Automatic Above Ground Pool Vacuums – An Introduction
Posted by: JimG Post date: September 22nd, 2010Many people might say that above ground pool vacuums are a necessity rather than a luxury and I am disposed to agree, especially if you have a large pool.
The biggest task in maintaining your swimming pool is manually cleaning the dirt and debris off the bottom. Since it is too heavy to float in the pool it doesn’t get sucked into the filter via the skimmer and falls to the bottom. As a result, you either need to remove it by hand or with a specially designed swimming pool cleaner.
These days, there are a number of assorted tools to help you do this however the easiest to operate, by far, are the automatic swimming pool cleaners that are available in both in-ground and above ground models. Without one, you’ll be in the swimming pool, washing the bottom every couple of days or more frequently if outside conditions waft vegetation and grime into the pool water.
Varieties of In Ground and Automatic Above Ground Pool Vacuums And Cleaners
Automatic Suction Side Vacuums
Suction-side cleaners are powered by the suction generated from your swimming pool pump. This allows them to travel about the pool bottom where they suck up the debris. The pool water is sucked through your filter so more water is drawn through the system in a shorter period of time.
Since there is no requirement to install any additional plumbing or pumps, suction-sides are often half the price of other cleaners. However, because they suck material directly into your filter and pump basket, they can create difficulties if the skimmer becomes clogged.
This is a frequent occurrence if your swimming pool is located in an area that has a lot of trees. Setting up a leaf trap will help prevent this issue as it catches the bigger stuff before it gets to the pump basket. If the suction cleaner doesn’t come with a leaf collector, you may be able to put one in the vacuum hose.
Several suction side cleaners are capable of “scrubbing” the pool’s walls. It does this by agitating itself as it moves round the swimming pool. This cuts down the number of times you will have to brush clean the pool. And, because it sucks debris right into your filter, it can remove much smaller particles than a swimming pool cleaner with a bag.
If you don’t normally have vegetation in the pool, the daily dirt and dust shouldn’t clog the skimmer basket.
If you decide on this type of cleaner for the swimming pool you have to make sure you keep the filter clean. If the filter is clogged the suction will be reduced and so it will move less well and cleaning can be adversely affected.
Pressure side Automatic Pool Vacuums
In contrast, pressure side vacuums are powered by water pressure, generated by a pump, and feature internal vacuum bags.
The pressure drives the cleaner round the pool and forces the debris into the bag. It doesn’t draw material into your swimming pool filter or pump basket which means you don’t need to vacuum them so frequently and they can cope with leaves. On the other hand, they’re not able to filter small particles through the bag and don’t scour the walls very well either.
The cost of a pressure side pool cleaner is dependent, partially, on whether you go for a booster pump or use the pool’s main circulation pump.
A dedicated booster pump tends to clean your pool a bit better and continue for a longer time than using the main pump but it is an additional cost and will need a dedicated line installed.
Robotic Pool Vacuums
Robotic automatic pool cleaners are stand-alone items which function independently from the main pool filtration system so don’t require hoses.
They are powered by internal electric motors that are powered via an outdoor outlet. They come with a transformer and power lead that converts the electricity to a safe voltage after being plugged in.
Robotic above ground pool vacuums pump debris directly into their interior filters and come ready programmed. The on-board computer chip diagnoses any issues and “learns” the contour of your swimming pool. Several have a remote control which allows you to maneuver the cleaner round the swimming pool so you could clean any spots it may have missed.
Robotic swimming pool vacuums like the Aquabot Pool Rover are very good at removing small debris and silt. It can additionally clean the tile line in addition to the walls.
As a result of the powerful pump inside which vacuums up the debris they’re also a good way to increase the water circulation in the swimming pool.
All this functionality comes at a cost however, and robotic pool vacuums are amongst the most costly on the market, with prices ranging from $400 to $2000 plus.
Above ground pool vacuums not only help keep the swimming pool looking sparkling, they additionally save you time and effort giving you many extra hours to enjoy relaxing instead of cleaning.
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