A Comprehensive Guide And Reviews About The Best Robotic, Suction, And Pressure Automatic Pool Cleaners
There’s nothing like taking a dip in your own backyard pool during the hot summer months. Aside from this, it’s excellent for entertaining and family bonding. Nonetheless, your pool needs regular TLC and cleaning if you want to keep it healthy and long-lasting.
Hiring the service of a professional pool cleaner can ensure your summer haven doesn’t turn into a nasty green swamp or a home for mosquitoes. However, hiring an expert twice a week can hurt your budget. Likewise, manual cleaning is laborious and will eat up plenty of your time.
Thankfully, you can achieve a spotless and sanitized pool without shelling out a lot on your budget with the help of an automatic pool cleaner. These pool cleaning tools come in robotic, suction-side, and pressure-side types. So you are sure to find something suitable for your pool cleaning needs. Watch this video on Leslie’s Pool Care channel to see them in action.
Keep in mind that each type works differently. Hence, it’s a good idea to understand how they work, as well as know the pros and cons of owning one. This will ensure that you’ll get a model that fits both your budget and pool requirements.
Understanding Pool Circulation
Pool circulation is a vital factor to understand before deciding on which automatic cleaner is appropriate for your pool. The reason for this is because there’s a slight difference as to how each of these devices interacts with the filtration and circulation systems of your pool.
Furthermore, one of the things that maintain the cleanliness of your pool water is to ensure it keeps on moving. It doesn’t matter how much chlorine you apply, swimming in stagnant water is gross, and no one will enjoy it. So it’s a must for your inground or above-ground swimming pool, to have a system to move its water around, as well as filter and make it swimmable.
So how does it work?
The process begins as your pool’s skimmer sucks water out. The water goes into the multiple jets of your inground pool or the single jet of your above-ground, where it is drawn back in.
As your pool pump draws the water in the skimmer, it will go into a set of pipes and in your pool’s filtration system. As the water passes through the filter, it will capture all unwanted filth, particles, and residue. And then, the pump will drive fresh and clean water into another set of pipes and back in your swimming pool through its return jet.
For the best results, it is highly advisable to run the pump of your pool 24 hours daily. However, doing so will burn. a hole in your pockets real quick. Runningit for at least 12 hours every day is the next best thing you can do. This will be able to provide you with at least one cycle of turning all the water in your pool.
Suction-side is the portion where the filter system of your pool sucks water out. On the other hand, the pressure-side is where the water is sent back to your pool.
So with that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the different types of automatic pool cleaners.
Robotic Pool Cleaners
Robotic pool cleaners are completely independent. The cleaners don’t need the help of your pool’s pump, filter, and circulation system. They have an onboard motor that helps them move around your pool while vacuuming it. On top of that, they have a built-in filter bag that you can remove and empty when full.
Moreover, these superior cleaners typically come with artificial intelligence technology. This means that your robot can map out its own cleaning path. Likewise, they are equipped with cutting-edge features in terms of mobility.
Convenience and cleaning efficiency are two of the reasons why robot pool cleaners are popular among pool owners. You don’t need to go through a lot of installation process to make your unit work. These devices are plug and play, meaning you only need to plug your robot in an outlet, program it, place it in the water, and it’ll do its task.
However, the main drawback of these automatic cleaners is its price tag. They can be quite expensive and heavier than other cleaners as well. Also, they tend to clog easily. But all of these aside, robotic cleaners from established brands like Zodiac Pool Systems LLC are extremely reliable and can last for many years.
Advantages Of Using A Robotic Pool Cleaner
Energy-efficient. Contrary to popular belief, robotic pool cleaners do not consume a lot of energy to run efficiently. In fact, your robot consumes as much energy as your regular light bulb.- Cost-effective. The initial cost of investing in one may be higher, but it’ll save you money in the long run. Aside from consuming less energy, it runs autonomously and will not require any system of your pool to operate. And since they’re so effective at cleaning, it eliminates the need to hire an expert pool cleaner.
- Saves water. Robot cleaners eliminate dirt independently from your pool’s circulation pump, preventing the main filter from clogging often. This means that you don’t need to backwash as much.
- Low maintenance. After a cleaning cycle, you only need to remove your device’s canister filter, empty it, and return it to its compartment.
- Eco-friendly. The automatic pool cleaner is safe for our environment since it doesn’t produce toxic chemicals or harmful gases.
What To Look For In A Robot Pool Cleaner
- Weight. Weight matters more than size in terms of these cleaners. Of course, your large pool will benefit from a bigger robot, but you also need to ensure that you can carry it. So opt for a lightweight unit to make it easier for you to lift in and out of your pool.
- Brushes. This is one of the most vital parts of a robotic cleaner. Look for a machine with rubber brushes that rotate or hard-bristle ones. These are excellent at removing the toughest dirt and debris.
- Power cord/cable. Although some newer models are cordless, most robot pool cleaners have power cords. Since they’ll move about your pool and climb walls and stairs, their cord can get tangled easily. The solution for this is to get a machine with a swivel cord.
- Wheels. A 4-wheel drive with wider tires is the better choice to ensure the robot won’t have trouble navigating the slippery surfaces of your pool.
- Smart features. Look for a cleaner with programmable and smart features that takes advantage of artificial intelligence. A robot with a programmable timer is handy since you’ll be able to set it up to clean any time you want even when you’re not at home.
Check out this guide for beginners by Luke Reed: the best robotic pool cleaners of 2020 to further help you find the right robot for your needs.
Our Pick Of The Best Robotic Pool Cleaner: Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaner
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is a superb robotic pool cleaner at a fraction of the price of the top models. Its operation is one of the simplest and works well on all types of pools for up to 50 ft long.
Aside from these, its tangle-free cable means that the robot can move around your pool freely with ease. Plus, Its filters won’t give you a hard time. Removing, emptying, rinsing, and reloading it is pretty manageable.
One of your biggest responsibilities as a pool owner is its upkeep. If you don’t clean your pool or ensure it has the right chemical levels every time, you’re putting everyone’s health at risk. On top of that, you’ll just hurt your wallet with costly repairs of its components over time due to a lack of proper maintenance. 
Climate change is one of the biggest threats our planet is facing today. Because of this, more and more consumers are looking for ways on how to make their homes as eco-friendly as possible. And this includes the way they maintain their swimming pools.
Aside from an increase in your monthly electric bill, consuming too much energy also increases your carbon footprint. And one of the biggest contributors to your energy consumption is your pool system. In fact, it accounts for more than 50% of your monthly power consumption. 
Your swimming pool comes with its own filter system to maintain its cleanliness and ensure the water is always refreshing. Likewise, it helps keep debris like leaves from getting stuck on the sides and settling into the bottom. 