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How Do Suction Pool Cleaners Work

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The Best Suction Pool Cleaner For An Inground Pool: Kreepy Krauly

HOW DOES an Automatic Swimming Pool Cleaner work?

The Kreepy Krauly is a well-known and highly respected automatic vacuum in the pool industry. Its unique cleaning function was invented by a South African hydraulics engineer named Ferdinand Chauvier. The first version of the cleaner was launched in 1976 and was an immediate success.

This modern automatic pool cleaner has a built-in navigation system that guides the unit throughout the entire pool from the water line to the wall and to the bottom of the pool. And an automatic valve regulates water flow control the travel speed for thorough cleaning.

Itll even clean around steps and ladders. And the wings help grab leaves, dirt, and large debris.

How Do Automatic Pool Cleaners Work

An automatic pool cleaner cleans your pool automatically and entirely independently. You just turn on the device, and the pool cleaner does its job. Clean the filters now and then, and youre done. Suitable for ultimate convenience. The bottom and any wall will clean within 1 to 3 hours without looking back. This is by far the ideal way to vacuum your swimming pool. Especially suitable for architectural swimming pools. Now you are going to know how do automatic pool cleaners work?

A cleaner has suction power that is strong enough to use in the water. The pool cleaner sucks up water and dirt, such as sand and leaves. The water is guided through a filter, where the soil remains, and the water flows, back towards the pool.

The basic principle described above applies to every pool cleaner. There is still a difference in effect between the different types. An automatic pool cleaner has an internal filter and automatically moves through the pool. A hydraulic cleaner also automatically sucks the pool, but has no internal filter and must be connected to the filter in the technical room with a vacuum cleaner hose. The latter also applies to a vacuum cleaner foot, which you manually move through the pool. You can also operate an automatic electric pool cleaner manually, but it does have an internal filter. Internal filters are easy to disconnect and empty.

How Do You Know If Your Skimmers Suction Is Low

Have a look at the pressure gauge of your filter tank. First, figure out your tanks optimal flow rate , and youll know the base or starting pressure for your filter.

Next, backwash the filter and the pump basket to reset the PSI to a normal functioning range. Now restart the pump and let it run as usual. Following this, if the PSI either rises around 5-10 pounds on the gauge or reads lower than average, youre looking at a low suction problem.

The PSI should hover between 10 and 25 depending on your filter model anything above or below that much is abnormal.

If your pressure is higher than average, there is likely an obstruction after the pump. If it is lower than average, your obstruction is at or before the pump on the suction side of the system.

Other problem signs include:

  • A slow return on water jets
  • A dirty pool filled with dead leaves and insects

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Repairs To An Automatic Pool Cleaner

Most suction cleaners are the cheapest cleaners to own in terms of needed replacement parts. Some have only 1 moving part, and need very few replacement parts. Always rotate the wearable parts on the cleaners and replace those wearable parts when needed. Most suction cleaners will need less than $20 per year to stay operating at peak performance.

Generally speaking, the more parts a cleaner has, the more potential problems it can have. However, those cleaners with more parts typically also have more features or better performance .

To make your own pool cleaner repairs, all you need is possibly a screwdriver, and most cleaners need no tools at all for repair. Using the schematics, or exploded diagrams in our pool cleaner parts dept., you can see how the cleaner is assembled, and how to replace a part that is worn or broken.

Advantages Of A Suction Pool Cleaner

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Installing the suction cleaner is a cheap method of cleaning the pool. There are no complex installations required. The water is directed into the filter, thus making it the best for cleaning small-scaled debris. Certain pool cleaners do come with the advantage of scrubbing the walls of the pools when plugged in.

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Should You Leave The Pool Cleaner In The Pool

The best way to use a pool cleaner is to place it in the pool early morning. Run the pump for two hours. Then remove and store the cleaner. The pool is now ready for the day.

However, many people leave their suction pool cleaner in the pool all day. When the pump comes on automatically the pool cleaner will clean the pool. This is fine while the pool is not in use. When people want to use the pool remove the cleaner.

When you leave a cleaner in the pool 24/7 the cleaner will wear out much sooner. The cleaner will be over used. There is no need to suction clean a swimming pool 3 times a day. Also, the cleaner is subject to pool chemicals which will eventually wear down the plastic and rubber components.

If you dont want to maintain your suction pool cleaner only use the cleaner a few times a week and remove it from the pool after use. Always rinse the cleaner in fresh water to remove chemicals and store out of the sun.

Suction Pool Vacuum Cleaners

Suction Pool Vacuum Cleaners use the water flow from your filtration system and attach to either a dedicated suction port or skimmer. As debris are being sucked up, they are collected in the leaf canister, skimmer basket or routed directly to the pool filter. They are reliable, do not require professional installation and are the most affordable pool cleaning option, but keep in mind they require a pool pump to run and increase stress on the pool pump and filter.

