Taking care of your swimming pool means keeping it clean. This means brushing and sweeping your pool on a regular basis. If you feel like you don’t have the time or energy to do this weekly, then an automatic pool cleaner is the perfect solution. They will save you time and money by removing debris from your pool regularly, extending the life of your finish and your filters. There are three main types: suction, pressure and robotic. Which type of automatic pool cleaner is best for you? That depends on a few options, like your pool type and size. There are a lot of reviews and blogs online, this article will explain each type as well as run through the most popular models. 

Suction Cleaners

Suction cleaners are the most affordable of the cleaner types. This is partly due to the fact that they use your pool’s existing equipment to function. They use your pool pump as the power for movement and suction and your filter as disposal for debris. While they are more economical to purchase, you will spend some extra time cleaning your filter because of this. Luckily, Pinch A Penny carries a full line of products for cleaning filter cartridges.

These cleaners have a mechanism that varies their path to cover the entire bottom of your pool, and there are also certain types that will clean the walls of the pool. A suction cleaner connects to the skimmer or a dedicated suction line, and your pump must be on in order for it to run. There are many different models, including those that have wheels, tracks or discs. Regardless of which model you choose, you should have a pool vac-lock installed on the suction line to prevent injuries from the suction.

Hayward Navi 50 V-Flex

  • Ideal for use with variable-speed pumps
  • Patented SmartDrive preprogrammed steering pattern
  • Wide vacuum inlet designed for constant suction power and faster debris pickup

Polaris ATLAS XT

  • Advanced HALO™ technology effortlessly eliminates sandy and long debris
  • Spinning brushes remove fine, stuck-on debris
  • Cleans and Scrubs from floor to waterline
  • Easy to remove and replace when worn or dirty

Pentair Dorado

  • Bristle scrubbers dislodge tough dirt from pool surfaces
  • Oversized vacuum inlet devours small and large debris with ease
  • 15 in. wide cleaning path
  • Features SmartTrac™ Programmed Steering

Pressure Cleaners

Pressure cleaners use pressure from your pool’s pump to create a vortex of water. This is how they are able to lift debris into the cleaner. The dirt, leaves and other unwanted items are then stored in an onboard filter bag. This means less debris and dirt in your pool filter so you can afford to clean it less. They are especially good at cleaning up large debris, which makes them ideal for non-caged pools, pools without screens and pools with trees nearby.

Pressure cleaners hook into the return lines of your pool, and some models even require a separate booster pump to power their movement and cleaning action. These cleaners are low maintenance and durable. As with suction cleaners, some models will also clean the walls of your pool.

Polaris Vac-Sweep 3900 Sport

  • The 2 1/2" vacuum inlet allows pick up of the largest debris of any pool cleaner on the market
  • Tail clears debris from corners and prevents the unit from getting stuck
  • Equipped with SuperBag that collects more debris
  • Cleans floors and walls and recirculates pool water

Pentair Kreepy Krauly Legend II

  • Delivers the same cleaning power and performance as the Legend- with no booster pump
  • Cleans most pools in just one to three hours
  • Solid 4-wheel design and a wide base prevent tipping for superior stability and reliable, continuous operation
  • Built-in backup valve activates every 3.5 minutes to ensure total coverage and avoid hang-ups in steps and corners
  • Recommended for all gunite, vinyl and fiberglass pools

Polaris TR36P

  • Triple venturi jet vacuum
  • Large throat for big debris
  • Sweep hose cleans steps and tight corners and prevents the cleaner from getting stuck
  • Large filter bag capacity

Robotic Cleaners

Many people consider robotic pool cleaners the best option available. Robotic cleaners have the advantage of being self-contained units, meaning that they do not require the use of your pool’s pump or filter. Robotic cleaners provide their own suction and movement, and they filter the water as they clean. They clean up large and small debris easily. All you have to do is plug them into a low-voltage transformer and off they go. Some new models are even cordless! Debris is collected in an internal trap you clean upon removal.

These cleaners use software to determine the best route for cleaning your pool in an efficient manner. Certain high-end models can also be remotely controlled by phone or put on programmable cycles. They do well at cleaning walls and tile lines. These units are the most expensive to buy, but they prolong the life of your pool’s filter and are cheaper to operate than the other types of pool cleaners.

Maytronics Dolphin Active 20

  • CleverClean precision navigation cleans floor, waterline and walls
  • Programmable weekly scheduling
  • PowerStream mobility system
  • Easy pool removal with water release feature and lightweight design

Polaris FREEDOM Plus

  • Cordless design that enables you to clean your pool without any tangling
  • Cleans your pool in 2.5 hours or less
  • Comes with a hand-held remote that uses cutting-edge LiFi technology to communicate with the cleaner underwater
  • Four cleaning modes, including on-demand, manual options on the cleaner allow you to clean either the floor or floor, walls and waterline

Hayward AquaVac 250Li

  • Innovative cordless design ensures tangle-free maneuvering
  • Floating retrieval string allows for easy removal from pool
  • 25% longer battery life than most cordless cleaners (120 minutes)
  • Ideal for above-ground pools up to 30' diameter and shallow in-ground pools with a flat bottom (less than 15 degree slope and less than 5' deep) up to 15' X 30'

If you still have questions, come into a local store and talk to one of our friendly associates. Regardless of which model you choose, the experts at your local Pinch A Penny will help you keep it in great shape.


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