Swimming Pool Cleaner Guide
If you’re in the market for a swimming pool cleaner, all the options may seem confusing . In order to choose the best automatic pool cleaner for your needs you should have an understanding of how each cleaner operates.Although there are many different brands on the market, there are only three different types of pool cleaners.
Automatic Suction Side Pool Cleaners
Pool cleaners that operate off the suction side use the swimming pool pump to drive the cleaner and the pool filter to catch all the debris it picks up. Smaller debris is effectively removed by the pool filtering system when using this type cleaner.
Pros of a suction side pool cleaner: It will remove small debris such as sand and silt effectively.Since it operates off the pool filtration suction it will help circulate the pool water more effectively.
Some of the disadvantages to this type cleaner are the pool filter may need to be serviced more frequently because all the trash removed from the pool is captured by the filter. the cleaner also losses efficiency as the filter becomes contaminated.
Automatic Pressure Side Pool Cleaners
The pressure side automatic pool cleaner also operates off the swimming pool filtration system but on the pressure side. This type cleaner has a water driven propulsion system and some are capable of cleaning the pool walls as well as the floor. The pressure side cleaner has a debris bag attached to the cleaner for trash containment.
The trash it picks up is not directed through the swimming pool filter. Jets inside the cleaner force water up through the bag creating a vacuum on the bottom of the cleaner. Some pressure side pool cleaners have a booster pump to increase the cleaning ability of the cleaner. In most cases the swimming pool equipment pump still has to be running along with the booster pump. This type cleaner is best if leaves and other larger debris is routinely in the swimming pool.It is not the best choice for removing small debris such as sand and silt as the mesh bag will let this type of debris flow right through and back into the swimming pool.Automatic
The robotic pool cleaner is completely self contained and operates off electricity. It has it’s own pump, drive motor and containment system built right into the cleaner. Most robotic cleaners have onboard computers and has the capability of learning the shape of the pool. This helps the cleaner to effectively and efficiently clean the entire pool in the shortest amount of time.
Robotic Swimming Pool Cleaners
Robotic pool cleaners have electric motors inside them to drive the cleaner and vacuum up debris. An on board computer “learns” the shape of the swimming pool to maximize the robotic cleaners efficiency.
Some of the advantages of the robotic pool cleaner are it is self contained. It stores trash it picks up on board so it doesn’t rely on the pool filter. It doesn’t loose cleaning ability even if the swimming pool filtration system isn’t 100 %. It has power driven scrub brushes to scrub the pool walls and floor.
This is the most expensive type pool cleaner to purchase.
James Fisher has been building swimming pools in S.C. since 1998. Today he enjoys writing informative articles to help homeowners better understand proper pool maintenance. We hope this article on swimming pool cleaners will assist you in making a wise decision on your choice of swimming pool equipment.