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Suction Side Pool Cleaners Are Low Maintenance

Because suction side cleaners use the filter pumps suction to move through the water, they have no electronics of their own. Because they have fewer moving parts and no sensitive electronics, theyre less likely to break. If you like sturdy devices of solid construction, this type of pool cleaner is a good product for you.

The Following Are Steps To Keep The Water Circulating

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  • It starts at the skimmer where the water is sucked. It then ends at the jet where water is then pumped back.
  • The pumps then pull water into the skimmer and go through pipes at the pool filter. The filter then catches gunk and sediment as the water passes. The freshly cleaned water is then pushed to the pipes and back to the pool.
  • It is ideally good to run the pool pump the whole day, but it would be costly. The other option is to let it run for 12 hours every day. The 12 hours a day will make the water circulate at least once every day.

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How To Install A Suction Pool Cleaner

Table Contents

There are several steps to follow, but when you have done it once or twice, you will be an expert in it.

Turn the pump off

Vacuum the pool and clean the pump and filter basket.

Run the pump for around five minutes to clear lines after the cleaning. After running the pump around, turn the pump off.

  • Close the pool main drain lines
  • The return lines are then aimed downwards
  • Then install wall fittings to the return lines or valve assembly in the skimmer.
  • The hose is laid across the pool. It goes from the skimmer or return lines to the wall in the far corner. Trim the tube or remove the part to remove the excess length.
  • The leader hose is then attached to the hoses cleaners end.
  • The hose is then submerged allowing the water to fill
  • The suction pool cleaner is then submerged so as to fill the water.
  • Install the hose if the model has the flow valve regulator.
  • The last step is to allow the cleaner to submerge into the floor of the pool. Turn the pool pump on and let the suction pool cleaner get into working.

Are Suction Pool Cleaners Any Good

Like we said at the beginning, theyre the best automatic pool cleaner for anyone on a budget. While they have their drawbacks, using a suction side pool cleaner is better than not having an automatic pool cleaner at all.

Bottom line: we highly recommend investing in an automatic pool cleaner. And if youre looking just to get started or have a tight budget to work with, we think youll be happy with our top picks for suction side pool cleaners for inground and above ground swimming pools.

Happy Swimming!

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Which Pool Cleaner Is The Best

The short answer it depends on your situation. Its all going to boil down to which features you want, what your current pool set up is, how much you are willing to spend now and in the future, and how much of an effort you want to put in to using the cleaner. There are 3 main types of automatic pool cleaners: Pressure Side, Suction Side, and Robotic. Lets go deeper into each one.

Why Do I Need To Vacuum My Pool If I Have A Robotic Pool Cleaner

How Do Pool Vacuums Work?

If youve ever seen your robotic pool cleaner push a pile of waterlogged leaves from one end of your swimming pool to the other, you know what were talking about: Robotic pool cleaners are great for light, day-to-day maintenance, but theyre not designed for heavy lifting. If debris isnt removed promptly, it can wreak havoc on your water quality and lead to maintenance issues like algae. A pool vacuum makes short work of heavy debris, helping you keep your pool clean and inviting and preventing maintenance headaches.

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Checklist: Pool Vacuuming Must

Before you vacuum your pool, you should make sure that you have everything you need to get the job done. Heres what youll need to get started:

  • Vacuum head and telescopic pole. If youve got a swimming pool, chances are good youve already got a telescopic pole, plus interchangeable attachments like nets, skimmers, and brushes. Most swimming pool vacuum heads are designed to work with any telescopic pole.
  • Vacuum hose. The vacuum hose connects your vacuum head to your pool pump via the skimmer inlet, which provides debris-sucking power.
  • Vacuum plate. This is also called a skimmer plate, but dont let the names confuse you. Whatever you call it, this piece of equipment connects the hose to the skimmer inlet.

Choosing the right vacuum head for your pool liner

A vinyl pool liner requires a vacuum equipped with a soft brush to prevent tears and damage. If you have a concrete or gunite swimming pool, choose a vacuum head that features wheels for easy movement.

Suction Side Cleaner Pros

  • Suction pool cleaners do a good job of keeping your pool floor clean, especially since they sit so close to the surface.
  • They are generally less expensive than pressure side and robotic cleaners, although there are some higher priced models.
  • These cleaners run off of the suction from your main circulation pump and dont require additional equipment, which means there is no real increase to your household electricity usage.
  • Suction cleaners are easy to repair and parts are fairly inexpensive.
  • As with pressure cleaners, suction cleaners should be taken out of the pool when shocking as well as periodically to rinse off chemical water. The reality is that no one takes these steps and generally leave them in the pool 24/7. This means you arent messing with the cleaner very often.

