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AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANERS

These devices are designed to keep your pool clean so you don't have to. There are three basic types of automatic pool cleaners; Suction side cleaners, pressure side cleaners and robotic cleaners. Each has their advantages and disadvantages that will be discussed later. Cleaners have their limitations, most cleaners are designed to keep a clean pool clean and they are not designed to take a filthy pool and clear it. If you have a large amount of debris and/or algae then you will have to clean most of the debris and/or algae by hand. Once you have the majority of the debris cleaned the automatic pool cleaner can take over the task. There are two important aspects to automatic pool cleaner ownership, the first a word of caution; if you do not own an automatic pool cleaner now you need to know (and if you already own a cleaner you will know what I am talking about) Automatic pool cleaners are a lot like air conditioning in your car, once you have one you will not want to be without it ever! The second aspect to automatic pool cleaner ownership iis that 95% of owners name their cleaner, because they do so much work owners feel like they are the family pool pet! So don't forget to name your cleaner, make it a family project it is a lot of fun.

TYPES OF AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANERS

SUCTION SIDE CLEANERS

This type of cleaner connects to the suction side, or vacuum side, of your pool pump. This cleaner usually connects to your system just like your manual vacuum would connect. It will have a hose the same size as your manual vacuum hose, however it is a special type of hose and you should only use the hose that was designed for your automatic pool cleaner and not your manual vacuum hose. Using your manual vacuum hose could effect the operation of the automatic pool cleaner. Most suction side cleaners use a hose that comes in sections and must be assembled, however there are some that use a one piece hose. Suction side cleaners will do the bottom of the pool and in some cases the walls as well. These cleaners can be finicky in an in-ground vinyl liner pool. In a vinyl liner pool suctions side cleaners will usually not go up the walls in the shallow end but usually will go up the walls in the deep end of the pool. In above ground pools suction side cleaners only do the bottom of the pool. In concrete pools, if they are built correctly, this type of cleaner should clean the whole pool floor and walls.


PRESSURE SIDE CLEANERS

This type of cleaner requires a pump to make it move. This style of cleaner needs water pushed through it, unlike the suction side cleaner than need water drawn through it. There are two methods to do this; the first, and most effective, is to have a second pump that drives the cleaner, the second method is to use your existing pump to power the unit. Pressure side cleaners were the first automatic pool cleaners on the market. The grandaddy of them all is the Arneson Pool Sweep. This unit was not the most efficient cleaner on the market but it did the job. Amazingly Pentair still makes this unit and parts are available for the Pool Sweep. If you are interested in parts e-mail us. With the success of the Pool Sweep other models started to appear and in 30+ years there are now hundreds of models on the market. Most pressure side cleaners today push fine debris around to the deep end main drain in the pool for the filter to pick up and also have a venturi vacuum built in to lift debris off the bottom of the pool and into a bag. There are usually 4 different styles of bags leaf net (just for picking up leaves), fine mesh (for every day type use), super fine mesh (for picking up really fine particulate) and disposable bags (when you are done just throw them out). This type of cleaner is not really designed for use in above ground pools. If you are going to use a cleaner that requires a dedicated pump you will need a dedicated line for this cleaner. If you do not have a pipe specifically for the cleaner then you will have to use the type of cleaner that does not require the dedicated pump and works off off your main pump or purchase a special over the deck installation kit. This type of cleaner is among the most popular cleaners on the market today.


ROBOTIC CLEANERS

This type of cleaner does not require a pump to make it move. This style of cleaner. This cleaner works as a stand alone system, it has it's own filter that compliments your filter. This type of cleaner will usually do the walls and floors in an in-ground pool. In an above ground pool these cleaners will only clean the bottom of the pool. Keep in mind that most of the dirt will fall to the bottom of the pool. If your cleaner does not clean the walls you will periodically need to brush the walls of the pool. The robotic cleaners have a on board computer that is either programed to clean your pool or learns how to clean your pool as it goes along. These cleaners tend to be among the more expensive options, however they do not require any special plumbing on your pool so you will save money from that aspect.

FEATURES AND ADVANTAGES

Ratings from worst to best: Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent.

Model	Pump Required?	Requires a Dedicated. Line	Suction Cleaner	For In Ground	For Above Ground	Cleans Bottom Only	Cleans Floor & Walls	DPW Rating
Phantom	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Fair
Viio	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Fair
Navigator	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
Pool Vac	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
Tiger Shark	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Very Good
Aqua Bug	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Fair


	Ratings from worst to best: Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent.

Model	Requires Pump	Requires a Dedicated. Line	Suction Cleaner	For In Ground	For Above Ground	Cleans Bottom Only	Cleans Floor & Walls	DPW Rating
E-Z Vac	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
Kreepy Krauly	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
Legend	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Very Good
Legend II	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
Legend Platinum	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Very Good
Jet Vac	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
Prowler	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Very Good

Ratings from worst to best: Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent.

Model	Requires Pump	Requires a Dedicated. Line	Suction Cleaner	For In Ground	For Above Ground	Cleans Bottom Only	Cleans Floor & Walls	DPW Rating
65	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Very Good
140/145	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
165	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Good
180	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
280	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Very Good
340	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Good
360	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
380	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
480	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Very Good
3900	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Not Rated


	Ratings from worst to best: Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent.

Model	Requires Pump	Requires a Dedicated. Line	Suction Cleaner	For In Ground	For Above Ground	Cleans Bottom Only	Cleans Floor & Walls	DPW Rating
Nitro W/S	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Not Rated
Nitro W/C	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Not Rated
Nitro	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Good
Robo-Kleen	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Good
Robo-Kleen Plus	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Good
Pro-Kleen Kadet	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Good
Pro-Kleen Pro	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Good
Pro-Kleen Plus	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Good
Pro Kleen 4X4	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Good


	Ratings from worst to best: Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent.

Model	Requires Pump	Requires a Dedicated. Line	Suction Cleaner	For In Ground	For Above Ground	Cleans Bottom Only	Cleans Floor & Walls	DPW Rating
Calypso	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
Pool Shark	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
Great White	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
Lil' Shark	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Good


	Ratings from worst to best: Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent.

Model	Requires Pump	Requires a Dedicated. Line	Suction Cleaner	For In Ground	For Above Ground	Cleans Bottom Only	Cleans Floor & Walls	DPW Rating
Ranger	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Some Walls	Good
Zippy	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Good
Pacer	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
G3	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Good
Mars	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Some Walls	Fair

A few final words about what automatic pool cleaners will and won't do. Keep in mind that automatic pool cleaners are designed to keep clean pools clean. If your goal is to clean a pool that is trashed it will not clean the pool as effectively as if you do it by hand. Also some situations require you to manually vacuum the pool, like if you have an algae bloom, the automatic pool cleaners will not always clean algae problems up like a manual vacuuming would.

On the charts above where it indicates that the cleaner will clean some walls, this means that the clean may not clean all the walls in a pool. In vinyl liner pools most, but not all, automatic pool cleaners will not make the 90° angle that exists in the shallow end. We have seen situations where suctions cleaners will not stay on the wall of a concrete pool because the pool was not built properly.

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