Information on Automatic Pool Cleaners

Automatic pool cleaners make keeping the family pool clear an easy task.

Automatic pool cleaners use electricity and the pool's filtration system to make pool cleaning chores that much easier. A step up from manual pool vacuums which take time and energy, these cleaners do the job for you, leaving more time for enjoying the pool rather than maintaining it. Automatic pool cleaners come in three main types, with each permutation having its own benefits and drawbacks.

Suction Side Cleaners

Suction side automatic pool cleaners work the the pool's own suction system--usually the surface skimmer--to draw the dirt and debris from the bottom of the pool. This dirt and debris is then sent through the pool's filtration system. These cleaners are known as the vacuums of the pool world and function in much the same way an indoor vacuum cleaner would.

Pressure Side Cleaners

Pressure side automatic pool cleaners use the swimming pool's water return system to push debris and dirt into a bag affixed to the cleaner. The cleaner marches across the pool, stirring up the debris from the bottom, sending it through the filter and then into the bag. They are a better match for those pools that use a skimmer for surface cleaning.

Robotic Pool Cleaners

Robotic pool cleaners are controlled by a computer system and are developed particularly for use in commercial swimming pools or those that are much larger than average. They operate independently from the pool's intake and filter system and are run with an internal microchip. An internal transformer changes the 100-volt input into a 24-volt system, meaning they are not draining electricity.

Advantages

Suction pool cleaners have the clearest advantage over the competition when it comes to price and ease of use. Because they work off the filtration system, the pool owner does not have to spend extra money for a separate pump. One of the biggest advantages of pressure side cleaners is inherent in the bag collection system, which takes much of the pressure off the filter, making frequent backwashing unnecessary. This is also a benefit of robotic pool cleaners, which also have the advantage of cleaning the pool in the quickest time possible.

Drawbacks

The pool skimmer is the first line of defense between leaves and debris and the pool. Suction cleaners can interfere with the ability of the skimmer to perform these duties so this debris tends to drop to the bottom of the swimming pool. Pressure side cleaners require an expensive pump and tend to get overwhelmed with a larger pool. Robotic cleaners are the most recommended, but they are also the most expensive.

References

• Backyard City Pools: Automatic Pool Cleaners
• Discount Pool Supplies: Automatic Pool Cleaner Selection