There are four types of automatic pool cleaners.

Of the four types of automatic  pool cleaners the suction side type is the most common. The suction types are the most user friendly and also the most neglect-able. In a pool surrounded by vegetation or trees a suction side cleaner will make a big difference in the day to day appearance.

Although the suction type can pick up most debris, there are some that can gag on a single leaf. The cleaner that chokes can sit on the pool bottom during the entire run cycle, flaccid and useless. For a typical pool owner most suction operated cleaners suffice but often miss some areas or leave behind debris with certain shapes or densities.

Most manufacturers of suction type cleaners offer additional optional leaf traps that help keep the pump and filter less cluttered with debris and add capacity and thus time between emptying. Almost all suction side cleaners can survive two years of neglect, after that a series of parts failures and replacements begin to accumulate. Expect to spend about $50 to $150 per year in parts and repairs after the first two years. Replacing the warrantied stuff during  the warranty coverage period is golden.

Aesthetically, the suction cleaners’ floating hose have become a ubiquitous presence in backyard pool photos. Look at a google aerial map of a pool infested neighborhood and you will see the suction cleaners’ hoses snaking across an otherwise beautiful pool, lurking like a 30 foot plastic anaconda. An important consideration for a suction side buyer is the operating noise created by the cleaner.

Some suction side  cleaners make a tapping or clunking sound in the water, that noise can be transmitted through the ground and into a home. The Chinese water torture sound will cause some customers to quickly adjust their pump schedule or get rid the unit altogether. Some neighbors have filed complaints in civil courts regarding noise from the pulsing, clunking kind of cleaners. Other more minor considerations are the type of surface in the pool’s interior. Some suction type cleaners do better in plaster pools and some do better in pebble type finishes.

No matter which suction side cleaner is being considered time spent researching your particular pool type is well worth the effort. Asking more than one pool professional is also worth its weight in gold. A solid approach is to contact a qualified pool professional to assess your pool’s needs. Taking the surrounding landscape into the equation is very important.  A service call and consultation with a qualified pool professional, not a sales clerk at the retailer,  is an added expense but can save a pool owner years of heartache and butt-hurt.

Most suction side automatic pool cleaners are priced in the $300 range.

The first thing every new  owner learns about a pool is the huge amount of time the pool requires. No pool builder would ever depict, in their ceaseless TV advertising, a happy pool owner skimming out debris or measuring out smoky acids and acrid sanitizers. The scene most of the unsuspecting public is fed, is one of a happy family frolicking in the sun, sipping iced tea  and laughing their cares away, or for some , a  bevy of sultry bikini clad supermodels and hunky studs, smiling and holding beer. The reality is in fact, an unpleasant surprise and hard labor sentence for  the novice pool owner.

After a few episodes of removing debris and emptying baskets crammed with sodden leaves, bugs,  and oftentimes  dead animals, the new pool owner starts thinking about an automatic cleaner. Its price is a small consideration at first.  A cleaning machine is the newbie’s way out of the drudgery of keeping a pool debris free. Its also the way out of drudgery for the experienced pool owner. But, a cleaner isn’t quite the magic bullet some newcomers are led to believe.

The primary consideration in selecting an automatic cleaner is the level of neglect the pool will suffer. Some cleaners are more suited for neglect than others. That will be covered later. Also an important consideration is the amount of debris that can be expected throughout the year. In Arizona that is important because we don’t drain and winterize our pools, we just have quicker, chillier swims, sometimes among the floating leaves from frost damage. Neglect and debris are the two most important considerations. The rest of the criteria are less important and are actually expense related.

Some cleaners are specifically suited for certain pump/filter combos while others can be operated in almost any pool with any pump and filter. The simplest suction side cleaner can do a better job than the fanciest high dollar programmable robot.

Before continuing, a short primer, and a small list of terms and nomenclature is necessary:

Skimmer: an opening in the tile line at the water’s surface. usually equipped with a floating door called a weir. Its job is to allow the circulation pump to draw its water from the surface. This action creates a dip and slight current on the surface, attracting the still floating debris and trapping it in a removable basket. Most skimmers are suction operated but some newer designs are return or pressure operated and are more complex. For automatic cleaner operation, only suction type skimmers are employed.

Suction side: the part of the pool’s circulation system that has a suction or pull, when the pool’s filter pump is operating. These places to connect a suction side cleaner include  the skimmer or a designated port referred to as a vac port. The great majority of automatic cleaners are suction operated.

Vac port: an opening covered by a spring loaded cap, the port is used a a suction source to manually vacuum or operate a suction side automatic cleaner. Vac ports are usually on the wall of the pool within easy reach of the surface. They are covered when not in use to prevent injury or drowning by entrapment. Never tamper with nor remove the spring loaded cover from a vac port. Never.

Return side or pressure side: the part of a pool’s circulation system that returns water back to the pool after filtering and treatment of various kinds. The ports are often called returns and are usually aim- able to direct circulation. They can be felt gushing a current into the pool when the pump and filter system is operating. Most newer pools have four or more returns on the walls. Some pools have returns on the floor of the pool, sometimes interfering with the operation of some  cleaners.

Robot: not an official term really, but that’s what the automatic, free running, electrically powered cleaners are- robots. Some robots are even programmable or remote controlled and can be steered to spot clean, then park themselves for easy retrieval when done with their chores. The robots are the most expensive automatic cleaners but have the most wow factor too. They are usually plugged into a 110 volt GFI  outlet and plopped in the pool to happily clean like a good drone should. Avoiding suction and return  issues, they are not connected to the pool’s circulation system, carry their own debris basket or net and often shut themselves off when they have completed their route or timed program.

There are other automatic cleaners that are built in during construction that will not be discussed here. In pools equipped with less than adequate built in cleaners, some types of automatic cleaners can still be used.

In part two of this blog post the types of cleaners and their respective strengths and weaknesses will be covered.