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How Really Do Automatic Pool Cleaners Work

Automatic pool cleaners are fully automated and operate independently from the main pump and pool filtration system. They have a filtration system that acts as a secondary filter during pool cleaning. This type of pool cleaner is gaining popularity in recent times due to its efficiency and performance. Not only are they programmable, but they can also control remotely, unlike the first two types of pool cleaners. They also come with their built-in battery and a cartridge to store the collected dirt during cleaning. Although they are slightly more expensive to purchase, they deliver great time and cost savings! So, hope youve got your answer that how does an automatic pool cleaner works.

Automatic Pool cleaners are not only cost-effective and maintenance-friendly, but they are also energy efficient. Auto Pool cleaners help you reduce energy bills and operating costs, while also efficiently clearing the pool from bacteria and algae. These tools help you avoid needing extra pumps and also include independent filtration systems that help reduce the wear on some of your more expensive and existing pool equipment.

While some of these pool cleaners dont come cheap, its always smart to shop around and do research. This can help you find a model that fits the budget. Each type of pool cleaner works differently, so it will be all the more worth your time and effort to learn more about them to choose one that is right for you and your pool.

How Do You Hook Up A Pool Vacuum

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There are two ways to hook up the pool vacuum cleaner to the filter system.

  • The first I have already mentioned which is to connect it into the skimmer and vacuum from there.
  • Some pools have a dedicated vacuum hose connection which makes hooking up the vacuum even easier and are ideal for attaching an automatic pool cleaner which can then just be left in the pool.

Of course, if you have a robotic pool cleaner, this will not need to be hooked up as it operates totally independently of the pools filter.

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Hoses Weights And Other Features

Features are characteristics or qualities of an automatic pool cleaner outside of their direct cleaning functions. These include things like additional weights, hose lengths, pump requirements, and other attributes that help these units distinguish themselves from each other.

The main concern with features is that many of them are designed for specific types of pools. For example, some hoses are designed for extremely large swimming pools and trying to use them in smaller pools could push a suction-side cleaner off-course. A cleaner isnt better just because it has features. Instead, those features need to match your pool as closely as possible.

Before you start shopping, grab some paper and write down all the problems you currently have with your pool. This could include things like a dirty waterline, lots of debris in different areas, or insects landing on top of the pool. Once you have that list, you can compare it to the listed features of each pool cleaner to see how many of them you can solve. If you decide that suction-side cleaners arent for you, check out our recommendations for robotic pool cleaners and pressure-side pool cleaners.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Participation in these programs helps us keep the lights on at PoolResearch.com and in no way impacts our research process or editorial opinions.

Is A Suction Pool Cleaner Right For Me

Your dedicated pool professional is the best person to answer this question. While suction pool cleaners are an accessible and affordable option, they arent right for everyone or every pool.

Its essential to ensure that the suction pool cleaner you choose is compatible with your pool type and finish. Also, be sure to consider what kind of debris your cleaner will encounter regularly. Not all suction cleaners can handle larger items like leaves, pine cones or twigs.

Suction-side pool cleaners are terrific at picking up small-to-medium sized debris such as fine sediment, seeds, dirt, silt, algae and small leaves. Models vary, but Zodiacs suction-side models are safe to use on fibreglass, tile, concrete and vinyl pools. There is a Zodiac suction cleaner for in-ground pools of every size.

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Tips How To Maintain Your Pool Yourself

If you are the DIY types, there are multiple ways to maintain a clean and beautiful pool and enjoy your swimming experience to the fullest. The first is to make sure that you clean your pool thoroughly at regular intervals i.e. at least once a week.

Here are some tips to keep your pool clean and maintain it properly

  • Make sure you rinse yourself under a shower before entering the pool.
  • A thorough cleaning can be done once a week, but make sure you skim your pool for leaves and twigs regularly. This will give your pool a clean and gorgeous look.
  • There is no harm in adding slight amounts of chemicals such as chlorine in the pool water. This will keep most of the disease-causing bacteria away.
  • Schedule an appointment for service of the pool pumps and filter at least once a year even when you dont think it is required.
  • Clean your pool deck regularly and thoroughly so that no unnecessary dirt goes into the pool.
  • You can get some pool water testing strips to test the levels of chlorine and the pH in it to make sure it is free from unwanted chemicals.
  • Regularly check the functioning of the drain and return system and look for any clogging.
  • Use shock therapy to free your pool from any unwanted microorganisms once in a while. This is done as some disease-causing microbes have a resistance to chlorine and the electric shock will make sure that the water is free from pathogens.
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