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A Comprehensive Guide And Reviews About The Best Robotic, Suction, And Pressure Automatic Pool Cleaners

Posted on May 12, 2020March 15, 2022

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.

Automatic Pool Cleaners

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.

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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.

Pool Circulation System

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.

Best Robotic Pool Cleaner 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 2021 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.

Moreover, it features dual scrubbing brushes, providing it with better friction at picking up small to large debris. It’s also great at washing walls and floors, which is something that you can expect from any Dolphin by Maytronics Ltd products.

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.

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaner

Posted on August 2, 2022August 2, 2022

A clean swimming pool is a must for apparent aesthetic and health reasons. The only problem is it takes considerable time and effort if you choose to do it manually. Fortunately, technology has since caught up, making it easier for pool owners to have sparkling clean, debris-free water any day, any season. How? The answer is automatic pool cleaners.

Automatic pool cleaners eliminate particles from the pool’s surface and walls.They prevent bacteria and other germs from infesting your pool, thus making the water safer for the family. While some cleaners are operated by suction or water pressure from your pool, modern robotic cleaners run using their own power source. Plus, it carries the debris it collects in a container or bag, preventing additional strain on your pool’s filter system. Other non-robotic cleaners may have their own bins, while others store material in your pool’s standard filtration equipment.

But the story doesn’t end there. As a pool owner, it could be challenging to choose from among the dozens of products on the market. You just can’t pick up something on the shelf and expect it to work on your pool. You need an automatic cleaner specifically suited for your pool’s size and style. Each type of pool cleaner uses a different filtration method, so that’s also something to keep in mind.

Why Buy an Automatic Pool Cleaner

Cleaning and maintaining a pool is no joke. It takes hours of work just skimming the pool surface, not to mention the time spent manually brushing the walls and vacuuming the rest of the debris. Depending on your location, you may need to do one or all of these tasks every day. It is time-consuming and could bore out even the most diligent workers! Unless you have dozens of people working for you, most pool owners do not have that luxury.

That is why an automatic pool cleaner is an excellent investment. You don’t need to exert much effort because these machines do most of the heavy lifting. Some types are fully touch-and-go machines, meaning you simply push a button, and they’ll complete a whole cleaning cycle independently. Other types utilize the pool’s filtration system and require more human intervention. As a swimming pool owner, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the common types of pool cleaners and make an informed decision from there.

Posted on May 18, 2022August 2, 2022

How To Quickly Get Rid of Water Bugs In Your Pool | House Grail Have you imagined an alternate reality where humans live and bugs cannot? Sadly, that’s not possible because insects are essential to our ecosystem. Still, bugs have to be the most feared and hated creatures on earth. About 25% of the population have actual phobias of spiders and insects.

Now imagine a colony of these creepy-crawlies invading your swimming pool and making it their own safe haven, hanging out and breeding in it. Well, if it has already gotten to that point, you don’t have no one to blame but yourself. Swimming pools need constant upkeep, and failing to do so leads to a slew of other problems like a bug infestation.

But enough pointing fingers. If you have this problem and wonder how you can make these pests go away, you have your work cut out for you. It’s by no means impossible, but it’s not a walk in the park, either. Before knowing how to exterminate water bugs for good, you must know the most common types of bugs first. In other words, you have to learn more about the enemy before planning an attack.

10 Types of Pool Bugs You Should Know About

Water Boatmen

Water boatmen are these scary-looking, oval-shaped bugs that look more terrifying because of their disproportionately large eyes. If there’s one, the good news is that these insects are actually harmless to humans, and their presence should alert you of algae buildup in your pool.

Water boatman - Hesperocorixa laevigata - BugGuide.Net

That’s right. Water boatmen are in your pool to eat algae and lay eggs on them. They detect even the slightest hint of algae buildup faster than a human eye can. The worst part is that these boatmen breed quickly, and if they multiply, they attract other types of pool bugs, like the ones later on this list.

How to get rid of water boatmen:

Since boatmen are attracted to algae, the only thing you have to do is to clean your pool. But if you already see the boatmen in there, you have to manually remove it using a skimmer. The thing is, they are actually pretty docile– they’re not poisonous, nor do they bite– so never fear when you actually have to come in close contact with them.

In most cases, after brushing and vacuuming the pool clean of algae, you need to ensure that the water’s alkalinity is where it needs to be. If it’s not, shock or double shock the pool. Both of the things mentioned– regular pool upkeep and maintaining proper pool chemistry– should be absolutely followed to prevent the boatmen from returning.

