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Pool Cleaner Buying Guide

A pool can turn into an of oasis in the harsh Australian summertime. Its blue water and relaxing aura can be the antidote to the otherwise dreadful southern-hemisphere heat. But unlike an oasis, pools require meticulous cleaning and attention. So what’s required in purchasing a top-quality pool cleaner that caters to your every need? Find out with this Canstar Blue article.

What is a pool cleaner?

A pool cleaner is a piece of machinery that acts as a vacuum to clean up debris in a pool, requiring little to no intervention from you. While you can always opt for the manual pool shovel to rid the pool of surface debris, an automated pool cleaner will give your pool a more thorough clean along the floor and the walls of the pool, allowing for a cleaner, and ultimately safer, pool.

Types of pool cleaners

Pool cleaners are divided into three categories that operate in different modes. These include:

Suction pool cleaners

The suction cleaner uses your pool’s filtration box to clean debris. This is the most common form of pool cleaner, as it’s cheaper than other cleaners, and incredibly easy to install. However, a pool net may still be required to clean the surface of the pool, as the suction cleaner doesn’t reach the top.

Pool Cleaner Buying Guide

Robotic pool cleaners

Robotic cleaners are much more expensive than suction cleaners, however they tend to have less blockages, and can cover much larger pools. They run electrically, so a power point near your pool is a must-have. Robotic cleaners are also much heavier than the suction cleaners, which can make placing them in the pool a hassle, and something worth considering before you buy.

Pressure pool cleaners

The pressure cleaner is a more powerful version of the suction cleaner. It still requires a cable which connects to the pool’s filtration system, and requires more maintenance than the suction cleaner. However, the pressure cleaner is able to reach tight corners and picks up finer debris at a faster rate, meaning that you get a cleaner pool as a result.

What to consider when buying a pool cleaner

There are a variety of factors to consider when buying a pool cleaner, including:

How much do pool cleaners cost?

Pool cleaners can vary in cost due to the variety of types and brands, but generally cost between $200 to over $2,000. Which retailer you also purchase through will also impact the price tag, meaning it’s best to look around at all your options before buying.

Where can you buy a pool cleaner?

Pool cleaners can be purchased at any pool specialty store, with some department stores stocking a selection of pool cleaners, in addition to some online retailers such as Amazon. You can also generally purchase directly through the brand itself, although this varies between brands.

How much electricity do pool cleaners use?

Fortunately, suction pool cleaners won’t add to your energy bill, as they hijack the energy that powers your pool’s filtration system. However robotic pool cleaners use a separate power source, meaning they use a separate allocation of electricity. They use roughly 100kWh per year on average, meaning that while it may not seem like much, it could be adding to your energy bill, particularly if you haven’t compared providers in a while.

Pool cleaner brands

There are a number of brands that offer pool cleaners, with the major players in the market including Zodiac, Dolphin and Hayward. Zodiac features the largest range of suction, robotic, and pressure cleaners, while Dolphin and Hayward tend to have products at the more expensive side of the scale. If you’re looking for the most popular models of pool cleaners, these three brands will get you there, however some other alternatives include:

Are pool cleaners worth buying?

Ultimately, a pool cleaner is a must-have for the modern pool owner. Manually fishing out debris can be a losing battle, particularly if you have plenty of trees surrounding your pool. Fortunately, the range of pool cleaners available cater to a wide variety of pool types and owners, allowing you to find something that will help take care of your pool’s health without sinking your budget.

Of course, the value of your desired pool cleaner is completely dependent on your pool’s needs, its immediate environment, as well as the money you’re willing to dish out. As the Australian heat draws closer, keeping your pool crystal clear is an absolute necessity, and may be well worth shelling out for, particularly as you may find yourself wishing you were in your pool, rather than cleaning it.