Best Powered Pool Vacuum Cleaners For 2024
Gretchen Rubin Apr 19, 2024 3:09 AM
Keeping the pool clean is a chore that few people look forward to. A lot of effort and time is required. However, for reasons of both cleanliness and security, it is imperative that you maintain a neat and orderly pool. While chlorine is great for preventing the growth of algae and neutralizing bacteria and other microbes, it may not be as successful at removing the grime and dirt that winds up in your pool. We can thank God that pool vacuum cleaners exist to assist us in this endeavor.
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Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
Types
Manual Telescopic Brush Pool Vacuum
A manual pool cleaner on a telescopic pole should be sufficient if your pool has a good filtration system. The tiles and walls of your pool will be free of debris, algae, and stains after being cleaned with one of these pool vacuum cleaners. Since you'll be doing most of the work to make it work, it may only be useful for the shallow end of your pool and not be very efficient at getting to the deeper portions. They are optimal for shallow or medium-depth above-ground pools, such as those used for youngsters.
Pump-driven Pool Vacuum
These devices can be used to clean and vacuum out your swimming pool by generating suction power from a pump or electric motor linked to a hose. It works wonderfully at removing grime from the pool's floor and sucking up trash from the water's surface. It can be left unattended for too long, though, and it risks sucking in debris like leaves and pet hair, which can clog the filtration system.
Cleaning your pool with this kind of machinery will also add to your electricity costs because the suction power is generated by an always-on electrical motor or pump.
Pressure-side Pool Vacuum
Pressure pool vacuum cleaners rely on the suction power generated by the pool's filtration system to function. The only real difference is that pressure pool vacuums have a trash bag attached to the top of the device instead of expelling dirt and debris out the filter system. If your pool was built with a pressure side cleaner in mind, you'll also appreciate the fact that this type of vacuum requires a specific booster pump.
Robotic Pool Vacuum
Automatic pool cleaners, or robotic pool cleaners, are the cutting edge of pool vacuum technology. Using a predetermined set of instructions stored in a computer, it may clean the pool without the pool owner's intervention or supervision. Some versions even loop between cleaning cycles, but most follow a linear pattern from the shallow end to the deep end.
Depending on the size of your pool, these robotic cleaners may finish the job in under two hours. They are also programmable, so you can set them to clean the pool at certain times of the day or night. In addition, certain versions use anti-tangle technology to avoid getting caught on dirt and dust particles while they clean.
The filter bag is simply removable for cleaning or disposal of the collected dirt and debris. However, robotic pool cleaners are extremely pricey despite being highly effective at cleaning your swimming pool.
Pool Shape & Size
It's ideal to have a vacuum that's proportional to the size of the pool. A big vacuum cleaner is unnecessary for a small pool. Because of its bulkier build, it will be more cumbersome to handle than its smaller counterpart. If they buy a vacuum that's too big for the pool, they'll waste money on a bigger model than they need.
However, a larger, better-equipped vacuum is necessary for pools of a certain size. To thoroughly clean an entire swimming pool, consumers looking for a battery-operated vacuum cleaner should select a model with a lengthy runtime. Also, as large pools tend to collect a lot of dirt, the vacuum cleaner must have a sizable capacity before it needs to be emptied.
Skimmer Basket vs. Pump
Depending on the tools you already have, you may be limited in your choice of vacuum. If a skimmer is within easy reach, a suction-side vacuum cleaner is the quickest and cheapest way to clean it. You can choose between a self-propelled model and a manual model, both of which are easy to set up and perform admirably once in place. Problems arise because they rely on the pool's filtration system to get rid of trash.
A pressure-side vacuum cleaner could be a good choice if you have access to a strong pump or the technical know-how to build a second pump. Debris is collected in bags or cartridges by these vacuums, making filtration easier on the pool. It may be out of reach for some people to pay for a pump's installation up front.
Hose Length
You should check the length of the hose on your vacuum to make sure it will reach all areas of your pool before you release it on the water. Keep in mind that if you want to vacuum the deep end of your pool, you may need more hose.
While the length of hose included with most vacuums is plenty for the average pool, it is still a good idea to keep an extra length on hand, as well as the necessary fittings to attach the ends of the hose to one another. In the event that you discover your pool hose is insufficient for vacuuming the entire pool, you may simply extend it.
Having too much hose around might also be a problem. The hose on your vacuum can get tangled on the floor if you use it to do laps in the pool. If your hose keeps getting tangled up, you should probably trim it down.
Filtration Method
Cartridges or baskets that may be emptied and reused are housed within robotic cleaners and must be cleaned on a regular basis. Inground pools with skimmer or filter baskets can be cleaned with suction-side pool cleaners. If they become blocked, your motor will have to work harder than necessary, potentially causing it to overheat and fail. A leaf canister added to the hose of the suction-side pool cleaner will divert the larger debris away from the preexisting filter basket, protecting the motor.
Automatic pressure-side pool cleaners come with their own washable debris bags. For the sake of not missing a cleaning cycle, it's helpful to keep a spare on hand in case the first one gets clogged up. When compared to suction-side cleaners, pressure-side cleaners have more moving components, which might lead to increased repair and maintenance costs, as stated by Thompson.
Additional Features
To accommodate your "set it and forget it" mentality, look for a timer-enabled robotic vacuum cleaner. You won't have to worry about coming home to a cluttered pool thanks to these. While you're away, you'll need to leave them in your pool, so you may want to have a buddy stop by every day or so to make sure everything is okay.
If you have one of the better pool vacuums, you can turn it on from the comfort of your home or poolside. Having one of these remotes is convenient since you can start the vacuum in the morning and have a spotless home by the time the afternoon sun compels you to take a dip.
If your vacuum hose becomes tangled, it will no longer be able to function properly. If your vacuum line does not already have a swivel, you should get one and attach it. If you have a mop-style vacuum that takes unpredictable routes, a swivel on the end of the hose can come in very handy.
FAQS
How does a pool cleaner work?
Cleaners for swimming pools can be driven over the pool's floor and walls and are propelled by electricity, suction, or water pressure to gather trash. Sand, silt, stones, twigs, beetles, and leaves are all among the things they can collect. Stuck-on dirt and calcium deposits can be agitated with the use of a cleaner with a brush.
What is the difference between a suction-side and pressure-side cleaner?
The suction from the hose propels the cleaner to move randomly across the pool floor, and the cleaner is driven by the pump. They can move around on wheels, bristles, or a rubberized disc. Suction-side cleaners can attach to the skimmer or, in certain pools, there are specially designed ports for them.
The water return jet is linked to pressure-side cleaners. The cleaner is propelled on wheels by the water pressure. The debris is collected in a separate bag by the pressure-side cleaning.
Why is my pool dirty after I’ve vacuumed it?
It's possible that the pool's filtration is broken. As you work to clean the pool's bottom, the filtration system will work to purify the water. These debris, stirred up by the vacuum, will sink to the bottom of the pool if the filter doesn't remove them.
Conclusion
Cleaning your pool is a breeze with the best pool vacuums. There are a number of factors to think about while shopping for a pool vacuum, including type, pool size, debris kind, price range, and more. Carefully selecting a vacuum for your pool is essential.
