Are you looking for the best pool cleaner for your in-ground or above ground pool? There are three types of pool cleaners to choose from: pressure or return pool cleaners suction pool cleaners robotic pool cleaners In this buying guide, we review the best automatic pool cleaners in all three of these categories and recommend the best choice for various pool types and common situations.
Shopping for an automatic pool cleaner can be overwhelming. There are more than pool cleaners for sale today! And pool stores, manufacturers, sales people and internet retailers often cloud the picture by telling slightly different stories about each unit. I designed this mobile-friendly website to help you cut through the noise with detailed, independent product reviews, ratings and practical tips on how to buy the right equipment for your pool, your budget and your specific needs.
We do not accept payment or merchandise in exchange for reviews. Our reviews are written by us, objectively and honestly. Always perform due diligence before purchasing any good or service online. Amazon Disclosure This site participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
About Contact Us Privacy. Copyright RoboticPoolCleanersCompared. We use cookies to optimize your experience and to monetize this website. If you continue to use this site we assume you are OK with this. Its foot hose helps it maneuver around pools up to 32 feet long. With a foot hose kit, an external filter bag for large debris, and a fast-acting cleaning capability, the Vac-Sweep will have your pool sparkling in no time.
Polaris promises that the Vac-Sweep will clean your pool in three hours or less. Our only complaint centers on the fact that the Vac-Sweep can get caught up on stairs. If you have stairs, a robotic option would be better. For above-ground pool owners, the Dolphin Escape can handle all your cleaning needs.
Without stairs to worry about, the Dolphin Escape drives along the bottom of your pool, scrubbing all the while. Rubber tracks grip the pool bottom, and the top-load filter can hold debris of all sizes. When the filter is full, open the cleaner from the top to empty it out.
Smart scanning software helps your vacuum navigate the pool floor and clean efficiently. It can even sense walls, ladders, and drains to avoid obstacles.
If your small pool often gets messy, the Zodiac MX6 in-ground cleaner might fit the bill. Plus, the low-flow design means you can use a vacuum with a lower-output pool pump, and it will still clean efficiently.
How can you choose the best robotic pool cleaner? Here are our research criteria and what you should look for as well. All of these factors went into our overall weighted rating for each pool cleaner which broke down into the following categories: Mobility, compatibility, cleaning ability, durability, and price.
Read our full guide on comparing the types of pool vacuums here. Depending on the type of pool you have — whether inground or above-ground — you may want a pool vacuum that can climb stairs or walls. Many models claim to handle the flat ground and vertical surfaces equally well. Some vacuum cleaners are for flat surfaces only, while others specialize in wall-climbing. When it comes to small particles, this machine does not compare to our top two choices. The positive of the Polaris is the price point.
It is a very affordable option for an automatic pool cleaner. If you are simply tired of being in charge of vacuuming the pool every weekend and need a helper, this is the perfect machine for you. If you have had the best luck with a suction-side pool cleaner, the Hayward AquaNaut is a great choice. This model has some power behind it, and even though it is a suction-sided unit, it is faster than many other automatic pool cleaners on the market.
The Hayward AquaNaut has a roller skirt that helps it maintain suction and stay up on the walls of the pool when needed. One of the most important things about this type of pool cleaner is that the suction power needs to be strong enough to keep the unit climbing.
If you lose suction power, then this cleaner will stay on the bottom of the pool and move slowly. Make sure you check to make sure that this model is compatible with your current pool equipment. You can program different steering sequences into this unit to match the shape of your pool. This is a very nice feature considering we all have that one corner of the pool that always gets missed. If suction-side pool cleaners are what you need, this is a great choice.
It has an excellent sensor technology, which allows it to clean your pool evenly, and a seven-day programmable timer with a handheld remote. Its Aqua-Trax tires have a superior grip relative to many of the models on our list. This Polaris is a solid overall choice that will do well at picking up both dirt and larger objects.
As long as the dirt is on the bottom of the pool, you will be pleased with the Polaris F Unfortunately, if you are looking for a model that will also climb the walls of the pool, the Polaris tends to struggle with that. If you are concerned about pricing, this model is quite expensive.
The higher price combined with the fact that you could end up having a unit that only focuses on the bottom of the pool makes this a decent choice for an automatic pool vacuum, but you may want to consider other options. If your kids have left a pool toy or two that has damaged other automatic pool cleaners, this could be an excellent option for you.
This Hayward model also has multiple pre-programmed steering sequences letting you dial in exactly how it cleans your pool. With having no trouble moving over uneven pool surfaces, this cleaner continually works to get the job done without many hold-ups.
However, this model suffers from the classic pool cleaner problem. In this case, it has a lot to do with the floats this model uses. The manual recommends using more floats to help it turn over if it gets flipped, but using fewer floats gives it the grip it needs to grab the walls and climb.
If you are finding that your pool can develop algae and you are brushing your pool frequently, this would not be the best pool cleaner for you. Choose something that does well at climbing the walls of the pool to discourage that algae from growing.
The Zodiac Baracuda G3 is another high-quality suction-side pool cleaner. You may like it a lot if you have a low-speed pump, as it works well with low-speed pumps. It features a large wheel deflector, which helps it get out of tight corners in your pool and get back to work.
The actual size of this unit with its large cleaning disc makes it more efficient on every pass it makes through the pool. This Zodiac Baracuda is unfortunately not as easy to assemble as some other models. Our last few reviews struggled with cleaning the sides of the pool, but the Zodiac does fine with the sides. The place you may find that it struggles is the stairs of the pool, but this can be common for automatic pool cleaners.
Sometimes, you can manually place the cleaner on the stairs before putting it away, and it will get the job done. Overall, this is a functional unit that will get the job done pretty quickly, after the initial setup. One of the positive design features is the four wheels, which leave it better-balanced than most three-wheel designs.
It does clean thoroughly, but you can get equally good cleaning power for less money. The other Zodiac model that we chose also does amazing with walls. If you have an algae problem on your walls and need something to help, seriously consider these Zodiac pool cleaners. The Zodiac Baracuda MX6 can sometimes get stuck above the waterline and bring in some air to the pump. This is not good for your system if it is continually occurring.
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