Top Tips for choosing the best automatic pool cleaner

Red Baron Pool Supplies

Some swimming pool cleaners simply vacuum the pool floor while others scrub the floor and walls and skim the pool surface all at the same time.

Choosing the right one for your pool size, shape and surface can be difficult without professional advice.

Advanced technology means today's automatic pool cleaners are mostly efficient and usually simple to operate and maintain for years of trouble-free service, But with so many choices - how will you know which pool cleaner is exactly right for your pool?

Would a Random Pattern cleaner best suit your pool?

This type of cleaner follows the hose to travel around your pool in a random pattern., These cleaners are very efficient, but require a pool shape that has generous curves, no sharp angles and no obstacles that the cleaner will find difficult to negotiate.

Or, if your pool has a more complex shape, would a Geared pool cleaner be idea?

This type of cleaner is best suited to pools with sharp angles and obstacles. Normally, a Geared cleaner uses a series of cogs or a gearbox to control its movement around the pool in a set pattern which allows it to negotiate these difficult areas.

Remember - A pool cleaner with fewer working parts is best - if it will cope with your pool shape and the type of debris it will encounter. Fewer working parts mean less to go wrong in the future and a lower servicing cost.

Suction, Pressure or Robotic?

My recommendation for each category of cleaner I have listed in the Amazon products to the right.

Suction is the cheapest option and best suited for a rounded edged pool. In the suction cleaners you really do get what you pay for.

Pressure cleaners are great but you need to have the provision for them installed in the pool when the pool is constructed. They require a separate booster pump to run. Most manufacturers of pressure cleaner are about the same price, it's just a matter of finding one with features you like.

Many Robotic pool cleaners are about the same price as a pressure cleaner. Many models are 'wall scrubbers' in that they will climb a vertical pool wall and scrub for algae with their brushes. They also use very little electricity in comparison to pressure cleaners.

1. Recommendations from family or friends are rarely right - simply because no two pools are exactly the same. What works in their pool may not work in yours.
2. Choose value over price. A cheaper cleaner from a hardware store may look like a bargain, but if it doesn't clean your pool, or gets stuck, continually breaks down or only lasts a season (or less) - is it value for money? Look carefully at what you're buying - is it a complete automatic pool cleaning system - or just a 'sucker' that will need extra accessories to do the same job?
3. Look at the full cost of ownership. As well as the initial purchase price, consider ongoing requirement for costly maintenance. Does the cleaner have multiple working parts that wear out or fail and need to be replaced regularly to keep it operating?
4. Australian made for Australian conditions. Choosing an Australian made pool cleaner guarantees that it has been designed for and tested in the toughest conditions. It also makes things much easier if you need after-sales support, parts or service.
5. Nearly every pool is different. A cleaner that works well in a large concrete pool get stuck in a geometric fibreglass pool. There are so many options in pool sizes, shapes and construction that it takes a local expert to know which cleaner will work best in each.
6. If it doesn't work efficiently, it's not worth having. You expect your automatic pool cleaner to be just that - automatic. But there are great differences in the cleaning efficiency and reliability of different types of cleaners. Don't spend money on maintenance or parts for the wrong one for your pool.
7. Choosing quality always pays because you only get what you pay for. Paying a little more always saves money in the long run. So choose the best quality pool cleaner you can afford - You'll benefit from greater cleaning efficiency, reduced maintenance costs and a longer working life.
8. Whats the warranty? Solid warranties are your guarantee that the manufacturer stands by the quality, reliability and durability of its pool cleaners. As a rule, the longer the warranty the better - and pay particular attention to cover for moving parts. In some cases, these may wear quickly, requiring expensive replacement.

For price and quality I like the Pentair Great White suction cleaner which is pictured in the hubs main photo. unlike most suction cleaners it scrubs as well as vacuums.

An extensive range of automatic pool cleaners are available for purchase online through http://www.redbaronpoolsupplies.com.au

Below are some additional swimming pool videos you may find helpful

If you've found this article helpful remember to:

• Rate it up
• Share it with your networks
• Leave a comment or question

If you like writing articles about your favourite topics too, don't forget to click here and sign up and start earning money too!!