CLEANING YOUR POOL
SUCTION, PRESSURE, ROBOTIC OR AUTOMATED IN-FLOOR?
Nobody wants to swim in a murky pool, so cleaning is one of the most important considerations. Pool expert Jamie Bramich explains your options.
CLEANING YOUR POOL
BY JAMIE BRAMICH
POOL CLEANER BUYING GUIDE
BY CHOICE MAGAZINE
Source: https://www.choice.com.au/outdoor/pools/cleaning-and-maintenance/buying-guides/pool-cleaners
Do your research before diving in
Pool cleaners sit in sun and chlorine for most of their working life (which does sound a little like a good holiday…) and can clock up more than 1000 km a year. Some cheaper models may not last the distance.
When CHOICE tested pool cleaners in the past, we found several were prone to getting blocked and others neglected some areas of the pool.
Pool cleaners can't clean a very dirty pool, so you won't get out of this task altogether. Give the pool a good manual clean at the start of each swimming season or when you haven't run the pool cleaner for a while.
SUCTION CLEANERS
Suction cleaners attach with a hose to your skimmer box and use the suction created by your filtration system to suck up grime. Most pool cleaners you'll come across are suction models.
There are two kinds of suction cleaners:
Inertia driven suction cleaners clean in a random pattern. While they will cover every inch of your pool, it may take some time. They work well in pools with curved walls and no sharp corners. The popular Zodiac and Kreepy Krawler models are this type.
Geared suction cleaners, such as The Pool Cleaner model, move in a pre-determined pattern and will clean your pool surface in the shortest time possible. They can easily get into tight corners which makes them suitable for smaller pools with lots of steps and sharp ledges. Geared cleaners have more moving parts than the random pattern models, so they will probably need more maintenance.
CONS
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If you leave them permanently in the pool, they fill up the skimmer box, meaning extra effort for the pump (and potentially damaging).
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When suction hose is attached, the skimmer box isn't taking in anything from the surface of the pool - which means everything goes to the bottom, making more work for the suction cleaner.
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All debris and dirt ends up in the filter which means backwashing is required more often which, in turn, increases the pool's water consumption.
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Filter pump costs more to run because it must be set to a higher speed to operate the suction cleaner.
PROS
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Cheaper than other types of pool cleaners.
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Easy to install.
PRESSURE CLEANERS
Pressure cleaners are more powerful than suction cleaners. Most models operate with an additional booster pump which needs a separate hose connection in the pool wall. These can be expensive to retrofit so look at another model if your pool doesn't already have one. Pressure cleaners that connect directly into your existing pool pump may put strain on the filtration system.
PROS
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Can reach into tight corners.
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Collect everything from fine sand to rocks and leaves.
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Can be faster than suction cleaners.
CONS
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More expensive than suction cleaners.
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Probably need more maintenance.
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Additional set up costs due to a booster pump being required.
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Power consumption by booster pump.
ROBOTIC CLEANERS
Robotic pool cleaners run on electricity so you'll need a power point close to the pool.
CONS
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Generally more expensive than suction or pressure cleaners.
PROS
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Good for large pools.
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Energy efficient - dirt and debris is collected in the machine's filters without going through the pool's filtration system.
AUTOMATED IN-FLOOR CLEANING
There's also a fourth option. Automated in-floor cleaning systems are considered almost standard in the United States and Europe and are quickly growing in popularity in Australia.
With an in-floor automated pool cleaning system, you no longer need to worry about using a robotic or suction cleaner to keep your pool crystal clear. A system of retractable jets circulates the water towards a drain where debris is removed from the pool automatically.
Increased circulation not only means less debris in your pool, it also means that your pool remains in chemical balance more easily, which means more relaxation time for you.
Watch the video below to see how automated in-floor cleaning works.
