AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANER SELECTION

Important Considerations In Determining
The Proper Choice Of Automatic Swimming Pool Cleaner

Twenty years ago or so, selecting an automatic pool cleaner was a fairly straightforward decision as there were only a few on the market. The two cleaners which dominated the market back then were the Arneson Pool Sweep and the Polaris 180 Vac Sweep.

Now there are numerous manufacturers and models, and while the choices may seem overwhelming, selecting an automatic pool cleaner is really not that difficult. There are really only three basic ways to power an automatic pool cleaner - pressure or suction drawn from the system itself, or a self-contained electrically powered robotic style cleaner. Each type has its own unique advantages and disadvantages..

Which automatic pool cleaner is right for your swimming pool?

Bear in mind that no automatic pool cleaner can be all things to all people, or pools shall we say. Factors that affect performance are, amongst others:

DEBRIS LOAD - Different pool cleaners handle different volumes and types of debris differently, and swimming pools containing large leaves or a large volume of leaves or twigs can present difficulties for almost any cleaner.

SYSTEM PERFORMANCE - a marginal swimming pool filtration system can present problems for suction driven pool cleaners, and pressure driven cleaners not requiring a booster pump. This is especially true with older systems with bronze pumps having limited output, compromised hydraulics (leaks), and/or a dirty or poorly maintained filter. Provided you have a properly designed and maintained pool filtration system, suction driven automatic pool cleaners provide the most cost-efficient alternative. They work well under moderate debris loading and do not require a booster pump or a separate timer. One important note here - a system with even minor suction leak(s) can impair a suction driven cleaner to the point it will just not work properly. It is important to have a hyrdraulically "tight" system.

SIZE AND SHAPE OF SWIMMING POOL - Larger or odd shaped pools can present problems for system-dependent automatic pool cleaners. For booster pump pressure driven automatic pool cleaners, size is not as much of an issue as it is with a suction driven pool cleaner. The longer the line length to power the cleaner, whether pressure or suction, degrades the amount of power to the cleaner, making them less effective or even inoperable.

Most system-dependent non-robotic pool cleaners work well in pools up to 40 - 44 feet long, providing your system is designed properly and in good running order. However, an odd shape can present navigational problems for some cleaners.

A non-radiused pool bottom (where the sides intersect the bottom of the pool) presents a problem for non-robotic pool cleaners. This usually prevents them from going up the sides of the pool.

Suction driven pool cleaners cost the least to own and operate. These do not require the use of a separate pump to power them - they work off of the existing filtration system. They are simple to install and are an excellent choice for most pools provided you have a system with adequate suction without suction leaks, and a low to moderate debris load with smaller debris. They attach to either a dedicated vacuum line on the side of the pool wall or directly into the skimmer, and operate whenever the system is running.

Debris is drawn directly into the filter system. For pools with lots of leaves and debris, a leaf cannister attachment is advisable as it will prevent a lot of this from entering the filtration system.

One drawback of suction driven pool cleaners is that they can impair the operation of the skimmer. The skimmer acts to help prevent debris from sinking to the bottom of the swimming pool in the first place, so this is an an undesirable though not necessarily critical consequence. An automatic skimmer plate, which alternates between the operation of the pool cleaner (without removing it) and the skimmer, can address this but is not absolutely necessary. These cycle from one filtration cycle to the next, typically day to day in most systems. Manual skimmer plates are also available.

For proper operation of suction driven pool cleaners, valves which regulate the suction between the main drain, skimmer, and or vacuum line should be available and operational. For best results, suction should be regulated according to the manufacturer's instructions.

We stock all major models of suction driven pool cleaners: In-Ground Pools: Kreepy Krauly - KPY70405
Polaris 340
Hayward Navigator 925C - Concrete
Hayward Navigator 925V - Vinyl
Baracuda G3
Baracuda G4
Sta-Rite Great White STRGW9500
Sta-Rite Pool Shark STRPS7500
Letro Legend II

If price is no object, robotic cleaners offer the best performance as they work work independently of the filtration system.

Pools with heavy leaf loads, especially large leaves, and pine needles aren't usually good candidates for suction style cleaners unless the heavy leaf fall season is short. Generally if a sweep can do all the work for you 11 months of the year , but requires a little help in the fall, that's usually acceptable. Leaf canisters to trap larger debris before entering into the filtration system are also available and recommended.

These pool cleaners fall into two categories: 1. Booster Pump Driven 2. Circulation System Driven

All pressure driven systems operate on a venturi principle. As water is forced upward through a collection bag via jets in the throat, a suction is created underneath which draws the debris into the bag. The bags need to be emptied periodically, the frequency of which is dependent upon the debris load.

One advantage of these types of pool cleaners is that most of the debris ends up in the bag as opposed to the filter system, making backwashing necessary less frequently.

Booster pump driven automatic pool cleaning systems assure that the pool cleaner always has adequate pressure to operate, and are more expensive to own, install, and operate. They require a separate (booster) pump in addition to the circulation pump, as well as a separate timer or switch. The booster pump is connected to a line terminating at the pool wall, either by a hard pre-plumbed line when the pool was built, or by a reinforced garden hose attached to a special deck-mounted connection, typically at the middle of the longest length of the pool and just below the tile. From there the line is connected to the pool cleaner via a feed hose.

Circulation system driven pool cleaners operate strictly from the circulation system only - they have been specially designed to operate without a booster pump. These pool cleaners typically do a good job as long as the circulation system is powerful enough and the pool is not overly large.

Some connect to the return line of the pool, preferably in or near the center of the pool along its length. Any additional return lines will need to be closed or restricted.

Others connect to a line which has been tee'd between the pump and filter and plumbed into the pool, making it less likely for the cleaner to fail due to high filter pressure. This type of setup should incorporate a pre-filter to prevent the finger screen from becoming clogged too frequently.

Discount Pool and Spa Supplies sells all of the major pressure driven automatic pool cleaners, including: BOOSTER PUMP DRIVEN POOL CLEANERS: Polaris 380, Polaris 280, Polaris 180, Baracuda Mars, Hayward Viper, Letro Legend, Letro Jet-Vac, BOOSTER-LESS PRESSURE DRIVEN POOL CLEANERS: Letro Legend II, Polaris 360, Jandy-Ray-Vac,

Following is complete list of the pool cleaners Discount Pool and Spa Supplies carries.