No matter how much we love and enjoy our backyard swimming pools, most of us wouldn’t turn up our noses at a little help keeping them clean. To cut down on some of the work of maintaining our pools, many of us look to automatic pool vacuums to help out with the cleaning. There are three basic types of pool vacs: pressure, suction, and robotic. Which one is right for you? Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of automatic pool vacuums and see.
Pressure
A pressure pool vacuum uses water pressure from the pool pump to do its job. Pressure vacs connect to the pool’s main circulation pump. Otherwise, they require a separate booster pump.
PROS:
- Can pick up larger bits of debris such as leaves
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to maintain and repair
CONS:
- Not as effective at picking up smaller particles
- Don’t scrub walls and may not reach the waterline
- Must empty large filter bag frequently
- Most require a booster pump, which can add to your electric costs
- May need frequent repairs
Suction
A suction pool vacuum connects to your pool’s filtration system and is powered by your pool pump. It can clean the floor and walls of your pool.
PROS:
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to maintain and repair
- Can remove dirt from hard to reach areas
CONS:
- Since it works off your pool’s skimmer and filtration system, the energy of those pieces of equipment is diverted to the suction vac, hence they do not work as effectively
- Needs frequent emptying and cleaning
- May need frequent repairs
Robotic
A robotic pool vacuum is a stand-alone cleaner that is not connected to or dependent on any other pool equipment. In fact, they do not require extra accessories such as debris bags or booster pumps. They are the most expensive of the three types of cleaners. That being said, their higher price tag is offset by their many benefits.
PROS:
- Do a superior job of cleaning the floor, walls, waterline, and even the steps of your pool
- More than just a vacuum. They climb pool walls and have scrubbing brushes to clean away algae and bacteria from the surfaces
- Come with long warranties
- Have programmable features
- Work independently of pool filter and pump, allowing them to operate at peak efficiency
- Are energy-efficient
- Easy to empty debris canister
CONS:
- Cost more than pressure or suction vacuums
- When the cleaning cycle is complete, you must remove the robotic vac from the water and store it away
- Repairs can be more costly than those of pressure or suction cleaners
Automatic pool vacuums can certainly save you a lot of time. Instead of spending hours each week scrubbing the walls, floor, and waterline of your pool, you could be enjoying the water while your pool vac does the heavy work. You may still have to get out your skimmer net and scoop the big leaves off the surface of the water, but compared to all the other chores involved in removing small particles and even algae and bacteria, there is far less maintenance for a pool owner to do. Which type of cleaner is right for you? Certainly, it depends on your situation. We hope this list of pros and cons of automatic pool vacuums will help with your decision.
Aqua Pools carries Hayward Pool Products automatic pool vacuums. Our in-store professionals have extensive knowledge of these products and can help you decide which type of pool vac is the best fit for you. Stop by our showroom and let’s continue the discussion!