Guide to Pool Cleaners

Pools are known for a great many things, but dazzling clarity isn’t always among them. The truth is that pools tend to collect dust, dirt and debris on a daily basis no matter how carefully we try to maintain their perfection. Filters are designed expressly to trap unwanted particle such as these, but it simply isn’t practical to expect them to intercept everything constantly and continue operating at peak efficiency. The problem gets even stickier when you consider how much debris never even reaches the filters – unusually heavy or adhesive items may stay in your pool indefinitely without intervention.

This is why pool cleaners and maintenance experts recommend cleaning your pool as often as possible. Chemicals are designed to scrub the waters of unwanted pests and pathogens, but larger items will usually require some kind of mechanical action. There was a time when most of this maintenance wad conducted by hand using a series of brushes, nets and vacuums, but today that work has largely become the province of autonomous robots. If you have come online to learn more about what these clever machines can offer – and how to differentiate them – you may be interested to learn how many options exist.

The most basic pool cleaners are also the most passive. Usually they connect to existing wall returns and float on the surface of the pool, dragging the bottom for debris and collecting anything that floats into a net. Devices such as these can save you considerable time and money – they tend to be inexpensive, and most experts agree they do a serviceable job of removing major contaminants such as leaves, twigs and toys from the pool. Because they often use pressure to “blow” items off the walls of your pool, however, it can take some time for such items to float down and find their way into the net.

More active cleaning devices tend to propel themselves along the bottom of the pool using water jet propulsion. The advantage here is that you get vacuum action and proximity in your cleaning efforts – two key elements to ensure everything finds its way into the bag. The disadvantage with many of these machines, of course, is that operating along the bottom can make them miss floating debris along the way, which most homeowners cite as the least appealing part of a dirty pool. Mid-range items may come with also belt-drive motors that may smudge your pool’s bottom on turns, so it’s important to consider weight and torque when making an investment of this kind.

If you really want to opt for an elite experience, you can always look for top-of-the-line products that come with unprecedented automation built in. Many of these include sensors to map your pool, attachments for stairs and powerful vacuum action that can make quick work of everything from coins to snails. Some of the most advanced versions even offer a hybrid feature, alternately floating to the top of your pool and returning to the bottom for a final pass. A wide variety of filters, oversized intakes, scrubbers and jets makes such products something like all-terrain vehicles, and most operate considerably faster than their less expensive counterparts.

That said, the most important investment you can make in your pool’s health is time itself. Although pool cleaners have grown exceptionally good at what they do, the surest way to lighten the load is simply to exercise some common sense as a pool owner. Consider removing overhanging branches and clear the surfaces near your pool if you don’t want every storm to deliver tremendous quantities of natural debris. You may also want to install a basic outdoor foot wash or shower to keep all your visitors clean of dirt and dust. Finally it’s wise to check the filters manually once a week, as simple pump action may be catching the vast majority of the debris.

Looking for a new pool cleaner is not unlike shopping for a car – it’s easy to get overwhelmed by outrageous claims and shiny chassis. Stick with the basics of what you need and anticipate the coming seasons with good yard work and you should be able to save a lot of money on this essential purchase.

Find a local Pools contractor.
View more Pools articles.
Add your own Home Improvement article.