One of the most important tasks for someone who has just purchased a swimming pool is figuring out how they plan to clean it. Therefore, in order to give you a foundation in swimming pool maintenance, we are going to dedicate this section to swimming pool cleaners.
As a note of caution, in this article, we are going to be discussing swimming pool cleaners and not the proper use of swimming pool chlorine.
First, you will need to determine the category of pool cleaners that you are interested in. Are you looking for a manual pool cleaner or an automatic pool cleaner? Each type of cleaner has its own advantages and disadvantages.
If price is a primary factor in deciding which type of pool cleaner you buy, then you will want to stay away from automatic pool cleaners. In this situation, a manual pool cleaner (which consists of skimmers and scrub brushes) may be your best choice.
On the positive side, manual pool cleaners have a reputation for doing a better job cleaning your swimming pool. On the negative side, you have to be physically present for the pool cleaner to work (which should be done twice a week). While this may not sound like such a bad thing, we believe that swimming pools were designed for fun and recreation, not for making additional chores to do on your days off.
If you are looking for the easiest option, an automatic pool cleaner may be for you. Of course, as usual, the easiest option often costs the most. You can expect to pay anywhere between $250 up to $1100 for an automatic pool cleaner. While some people may feel that this is price is very high, you really do need to think in terms of saving time. We feel that your time off is very easily worth the price of an automatic pool cleaner.
Once you have installed the automatic pool cleaner, it will move about your pool in a random fashion. As a result, it can sometimes take a while to clean your entire pool. Of course, most people don’t care how long it takes to clean their swimming pool because with an automatic pool cleaner, you don’t have to do it. You simply set it up and let it go.
The great thing about automatic pool cleaners is that they are dual purposed in terms of the types of pools they can be used in. While most people immediately think of cleaning an in ground swimming pool, these cleaners can also be used as above ground pool cleaners. Therefore, if you are in the market for an above ground pool cleaner, the information listed in this section is also relevant.
So, how does one go about finding the right pool cleaner? To assist you with this task, we have identified two tips. First, in order to find the right cleaner, you will need to know the size of your swimming pool. This is very important because each pool cleaner is designed to clean a pool of a certain size. As a general rule, if you are unsure about the pool cleaner’s cleaning capacity, it is better to get a bigger cleaner.
Second, you will want to get a swimming pool cleaner that doesn’t take a long time to clean your pool. If your budget doesn’t allow for a larger cleaner, then you may have to settle for a longer cleaning time. If your budget has some flexibility, you can get a robotic pool cleaner that can clean the pool in less than 90 minutes.
Since we have mentioned the category of robotic pool cleaners, let’s discuss them a little more. Robotic pool cleaners are a type of automatic pool cleaner that operates independently of the pool’s filtration system. These devices have a built-in computer and sensors which allows them to clean a pool, even if there are obstacles in the way.
Another useful feature of a robotic pool cleaner is the fact that it can be programmed to mimic a human being manually cleaning the pool. You simply program the computer and it will turn at different points, ensuring it doesn’t clean the same areas over and over. With a normal automatic pool cleaner, you may have half the pool being cleaned over and over again since the cleaner operates on a random basis and not on pre-programmed basis.
A third useful feature of robotic cleaners is that they are able to remove debris particles as small as 2 microns. These cleaners store the debris in a containment system that is very easy to clean. All a person has to do is remove the filter bag or cartridge and empty it.
A fourth benefit of using robotic pool cleaners is that they clean the swimming pool very rapidly. Because of the cleaner’s powerful pumps, it often keeps the water temperature more moderate by mixing the cold water on the bottom of the pool with the warmer water near the water’s surface. Luckily, there are two benefits of this phenomenon. First, it ensures that any pool chemicals that you may have used (such as chlorine) are more evenly distributed. This enables the pool to remain cleaner and bacteria free longer. Second, the mixing of the warmer and cooler waters help minimize evaporation. Since there is less evaporation, there is less of a need to fill the swimming pool as often.
In order to provide you with a balanced discussion of robotic pool cleaners, we must mention that these pool cleaners also have disadvantages as well. These disadvantages are primarily concerned with cost. A robotic cleaner will cost more initially than other types of swimming pool cleaners. Also, since these devices use complex electronics, they often cost more to repair than standard automatic pool cleaners. With that said, we believe the benefits far outweigh these disadvantages.
In case you are wondering what kind of automatic pool cleaner we prefer, we usually recommend either the dolphin pool cleaner or the Polaris pool cleaner. Both of these companies make high quality products and we fully endorse them.
