Suction or Robotic - What pool cleaner is right for me?
It’s never been easier to clean your pool. But with such a huge range of products now available in Australia, how do you know which one is right for you?
To try and make this decision a bit easier, we’ve taken a look at two of the most popular types of cleaner, to give you the low-down on the things to look out for, so you can spend more time in your pool, rather than working on it.
Suction Cleaners
Suction cleaners use hoses to connect to the skimmer box of your filtration system, then use the suction created through your filtration system to vacuum your pool. The cleaner works its way around your pool and (providing that your filtration system produces enough suction) it will also climb and clean the walls. Hayward suction cleaners can work on very low flow and so work great with variable speed pumps.
Pros of choosing a Suction Cleaner
- Utilises existing filtration system: meaning that you are utilising your pool equipment to the full.
- Simple to operate: The mechanics in a suction cleaner are very straightforward compared to a robotic cleaner, this makes them very simple to get to grips with
- Reliable: The simple mechanics and straightforward operation of Hayward suction cleaners means that there is very little to go wrong, making them very reliable and long lasting.
- Cheap to buy: Suction cleaners are cheap to buy in comparison to most robotic cleaners
Cons of choosing a Suction Cleaner
- Utilises existing filtration system: This can also be a con, if your filtration system is underpowered it can affect the performance of the suction cleaner.
- Wall Climbing: Its up to you how important you think it is to clean the walls of your pool, if its very important to you then a robotic cleaner is probably the way to go. Suction cleaners will climb the walls, but the performance is less consistent than a robotic cleaner and it won’t scrub the waterline.
- Hoses in the pool can be a bit annoying for some people
Robotic Cleaners
Robotic Cleaners operate completely independently to the rest of the pool and filtration system. They’re really easy to use, you simply plug them in and away they go. They have a powerful inbuilt motor that powers the wheels or tracks and also provides the suction. This allows them to vacuum the floor, climb and clean the walls and even scrub the waterline.
Pros of choosing a Robotic Cleaner
- Energy efficiency: Modern Robotic Pool Cleaners are very energy efficient. They don’t rely on your filtration pump like a suction cleaner, this means that your filtration pump can run for a shorter period saving you energy and money.
- Ease of use: Robotic Pool Cleaners are sooooo easy to use. There’s really no set up required. You simply plug them in, throw them in the pool and press a button. Yes there may be some Wi-Fi and settings to configure, depending on your cleaner, but this should be quick and simple.
- Performance: Robotic Pool Cleaners have the ability to clean every inch of your pool, they can handle steps, ledges and awkward knocks and crannies (as long as they can fit). This means that you won’t have to worry about manually cleaning those hard to access areas.
- Features: Modern Robotic Cleaners have a myriad of different settings to tailor the performance to your pool. You can set up cycles and timers so you don’t even need to be there, you can even drive some of them yourself from your smartphone.
Cons of choosing a Robotic Cleaner
- Cost: Due to the level of technology housed in a Robotic Cleaner they can be significantly more expensive than a suction cleaner. The cost often varies depending on the amount of features available. But watch out, some of these features can be a bit of a gimmick (see next point).
- Technology: While this is obviously a big plus, the complexity of modern Robotic Cleaners does also mean that there is more to wrong and if it does go wrong, it is more expensive to fix.
- Gimmicks: Like everything involving tech, some features on robotic cleaners can be more about fashion than function. Ultimately you want your cleaner to do a great job of cleaning the pool, be easy to use and easy to clean. Anything outside of this can be a bonus or a hinderance depending how you look at it. There are some very complicated cleaners around now that have way too many features, making them difficult and confusing to use.
- Emptying: Although Robotic Cleaners are generally quick and easy to use, when it comes to emptying them it can sometimes be a rather messy affair. Traditional robotic cleaners often use cartridges, these cartridges vary in how easy they are to clean, but generally they all require hosing and this can sometimes mean a change of clothes is necessary. If it’s a cartridge style cleaner that you’re going for, just make sure that it is quick and simple to empty and wash out. Or, you could go with the new Hayward AV650 Robotic Cleaner that does away with filters, making emptying easy and mess free.
Ultimately, when it comes to cleaners, the choice is yours. Some people prefer the simplicity and reliability of a suction cleaner, where others love the ease of use and high tech features of a robotic cleaner.
Remember – before you make your choice we always recommend that you speak to your local pool professional. Whether it’s your local pool shop, pool builder or service tech, these are the guys and girls that deal with pools every day and whatever type of pool you have, they will be able to point you in in the right direction.