How Do Automatic Pool Cleaners Work?
Automatic cleaners are a great way to keep your pool debris-free without breaking a sweat. They’re versatile, easy to operate, and come in all shapes and sizes, but determining which is best suited to your needs can be tricky.
To help you confidently navigate the world of automatic pool cleaners, here’s all you need to know about this time-saving tool, including how to use it.
What Do Automatic Pool Cleaners Do?
Automatic cleaners take the hassle out of caring for your pool by, you guessed it, automatically vacuuming away debris.
They can patrol the floor, walls, and stairs of your pool without manual intervention, and with consistent use, go a long way to keeping your pool looking it’s sparkling best.
How do they operate?
Most automatic cleaners operate without the need for a direct power source, rather they navigate with the help of a hose connection to the pool pump. The suction this system creates is what propels the cleaner around the pool, and it’s why you might find the phrase “suction pool cleaner” being used interchangeably with “automatic pool cleaner”. Accordingly, the pool pump must be switched on for the cleaner to run.
How long do I have to leave it running?
The simple answer here is ‘as long as it takes to vacuum your entire pool’. Obviously this will depend on the size and cleanliness of your pool, with smaller, well maintained examples needing only about 2 hours, and larger, more debris-prone pools needing up to 6 hours.
Intermittently check the progress of your automatic pool cleaner to make sure you don’t run it for longer than necessary. This will also give you a chance to reposition it should it become caught in a ladder or other obstacle. Once complete, be sure to remove your cleaner from the pool to minimise chemical and environmental wear on the components.
How do I choose the right one?
Check that your pool pump meets the manufacturer’s minimum recommended power level. The high-quality automatic cleaners offered by Pool Set, for example, require pumps of at least 1hp to perform as expected.
It may be tempting to opt for a cut-price model, but all too often these are inefficient, slow, and unable to stand up to Australia’s harsh conditions. Paying a little extra for a cleaner with features like a wide suction head, clever swivel connections, and UV resistant material will mean getting the biggest bang for your buck in the long run.
For your cleaner to do its job, it has to be able to access every nook and cranny of your pool. Before operating, ensure the hose is long enough to reach all four corners. If after purging air from the hose you still find the cleaner unable to sink to the bottom, you’ll need to attach hose weights near the head. You’ll find these included in many automatic cleaner kits.
What about robotic pool cleaners?
Robotic pool cleaners are a whole different kettle of fish to the automatic suction cleaners we’ve been discussing until now. They certainly have their advantages, namely the ability to both vacuum and scrub your pool up to the water line, as well as being able to run independently of the pump thanks to a reliance on AC power, but these conveniences come at a price - literally.
Robotic pool cleaners are significantly more expensive than their suction-based counterparts - up to 20 times so. They may be worth the buy-in price in some instances, but most pool owners find a high-quality automatic suction cleaner more than sufficient for their needs.
Conclusion
Automatic pool cleaners are a great time saving investment, and high quality models can provide years of trouble free operation. When searching for a solution for your pool, opt for a cleaner that’s built to last, feature packed, and affordable, like the one offered by Pool Set. With durable materials, a 2 year warranty, and our support team just a phone call away, you can be confident it’ll get the job done efficiently and easily.
If you’re after more information on how to best take care of your pool, visit our blog, and be sure to peruse our extensive range of pumps, filters, cleaning products, and more.
The information provided by the Poolset website must not be relied upon or regarded as a substitute for specific professional advice. We make no claim that the website is 100% accurate or suitable for an individual's unique circumstance and provide the website on the basis that all persons accessing the website responsibly assess the relevance and accuracy of its content.