How Long Do Pool Cleaners Last

Robotic Vs Suction Vs Pressure Cleaners

Suction-side cleaners are fantastic for pool owners on a tight budget because they usually cost less than the other types. With few moving parts to break down, maintenance is easy.

Even if you have to occasionally replace a part, its relatively inexpensive to do so. Theyre perfect for pools that have a more powerful pump than the pool and filter need, which means theres a surplus of energy the suction cleaner can tap into.

Suction cleaners attach to your pools primary filtration pump and use its power to move from one end of your pool to the other. Suction cleaners have a throat mechanism that allows dirt, dust, and sand to pass through but can clog if larger debris gets stuck.

This means the unit will remain inoperable until someone comes along and performs an impromptu tracheotomy on the poor thing by removing whatever got lodged in its windpipe.

If sand or silt is what you need to remove, suction-side cleaners are an excellent choice. However, if your pool is plagued with a superabundance of leaves or sticks, you should probably get another kind of pool cleaner because suction machines struggle with this type of debris.

Pressure cleaners dont use your pools filtration system to get rid of debris. Instead, they use a filtration bag to capture all the unsightly flotsam and jetsam detracting from your pools carefully cultivated aesthetics.

A Clogged Filter Could Damage The Machine

The most important reason to retrieve the cleaner after use is a practical one. Youll have to clean out the filter compartment. A clogged filter makes it difficult for the water to pass through the machine as its supposed to.

Clogging means that your bot works harder to clean the same area. It will work for a little while, butwill be far less energy-efficient. Running your machine with severe clogging increases the risk of burning out the motor.

Even if you have a top-loading filter compartment, youll have to bring the cleaner to the surface to remove the filter. Once youve gone to that trouble, you might as well fish it out of the pool.

Is It Worth The Money

It is undoubtedly more expensive to get a robotic pool cleaner, however they do vary quite widely in costs so you should be able to find one to suit your budget. The main question everyone has in mind is: am I getting my moneys worth?

There is an entire list of reasons why it is a good investment to spend that extra amount on a robotic pool cleaner:

• Better cleaning overall
• Reduces the amount of chemicals needed
• Use much less energy, efficient and power-saving
• Better water filtration
• Easy to install and use

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Types Of Suction Side Pool Cleaners

Youll normally see suction side pool cleaners split into two different categories: 1) Flat, disk-shaped or pulse pool cleaners, and 2) Cleaners powered by a hydro drive train.

When the hose is connected and your filter pump is running, the result is suction from the bottom of your pool cleaner. The automated cleaner than moves around your pool with the motion created when it starts and stops pulsing water. As it navigates around your pool, it sucks up debris through its neck and then through the hose.

The debris continues beyond the suction port, up through the pipe, then finally stopping at the filter pump basket, which strains out dirt and contaminants. Smaller debris goes on through toward the filter.

You can make adjustments to the flow volume, the hose, or the automated cleaner to create various cleaning patterns. Doing so helps to maximize your pool cleaners coverage. Increasing the flow typically results in better speeds for your pool cleaner. The challenge is finding the right amount without your automated pool cleaner getting stuck or moving too fast.

Since suction side pool cleaners are the cheapest of the three types, youll usually only get a few years out of them. With the proper maintenance and care, you can expect your automated pool cleaner to last between three and five years.

My Experience Of Using A Solar Cover

We live in the Canary Islands, which are off the coast of north Africa, so the climate here is pretty warm generally. We have solar heating panels on the roof which obviously heats the water up quite well, but without a solar cover, much of that heat is lost overnight. We are not masochists, and dont want to die of shock when we get in the pool, so we want the temperature to be at least 82ºF/28ºC before we put a toe in.

Before we bought the solar cover we usually managed to swim comfortably from mid-April until mid-October. With the solar cover we are often in the pool by early March and swim until mid-November at least..

My pool normally loses 1.5-2ºF overnight without the cover on but hardly loses anything overnight when it is on.

In the summer, on a sunny day , without our solar heating on, I often see an increase of 2-3ºF during the day when I have the solar cover on.

Interestingly, we had a power outage for just over 24 hours last summer and I had the pool cover on. My wife and I wanted to swim late afternoon so I rolled the cover back and in we went. The water temperature in the top foot was much higher than the water below by at least 10ºF. Of course the pool pump had not been running so the water had been undisturbed which is why this was so noticeable.

As an aside, it was amazing how the warmer water had such a defined edge to the cooler water below. It was not a gradual transition from hot to cool as I would have expected but a sudden change.

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How Often You Should Vacuum Your Pool

As pool season kicks into full blast, your inground pool will be seeing more action than ever. Which means youve got to make sure its properly cleaned if you want it to last all summer long.

