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Best Auto Pool Cleaners For Above Ground Pools Of 2024

Gretchen Rubin
  Mar 28, 2024 12:26 PM

Our hand-picked list of the best automatic pool cleaners will help you keep your pool clean and sparkling.

Let's get right to it: No one really wants to spend their time scrubbing the sides of their pool with a pool brush, watching the floating pool skimmer do its job, or constantly balancing the water.

The easy and fun part is splashing around in the backyard pool, having a drink, and playing with your favorite pool toys.

It's cleaning and taking care of what is usually a watery paradise that kind of stinks. Keeping your pool clean is an important part of taking good care of it, whether it's in-ground or above-ground.

There's balancing the water, making sure the pool is properly covered with a pool cover so that heat and expensive pool chemicals don't blow away in the wind, keeping the floating chlorine pool dispenser full, letting the above ground pool skimmer do its job, and the daily grind of cleaning it of debris, sand, dead bugs, and the neighbor's integrity that got a little too piled up for his own good.

Let's just say it: cleaning and maintaining the pool is the least exciting part of owning a pool, but it is still a very important part. You don't just want your pool to look nice; you also want it to stay in good shape so you can use it.

There are a lot of ways to clean your pool that require less work on your part, which is good news.

Here are the best automatic pool cleaners for above-ground pools that we've chosen by hand


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Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Buying Guide

Reach and Pool Size

Most pool cleaner manufacturers give a size range for their products. Even though you might be able to use a cleaner made for a 30-foot pool in a 40-foot pool, you can't always expect it to work at its best.

Also, some manufacturers give a range of pool sizes because of the lengths of the hoses they include. Many people who own pools already have hoses, so adding an extra length isn't a big deal. But if a vacuum uses programming software to move around, it could end up going in circles in a pool that is much bigger than what the manufacturer says. In the same way that you can go in circles, good pool cleaners these days have sensors that can find walls and other obstacles and easily go around them.

Also, the more hoses you connect, the more likely it is that your vacuum will get tangled. If you don't want to have to watch over your vacuum cleaner, you'll need to give it the right length of hose. Also, look for cleaners with swivel cords, which can help keep them from getting tangled.

Pump Compatibility

When you hook up a pool cleaner, you connect it to the pump in your pool. Debris gets sucked into the vacuum by the suction of the pump tube. So, the horsepower and gallon-per-minute rate of your pool pump can affect how well your vacuum cleans.

Use the rating of your pump to get rid of vacuum cleaning tools that won't work with it. Or, you could think about getting an extra pump to power your vacuum cleaner.

Surface Suitability

Some pool cleaners can clean all kinds of surfaces, but others work better with a smaller range. In some cases, pumps work best on gunite or plaster but not so well on vinyl surfaces, such as above-ground or quick-set pools.

Read what the manufacturer says to do to find out what's best for your pool. Keep in mind that most pool cleaners use even suction to vacuum well, so it might be hard to clean a surface like pebbles or tile that isn't flat.

Cleaning Ability

Your pool cleaner should, of course, be able to pick up debris. Mobility, the ability to climb, and other factors do play a role here, but I also looked at how well the brushes worked (rotating rubber brushes and hard bristle brushes are the best), how well it sucked up dirt and debris, and how much it could hold.

Weight

For handheld or manual pool vacuums, the weight is very important. Make sure you can handle it since you'll be holding it while it cleans. Even for the robots, weight is important because you have to move them from place to place.

Usage

We know that all of our options work for pools that aren't dug into the ground. But do they work on other bodies of water, like ponds or fountains, that you might want to clean?

Check to see if they work with vinyl or fiberglass, for example.

Last but not least, check how deep your pool is to make sure it will work.

Warranty

Since above-ground pool vacuums can be pretty expensive, you should always check the warranty to make sure you're covered if something goes wrong.

Budget

Last but not least, consider your budget. Pool vacuums can cost anywhere from very little to a lot of money, so set a budget and stick to it. You will find a good way to clean your pool that fits your budget.

FAQS

How does an automatic pool cleaner work?

Robotic pool cleaners are your best friend when it comes to keeping your swimming pool clean and ready to go. Once dropped into the water, these bad boys move around the floor and walls, picking up dirt, leaves, and other organic matter that has ended up in the pool.

They don't have to be connected to your pool pump or skimmer to work. Instead, they have their own power source. Put it in the water, plug it in, and leave.

 

They use low voltage, so they can be hooked up to an electrical source and then put in water. With long power cords (most automatic pool cleaners come with a cable that is about 30 feet long), they can move around the pool without getting stuck.

Will my automatic pool cleaner get tangled?

This used to bother a lot of people. When the robot went into the water, the cord would get caught on the pool ladder a few minutes later. Automatic pool cleaners are made so that you don't have to watch over them.

Since those early days, automatic pool cleaners have come a long way. Most vacuums now have a swivel and/or thick cords that make tangling much less likely.

Can you swim when the automatic pool cleaner is in the water?

First of all, automatic pool cleaners don't use much electricity to work. Also, the units' power cords are plugged into GFCI outlets.

When a problem is found, these breakers turn off automatically, so you won't get shocked when the vacuum cleaner is in the water. Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets are used in places that get wet or are outside, like bathrooms, garages, workshops, and yes, the side of the house.

When to get a robotic pool cleaner?

In late winter or early spring, you should buy a robotic pool cleaner. Prices tend to be lower, and you might even find sales before the summer rush. But pool cleaners are always available, and it might be best to buy one as soon as you get a pool.

What features to look out for in robotic pool cleaners?

Check the cycle time, the size of the area it cleans (especially the sides or waterline), and whether or not it has an automatic cleaning mode. When buying a pool robot, you should also think about how it connects or how smart it is.

Conclusion

With a pool bot, you can save a lot of money on maintenance and wear and tear on your pool. Professional pool cleaning costs about $150 per month on average, so a pool bot is a good buy for the price. No matter how much it costs, taking care of your pool ahead of time will save you money on commercial cleaning services.


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