Robotic Pool Cleaner Buying Guide
It is a burning hot day, and you are ready to cool off with a quick dip in your pool. But, you realize your pool is filthy. Are you going to arduously spend the next hour manually cleaning the filth? Or are you going to sit back and let an automatic pool cleaner do the job? Obviously, we all know that you would choose the second option.
Robotic pool cleaners scrub the floor, waterline, and walls of the pool and aid you perfectly to keep your pool sparkling clean. Whether you have filthy water or algae in the pool, worry no more. Just plug in the robotic pool cleaner and let it do all the cleaning for you. Make your life easy, with robotic pool cleaners.
How do Robotic Pool Cleaners Work?
These pool cleaners use their suction power, just like the vacuum cleaners to remove the slime and grime from the pool. However, unlike suction-side and pressure-side cleaners they don’t need to be attached to your pool for their suction power. They run on electricity. The cleaner then collects and deposits the dirt through its own filtration system. To find out more, check out our detailed article on how robotic pool cleaners work.
How to Pick the Best Robotic Pool Cleaner
Here are some crucial factors to consider, before you make the decision to buy a robotic pool cleaner.
Size and Weight of the Pool Cleaner
A very big automatic cleaner with a large motor will definitely be on the heavier side. Some of them can weigh up to 150 pounds, and it can be very heavy to take it out the pool after it has done the cleaning. Pulling the cleaner out of the water can be a bit of a challenge if it is heavy.
Consider the weight of the cleaner, and opt for lightweight designs that make removing from the pool little easier.
The size of a robotic pool cleaner should be appropriate for the pool that it is being used to clean. Cleaners for larger pools tend to be larger but size is not really an issue – it is the weight that you need to check for.
Filtration
The rate of filtration is referred to the speed of the cleaner and the amount of the water it can filter within an hour. It is measured in terms of GPH – Gallons per hour. Check the GPH filtration rate of the robotic pool cleaner to assess how fast it can clean and filter the water from debris.
Type of Filter
Some robotic pool cleaners come with cartridges, and some have bags. The cartridges are replaceable, meaning that once they get clogged with debris or dirt, they need to be changed. On the other hand, bags are washable and hold a lot of debris.
Before cleaning the pool, you need to ensure that the filters – cartridges or bags are clean, and you don’t want to stop every now and then to empty the filter clogged with too much debris.
Cables
The length of the cable is also very important. Pick an appropriate length, considering how big your pool is and how close it is to an electric outlet. Also, make sure that the cables don’t get tangled or twisted. Some robotic pool cleaners come with 360 degrees anti-tangle swivel, which makes it really easy to de-tangle the power cord. When the power cord and cable becomes a tangled mess, the performance and efficiency of the cleaner are compromised. A swivel cord is a valuable feature to look out for.
Wheels vs. Tracks
Robotic pool cleaners move in the water with their wheels or tracks. You can opt for a 2-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive or tracks. A good design that provides traction is the track. The contact surface of the tracks is better than that of wheels and results in superior performance. Alternatively, wide, 4-wheel drive rubber wheels can also do a good job of navigating your pool.
Performance
The performance of the cleaners is dependent on how well they pick up debris and the width of their vacuum path. Opt for wider vacuum paths, with large inlets. This will enable faster cleaning with a good rate of filtration.
Climbing Ability
Robotic pool cleaners have varying abilities when it comes to climbing the sides of your pool and particularly stairs. Your need for a good climber will depend on the shape and features that you have in your poo. The best robots can easily tackle such obstacles to efficiently clean the waterline and the sides and surfaces of stairs.
Programmable Timer
This is a feature that many might take for granted but it should not be overlooked. Robotic pool cleaners should be fully automatic so to free up your time and a sophisticated programmable timer is the key to this. Look out for models that offer full control over when you want your robot to get to work. You should be able to schedule for daily, twice or three times per week cleaning for example.
Deflecting Features and Sensors
New technology can be frustrating at times and this includes robotic pool cleaners. Like robot vacuum cleaners, these pool cleaners can get stuck from time to time. Check for models that have built in features to help prevent this such as deflectors and sensors.
Cleaning Cycles
When you start to compare the best robotic pool cleaners you will notice that cleaning cycles can vary quite a bit between models. Again, the size of your pool is a factor here, however you generally want a model that will clean your pool as quickly and efficiently as possible. Some premium models have multiple cycle times for different standards of cleaning that allow for either a quick clean or thorough cleaning.
Durability
This is a huge factor to consider for robotic pool cleaners. Its important to do your homework on this and research a robotic pool cleaner to see how long it should last before you buy. As well as considering the length of the warranty, you should check customer feedback to make sure there aren’t lots of reported faults or early failures. Repairs may be necessary over the lifetime of your robotic pool cleaner so stick to well known brands that will have good servicing and parts availability should the need arise.
Energy Efficiency
Energy usage of robotic pool cleaners varies according to size of the unit, which is relative to the size of your pool. This will vary from around 200 watts of power per hour for smaller cleaners to over 1,000 watts for larger units. Your power bill will vary accordingly also, however robotic cleaners are much more energy efficient and cheaper to run compare to pressure side or suction side pool cleaners.
Cost
The cost of the cleaners matters a big deal when making that decision. Make the right decision, according to the size of your pool. If you have a large pool, then you would have to shell out more in order to buy a high-capacity robotic pool cleaner. The energy efficency of this type of pool vacuum will save you money in the long run.
Warranties
Lastly, you don’t want to be spending much on a repair of the robotic pool cleaner. Check if the product has a good warranty time line. Warranties are always helpful. Replacement motors tend to cost almost as much as a new cleaner, so ensure that the cleaner has a good warranty period. Many models come with two years but there are models available with three years warranty such as the Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner.
Consider the above factors, before you buy an automatic robotic pool cleaner. Buy the right cleaner for your pool and have a relaxed dip.