Swimming Pool Cleaners

Suction side automatic pool cleaners are essentially just pool vacuum cleaners that are self propelled. They operate using the suction of water from the pool equipment and utilize the pools' filter to trap and contain all the debris they pick up. Just like a manual pool vacuum , they connect with a hose to a skimmer or a dedicated suction line in the pool from the swimming pool plumbing.

These pool cleaners randomly move about the pool sucking up trash in their path. One major disadvantage to this random pattern is many areas of the pool are re visited and considerably more operating time is required to ensure that all areaas of the pool are eventually covered. Longer operation of the cleaner also relates to longer operation of the pool pump resulting in more frequent filter cleanings, pump maintenance and higher utility bills.

Suction side cleaners are popular among home owners due to ease of installation (usually just invovles connecting to a skimmer just like the already familiar manual vacuum) and low initial cost.

Kreepy Krauly , the first and perhaps the most popular suction side cleaner relys on this random movement to fulfil it's duties. While not the most efficeint method of cleaning , it's low initial cost, low repair cost, simplicity of operation and maintenance still make it one of the favorites among pool owners world wide. One could speculate that another reason for Kreepy Kraulys' continued success is in part to the wide spread accessability to repair parts.There is hardly a pool store on the planet that doesn't stock parts for the Kreepy Krauly.

More recent innovations have stepped up the suction side cleaners abilities to provide a more methodical cleaning pattern as witnessed by Polaris' ATV cleaner and Hawards' Navigator line. These cleaners, while still relying on the pool pump and filter to operate use wheels and water powered motors to drive them around the pool, programming allows them to cover more areas of the pool without re visiting areas so frequently.

This type of pool cleaner uses the filtration system of the swimming pool to operate. As the name implies they are connected to the suction side of the pool plumbing usually to a skimmer. The majority of suction cleaners are propelled around the pool by water flow. A device in the cleaner creates a pulsing effect causing the cleaner to move about. There are several brands that have hydraulically driven motors in them to propel the device around the pool. The Polaris ATV & The Hayward Navigator are driven by water powered (hydraulic) motors and utilize programmed steering to assist in thorough pool cleaning.
Since the suction side cleaner draws water through the filtration system, it is capable of removing very small particles. It also contributes to the filter becoming contaminated more rapidly, Which will require more frequent back washes or cartridge cleaning as the case may be. If your pool is in an area that allows a lot of leaves in, the pool filter and pump basket cleaning will be even more frequent. There are in line leaf traps available for suction side cleaners to catch large debris before it enters the filtration system.

Some of the advantages of suction side pool cleaners:

* Fairly inexpensive compared to other type cleaners.

* Very easy to set up. (Most just attach to an existing skimmer)
* They help to improve water circulation in the pool.

Some disadvantages to suction side cleaners are:

* They loose efficiency as the pool filter becomes contaminated.
* They directly contribute to filter contamination.
* Most aren't capable of backing up so they tend to get hung up in some areas (ladders especially).
* Larger debris such as twigs, may clog suction line or lodge in cleaner.

Regardless of which type pool cleaner you decide on, almost any design is sure to help with the chore of keeping the pool clean and will allow you to spend more time in the pool instead of cleaning it.