Posted on December 6, 2021March 15, 2022

As a pool owner, you have probably come to realize that swimming pools are maintenance magnets. It’s all part of the game. You will need tools and perhaps cleaning partners to keep the water sanitary. One such tool that could help your swimming pool’s overall health and function is a booster pump.

If you have not heard about it yet, it’s not too late to reconsider. A booster pump makes a beautiful duet together with a pressure side cleaner and, better yet, increases the effectiveness of the pool filtration system.

What is a pool booster pump, and how does it work? As a pool owner, is it imperative for you to own one?

What is a Pool Booster Pump and How Does it Work?

A swimming pool cannot operate without a pump. Without pumps, there is no water pressure, and in turn, no water flow. Without these two things, you don’t have a swimming pool; what you have is basically a ditch.

While your swimming pool does have a main pump that keeps the water flowing, a booster pump, as its name suggests, increases the water pressure of your pool pump, resulting in a better flow and circulation. Good circulation is the lifeblood of your swimming pool. When the flow rate is adequate, the debris and particles in the water are easily filtered. If you add cleaning chemicals to the pool, it will disperse faster and more evenly than one with a low flow rate.

Booster pumps are generally utilized alongside high-pressure pressure side cleaners. It provides an extra boost to pressure-side cleaners. In their most basic sense, booster pumps operate like regular pumps with minimal differences. Unlike a typical filter pump, a booster pump goes into the return line of the filter and the jets. After the water is filtered, the booster pump sucks the clean water back to the pool using a much higher pressure.

These are the main part or components of a booster pump:

Impeller
Motor
Inlet
Pressure sensor

A booster pump does not reinvent the wheel here as it functions as a typical pump. The motor makes the impellers turn, and the impellers imbibe the water from the inlet and push it out through the outlet. Booster pump models may differ in how they provide water suction, but the basic idea is the same.

Does My Pool Need a Booster Pump?

As mentioned in the previous sections, if you are using a high pressure pressure-side cleaner, then it’s an absolute must. (High pressure pressure-side cleaners are cleaners that require at least 30 PSI of pressure. Cleaners that only require 15-17 PSI do not need a pool booster pump.) You don’t generally need a booster pump if you own a suction-side cleaner or a robotic pool cleaner. If you feel that the water pressure is unusually low, it would be best to look for possible causes, such as pipe clogs or faulty water valves.

Posted on September 9, 2021March 15, 2022

The presence of pink slime in your pool tells you one thing: that you’re not doing enough upkeeping of your pool.

Pink slimes are actually algae with pink pigments. Scientifically, they are a type of bacteria known as Methylobacterium. Although it’s non-pathogenic, meaning it doesn’t cause diseases, it doesn’t mean that it’s okay to have them in your pool.

The pink algae population can grow exponentially when not removed early on. Their presence can dilute the effectiveness of chlorine and bromine – the chemicals that kill harmful microorganisms in pool water. This means that a high concentration of pink algae promotes the breeding of harmful bacteria, potentially putting your health at risk.

Plus, pink slime makes the surface slippery, which can lead to an accident. With all these concerns, it’s best to get rid once and for all.

How to Get Rid of Pink Algae

Looking for effective ways to remove these pesky algae? Here are some steps that you can take:

Scrape the pink algae from the surface using a pool brush. Brush all surfaces of the pool, even those with no sign of pink algae yet.
Turn the pool filter on and backwash the pool until the water becomes clear again.
Continue brushing the surfaces and backwashing to thoroughly flush out the pink slime.
Fill the water with fresh, clean water. Run an automatic pool cleaner first to ensure that the water is thoroughly clean.
Balance the chemicals. The correct level of alkalinity, pH, and water hardness is crucial in preventing pink slime development. Test the pool water for these standards and adjust when necessary: alkalinity: 100-150, pH: 7.2-7.8, and calcium hardness, 200-400 ppm.

The steps above might take you days to finish. Here is a pool cleaning timelapse to show you the amazing result.

If you clean the pool for pink algae, make sure you do it right the first time. Pink algae have the characteristic of being resistant to many cleaning and sanitizing processes. If they are not entirely removed, there is a big chance that the problem will recur.

Many brands of algaecides are available in your local pool store that are specifically formulated to kill pink algae. The most common method of using them is to mix a quantity on the dirty pool water while brushing the surface.