Compare different types of pool cleaning

A good filtration system isn’t the only key to keeping your pool water pristine. An automatic pool cleaner removes a great deal of debris from your pool’s floor and some from your pool walls as well.

There are currently four kinds of automatic pool cleaners on the Australian market: suction, robotic, pressure and in-floor cleaners.

But how do you know which one will be right for your pool?

Here’s a rundown of the features and pros and cons of each type of automatic pool cleaner.

Suction

Robotic

Pressure

In-floor

Suction pool cleaners

Suction cleaners are one of the most popular kind of cleaners on the market. They are fixed to the pool’s skimmer and operate on the suction created by the pool’s pump, thus acting like an underwater vacuum cleaner. They are also attached to your pool’s filter system, as they need to deposit leaves and larger debris in the skimmer box, and the finer sediment is trapped in the pool’s filter system.

Pros:

Double suction function
While it sucks debris off the bottom of the pool, it is also sucking water through the filtration system, turning over more water in a shorter amount of time
Filtering
Can remove finer particles because it is attached to your filter
Low Cost
Cheapest pool cleaner option
No effort
Easy to install and use

Cons:

Restricted
There are various restrictions of suction cleaners, including the fact that they are fitted into a pool’s skimmer, reducing the pool’s skimming ability to clean the debris at the surface of the pool water and also reducing its turnover by adding a restriction to its pool circulation. The debris goes straight to the filtration system, which requires backwashing or maintenance
High speed required
To operate the cleaner effectively, the pool pump needs to operate at higher speeds, negating any energy savings from the use of variable speed pumps

Robotic pool cleaners

The new generation robotic pool cleaners are gaining popularity with time-poor homeowners who want to spend the day enjoying their pool instead of vacuuming! Robotic cleaners vacuum and trap pool debris in self-contained compartments or bags. This technique saves you from having to do excessive backwashing or rinsing the pool’s filter, which is the case with suction style cleaners.

Robotic cleaners are not connected to anything, and some have remote controls to control the cleaner’s movements or to program the cleaner for specific cleaning functions. You can automatically and systematically clean your swimming pool without relying on the operation of filtering equipment. The result is a dramatic reduction in energy costs when compared to all other types of automatic pool cleaners.

Pros:

Economical
Today’s top-of-the-line robotic cleaners combine user-friendly operation with water, energy and chemical conservation features
Save energy
Requires minimal electrical power to operate its inbuilt pump and motor
Independent circulation
Independent to the pump and filter system, allowing better circulation of water
Easy skimming
It will free up the skimmer box and enable leaves to be skimmed from the surface of the pool
Remote control
Some can be controlled by remote control to allow you to guide it those hard to clean spots
Scrubbing brushes
Equipped with scrubbing brushes, so not only do they vacuum the pool’s floor and/or walls, but they also scrub the actual surface, regardless of whether it’s vinyl, fibreglass or concrete
Minimal effort
Minimal maintenance and effort on your part
Water circulation
Helps to circulate water through the pool, resulting in less algae growth and improved water chemistry

Cons:

Investment
Most expensive type of cleaner (prices starting from $1000 to over $2000)
Extra efforts required
It’s recommended by manufacturers that you remove the cleaner after each use, the cleaner’s internal filter bag or cartridge require emptying and cleaning, the cleaner’s cable needs to be wound up and stored correctly after each operation

Pressure pool cleaners

A pressure cleaner attaches to your pool’s pump system to clean to pool with a combination of suction and jet action. The water pressure from a dedicated pressure booster pump moves the cleaner around the pool, which gives the cleaner its name. It has its own attached mesh bag which it deposits dirt and debris into.

Pros:

Can handle many trees
Most suited to a pool located underneath a large number of overhanging trees
Independent dirtbag
It deposits dirt and debris into its own bag, which means debris is not deposited in the skimmer or pool filter
Easy skimming
It will free up the skimmer box and enable leaves to be skimmed from the surface of the pool
Quick
The pressure cleaner is a very quick and efficient way to clean the pool
Affordable
Mid-range pricing
Water circulation
Helps to circulate water through the pool, resulting in less algae growth and improved water chemistry

Cons:

Only water
Doesn’t scrub the pool’s floor or walls
Coarse filter
Cannot filter small particles through the bag
Requires extra energy
Not only requires the normal filtration system to be operating, but also requires the addition of a pressure booster pump. This significantly increases energy consumption and ultimately cost

In-floor pool cleaners

An in-floor cleaning system is designed prior to the swimming pool being constructed or manufactured, depending on the pool interior. In consists of a series of heads that pop up in the floor and steps of the pool. This is not dissimilar to pop up heads in your garden sprinkler system.

Their purpose is to drive the dirt and debris towards a drain point, usually located in the deep end of the pool. Once the dirt is removed from the drain point by the pump, it usually passes into the filtration system where it will get trapped.

In leafy pools, there is an additional primary straining point, which catches the heavy leaf matter before the filtration. Every system must be designed individually as every pool is usually a different shape and size. This system also aids in chemical distribution and heat circulation throughout the entire pool. Some systems rely solely on the filtration pump to drive them and others require a separate pump to operate the cleaning system.

Pros:

Versatile
Ideally suited for difficult shaped pools and lap pools
High yield
It can handle very high debris levels
Easy skimming
It will free up the skimmer box and enable leaves to be skimmed from the surface of the pool
Minimal effort
Minimal maintenance and effort on your part
Water circulation
Helps to circulate water through the pool, resulting in less algae growth and improved water chemistry
Heating circulation
Aids heating circulation throughout the entire pool

Cons:

Only water
Doesn’t clean the wall of the pool
Pre-installed
Can only be fitted to pool during the construction stage
Requires extra energy
May require separate dedicated pump to operate it. This significantly increases energy consumption and ultimately cost
Investment
Fairly high investment up front

Compare different types of pool cleaning

Suction pool cleaners

Pros:

Cons:

Robotic pool cleaners

Pros:

Cons:

Pressure pool cleaners

Pros:

Cons:

In-floor pool cleaners

Pros:

Cons:

Still not sure?

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