Swimming Pool Vacuum Cleaners

Whether you own an above-ground or in-ground pool, you quickly appreciate the benefits of swimming pool vacuum cleaners over the old skimmer nets on poles.

As a pool owner, you can choose from several different types of swimming pool vacuum cleaners. The choice of which to purchase is up to each individual pool owner, however the size and type of pool you own, and your available budget will make certain kinds more practical and desireable than others.

For smaller in-ground pools or above-ground models, a basic suction-type vacuum cleaner has many advantages. Not only are they cheaper than the fully-automated robotic types of units, but they can do the job just as good, acting essentially as a "moving drain" to clear leaves, bugs, twigs, and the like. Since they work under water, these types of cleaners operate very efficiently, requiring relatively little energy to pass the water through the filter.

For larger above-ground, or most in-ground swimming pools, a more advanced vacuum might be warranted. Not only do many of these perform the basic suction cleaning of the lower-end models, but many of them also "scrub" the pool surfaces along the walls and floor bottom. One thing to keep in mind however is that if your pool is overhung by trees, you may find that the amount of leaves and debris will clog these units often, reducing their effectiveness and forcing you to frequently clean them out by hand. Needless to say, this defeats some of the purpose of the vacuum when you have to intervene manually.

These more advanced robotic units can usually be turned on when the pool is not in use, such as overnight, and they will do their work during these "off hours".

Again depending on your budget and the size of your pool, the more basic automatic models can simply be plugged into an electrical outlet; they have their own pumps and hoses. More advanced - and of course more expensive - units will connect to the pools existing pump, in essence using the plumbing system that's already in place. The main benefits are that they become permanently set up for use, negating the need to pull out a machine, go through the trouble of connecting everything, than disconnecting it afterwards, storing it, etc., until the next use when you have to go through all of that all over again.

Swimming pool vacuum cleaners are almost as varied as pools themselves, and choosing the right type and model will be a combination of personal preference, practicality, and budget. It's my personal feeling that this is one of those purchases where you're better off spending a little bit more, rather than skimping, since whatever time and effort you save means more, and more frequent use and enjoyment of your pool. And isn't that the whole reason you bought one in the first place?