6 Pool Cleaning Systems: Which Is Best for You?

Today we want to share with you something special:

6 Types of Pool Cleaners: Choosing the Right One

Ahhh, the pleasure of having a pool: swimming, having fun, and cooling off during the hot summer months. But the fun of having a pool comes at a price, not just the cost of installing the pool itself.

One way or another, you'll need to keep the pool clean, unless you want a green swamp, a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and someone in town to ring the bell to tell you that your neighbors are complaining about your dirty pool.

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If you don't hire a pool cleaning service to clean and maintain your pool or spa, you will need some kind of do-it-yourself strategy to keep your pool clean. And that usually involves buying some kind of pool vacuum or other tools.

Manual Brushing With a Telescoping Pole

As long as your pool or spa has a good filtration system, you can remove debris, stains, and even yellow and green algae in the traditional way, with cleaning brushes and nets attached to a telescopic rod.

You can reach the deepest edges of the pool to scrape and clean stains and algae from the sides and bottom and then use a skim net to remove floating debris.

It's a great upper-body exercise and it's also time-consuming, but it's doable and inexpensive. Cleaning a pool this way is very labor-intensive, and your filter system may have to work hard to filter debris lost during foaming.

Benefits of manual scrubbing:

Good for fairly small pools and spas
Good choice for above-ground pools
Offers a good physical workout
More thorough cleaning is possible
Minimal cost

Handheld Pool Vacuums

Portable pool cleaners work like home floor cleaners. They are independent devices with suction/bristle heads, integrated filter, waste collection compartment, and long handle.

Plug-in and battery-powered types are available. The operator manages the suction head, equipped with bristles, along the side surfaces and at the bottom of the pool, in the same way, that he vacuums the floor of his house.

A handheld vacuum has no mechanical parts (there is no rotating brush, as found in an internal vacuum) and offers an inexpensive way to lighten the load on your pool filtration system.

One word of caution: the bigger the pool, the longer it will take to clean, maybe a few hours. Manual vacuuming tends to work best when combined with light manual brushing before vacuuming.

The vacuum bristles are likely to lift some debris into the water, so count on flushing the pool filter system after vacuuming, adding even more time to the task.

Benefits of handheld vacuums:

The system is efficient and affordable
Allows for easy spot-cleaning of specific areas
Easy to use
Both plug-in and battery-powered models are available
More powerful than many automatic pool vacuums
Works for all types of pools and spas
Good choice for above-ground pools

Automatic Suction (Suction-Side) Vacuums

Another type of manually operated pool vacuum is known as "automatic suction" or "side suction," depending on the manufacturer.

This type of vacuum is connected to the water intake of the filtration system with a hose, usually through a connection in the skimmer basket, and uses the suction power of the pool pump to collect debris. Suction cleaners require the pool pump to run during operation, which means they will consume more electricity than other types of cleaners.

To use this type of vacuum, the filter pump must be in good condition and large enough for the task. Be prepared to clean and rinse the filters frequently, as more dirt than normal will flow through the system.

Benefits of suction-side vacuums:

Low cost
Easy to maintain and use
Dependable and long-lasting
Good choice for in-ground pools

Pressure Pool Vacuums

Also known as pressure-side cleaners, these cleaners work like a suction-side vacuum and also use the pool's filtration pump to provide suction.

But this type comes with its own filter bag, so it does not charge any additional cost for the pool filter. If you add a booster pump, this type of cleaner can become more powerful.

Pressure pool vacuum cleaners move on their own, regardless of the pool's circulation system. Mounted on wheels for easy movement, pressure washers don't scrub pool surfaces as thoroughly as contact cleaners.

Benefits of pressure pool vacuums:

Good for pools that have lots of debris and dirt
Has its own filter and debris bag; won't clog pool's filtration system
Long life span
Easy to clean and maintain

Robotic Pool Cleaners

Some of the most popular types of automatic pool cleaners are robots, which work independently of the pool circulation system and do not apply additional loads to the filter.

Of all the different types of pool cleaners and vacuum cleaners, a robot is considered to be the most energy-efficient.

As stand-alone units with an integrated filter and motor, robotic cleaners can capture the smallest particles from all types of pool surfaces. Some models come with fun features like clean-in-place remotes and four-wheel drive.

Benefits of robotic pool cleaners:

Good for above-ground pools that aren't equipped with skimmer baskets
Self-filtering; no connection to pool pump required
Filters water, reducing the need for chemicals
Fast, easy to use

In-Floor Vacuum Systems

Many of the more luxurious underground pools have automatic underfloor vacuum systems, which are installed during the construction process.

The jets are integrated into the bottom of the pool and connected to the return line of the filter system. When the entire system is on, the heads go up and a booster pump creates a vortex of high-pressure water through the pool.

A strong current is produced as the water moves across the bottom of the pool and dirt and debris are pushed into the main drains. The main pump sucks the debris out of the pool while the water circulates through the filter system.

These systems require the pool filters to be cleaned more frequently, but if you can afford a floor cleaner, a contracted pool service will likely perform routine filter maintenance as well.