Pool cleaning and maintenance can take a lot of different forms. From balancing your water levels to scooping out dropped leaves and from winterizing in the offseason to shocking. But there are other ways you can keep your pool clean and operational. Pool vacuuming, especially with automatic, self-cleaning vacuums, are a great way for a hands-off cleaning approach.

Vacuuming your pool is great for getting rid of unwanted debris, mud, and algae. If youve got dogs that enjoy taking a dip, vacuums will help dog hair from clogging pool filters.

But, before you head out and buy the first pool vacuum you see, youll want to make sure you understand how they work so you can choose the one best fit for you.

Is A Dolphin Pool Cleaner Worth It

We rated the Dolphin Premier as #1 on our list for several reasons. Filtration is what separates the good pool robots from the not-so-good ones. This is where this robotic pool cleaner really shines. Its packed with smart tech features and can clean an in-ground pool up to 50 feet within 3 hours.

How long should a pool cleaner last?

So what is a reasonable lifespan for the pool vacuum or cleaner? There are so many brands and types of cleaners, that it is hard to pin point an exact life span. As a general rule, however, if you pay less than $300, the cleaner should last 1-2 seasons. If you pay more than $500, it will likely last 3-4 seasons.

Also, Which dolphin is best?

• Dolphin Premier: Best New Model.
• Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus: Proven & Reliable.
• Dolphin Triton PS: for Walls and Complex Surfaces.
• Dolphin E10: for Above Ground Pools.
• Dolphin Escape: for Larger Above Ground Pools.
• Most Advanced: DOLPHIN Nautilus CC Supreme.
• Best for Smaller Inground Pools: DOLPHIN Proteus DX3.

Which is better dolphin or Polaris? The Polaris pool cleaner is the better choice here. Not only is it slightly less expensive than its Dolphin competitor, but it can also manage a slightly larger pool than the Dolphin pool cleaner. It also uses more impressive technology to navigate and clean your pool.

How much does a Maytronics dolphin cost?

• Do you vacuum a pool on backwash or waste?

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What Are The Different Types Of Pool Cleaners

There are four main types of pool cleaners: manual, pressure-side, suction-side, and robotic. A manual pool cleaner has no motor or other power source. It is a simple cleaner that is attached to a long pole that the user holds on the outside of the pool.

Pressure-side and suction-side pool cleaners attach to the pump inside your pool. A pressure-side cleaner attaches to the pressure side of the pools pump and uses the pressure to propel the cleaner around the pool. The dirt and debris that a pressure-side cleaner picks up is stored in a filter bag attached to the cleaner. A suction-side cleaner is attached to the suction side of the pools pump. Since the cleaner suctions to the bottom of the pool, it moves around randomly on the floor. The cleaner will suck up the dirt and debris and deposit it into the pools filter.

A robotic cleaner is plugged into an electric outlet and does not require the pools pump to be running during a cleaning cycle. It can often clean the floor, sides, and stairs of a pool. Sometimes a robotic pool cleaner can map out the shape of your pool to more effectively clean all surfaces.

Wide Tires And Four Wheel Drive

No, you wont be taking it off-roading. But a pool cleaner cant do its job if it cant get around your pool. We recommend four-wheel drive and wide tires made of rubbernot plasticso the cleaner can easily get over bumps and wont have any trouble navigating slippery surfaces along the sides and bottom of your pool.

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Is Dolphin And Maytronics The Same Company

Maytronics Ltd. Maytronics was founded in 1983, and has been manufacturing its line of robotic pool cleaners, the Dolphin, ever since. The Dolphin is a world leading brand which has set new technological standards in the field of swimming pool cleaning and is renowned for its innovation, design and reliability.

Best Budget: Aiper Smart Hj1102 Cordless Automatic Pool Cleaner

Pool Type: Above ground, inground | Cleaning Cycle Time: 1 hour | Cleaning Coverage: Floor | Filter Type: Filter canister | Smart Capabilities: Yes

• Works for above and inground pools

• Cordless

• Can’t climb walls

For the same cost as many suction-side pool cleaners, you can have the convenience of a robotic pool cleaner with the affordable Aiper Smart HJ1102 Cordless Pool Cleaner. This model offers basic cleaning of your pool floor but take note that it cant climb walls like most other robotic pool cleaners. Even still, it offers an effortless way to clean pools up to 538 square feet in just under an hour. Use it to keep debris under control and to ensure regular cleaning sessions in between pool maintenance visits.

A standout features of this budget robotic pool cleaner is its cordless design. While most robot vacuums use a long cord to connect to a power supply unit, the Aiper Smart features a rechargeable battery and eliminates the potential of a tangled cord. The built-in lithium battery recharges the unit in just 3 to 4 hours. If the battery runs low while this pool vacuum is doing its work, smart docking technology directs the unit to the edge of the pool, where you can easily lift it out for charging.

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How Fast Does A Solar Pool Cover Heat A Pool

This obviously depends on many factors such as the weather , the air temperature, the wind, the cover thickness and color and even the depth of the pool. See the sections below.

Its ability to heat the pool up is as much a factor of retaining the heat overnight as it is heating the pool up during the day.

In good sunny weather you can see daily gains of as much as 1-2ºF.

How Long Can I Expect My Robot Pool Cleaner To Work

Often, we purchase products for our home that offer a lot of value for our money. But a lot of these appliances tend to break down after a few uses, leaving you with a loss. However, its a whole different story with robotic pool vacuums. These machines provide homeowners with a higher return on investment.

You can expect your unit to serve and last you for as long as four to five years. With proper upkeep and care, you can even prolong its lifespan for up to eight years. Although there are some models with a lower price point, they wont offer you the same longevity. However, you can expect them to run for up to three years with the right maintenance.

And check this out, your robot will not bend your wallet with expensive yearly upkeep. Still, it will require some maintaining, especially if itll tackle debris most of the time. And when your machine has given up on you, you simply have to replace it.

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How Often Should You Replace Your Filter

So, how long do pool filter cartridges last exactly? Even if you dont experience any of the above issues, you should be swapping out your filters at least once a year. Otherwise, it wont work as well, and you run the risk of bacteria growth in your pool.

For more filter recommendations and advice, head over to my article on the best swimming pool filters.

And thats about it. Questions? Let me know.

Check For Wear And Tear Frequently

Your pool cleaner is running great, so what could possibly be wrong. Right? Parts and equipment get worn, so dont neglect to check regularly for wear and tear. Even if your cleaner is going strong, it might be time to replace the tires or filter. Not doing so can quicken the degradation of your pool cleaner.

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How Long Will A Solar Pool Cover Last

Generally the thicker the cover the longer it will last. If you store the solar cover under cover or away from UV rays over winter and take care with it during the summer you may get 5 years out of it but it could be as little as 3 years.

I have to say this is one of my one bugbears with solar pool covers. Their one function in life is to be in full sunshine and float on water containing strong chemicals so why cant they be designed to withstand that better. Why cant the manufacturers solve this problem? But thats just me I guess.

Over time the UV light starts to rot the plastic and it starts to disintegrate. Individual bubbles start to come away . You just have to bite the bullet and replace it at that point.

Suction Side Cleaner Reviews

This cleaner is a good product that works on all surfaces in inground pools.

It includes 31 feet of hose, which is also compatible with Polaris cleaners, and it works with a booster pump that powers it to scrub and clean the bottom of the pool.

• Pros: parts are interchangeable with Polaris cleaners, powerful suction, works on all surfaces
• Cons: requires booster pump, doesnt climb walls well

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How Long Do Intex Pools Last

Intex is a popular manufacturer of temporary above-ground pools. How long they last depends on a number of factors, but the simple answer is that the inflatable pools will last 2-4 years and the metal frame types will last between 4-8 years. The most important factors include:

• Proper installation and a level yard
• Whether you leave the pool set-up or take it down in the winter
• Keeping to a regular maintenance schedule

Need Some Maintenance Help

We partner with HomeAdvisor to help you find the best swimming pool maintenance and cleaning services in your area. Compare quotes for free from fully vetted pool professionals.

If saving time and energy sounds like something you need, automatic pool cleaners are an excellent purchase for your pool. The good thing is there is an automatic pool cleaner for every budget, so whatever you decide to get, it will be worth it. If you need specific recommendations, head over to my best automatic pool cleaners article.

Have questions? Let me know Im happy to answer them. You can also read some of my other pool cleaner support articles, which I linked below.

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Are Robotic Pool Cleaners Worth It

Bottom Line: Yes! Robotic pool cleaners are 100% worth the investment. Itll be the best money you ever spent on your swimming pool.

Any automatic swimming pool cleaner should be able to clean your pool within about three hours, depending on your pools size. Its performance can be affected significantly by routine maintenance, such as keeping filters clean and valve settings optimized.

Even if you check every element of your cleaner after every use, the time and work involved in keeping it in tip-top shape will be insignificant compared to the time youre currently spending bent over your poolside, scrubbing with a brush.

The only thing youve got to lose by investing in an automatic pool cleaner is that pain in your back.

Happy Swimming!

Pool Care