There are two things you can do when it comes to cleaning your pool. You can either hire somebody who can do this or you can clean it yourself. Cleaning a pool yourself is a lot easier than you think. You just need the right tools.
The most effective way to do this is to use a suction pool cleaner, since they are very similar to the tools that most professional pool cleaners use.
Because of how common these are, a significant question is often asked: What is the best suction pool cleaner on the market?
This guide will answer this question.
What is a Suction Pool Cleaner?
The first thing you should know about a suction pool cleaner is that nearly all of them interact with your pool’s pump and filtration systems. This means that in most cases, a pump and filtration system will be required to use a suction pool cleaner.
Moving around your pool either on its own or from your own efforts, a suction pool cleaner will direct any leaves, bugs, pebbles, or any other small object into your pool’s filtration system. This makes a suction pool cleaner a vacuum of sorts for the pool.
Check your pool’s pump and filtration systems to see if they need to be added or updated before buying a suction pool cleaner. All three of these devices work in tandem to ensure that the pool is as clean as it can be.
Here Are The Best-Selling Suction Pool Cleaners in 2021
The search for the best suction pool cleaner is all about seeing what is the most popular among them. The following pool cleaners are the most popular.
Automatic Suction and Wall Climbing Pool Cleaner by XtremepowerUS
Most suction pool cleaners can either clean only the wall of the pool or only the floor of the pool, but never both. You’ll finally have a pool cleaner that can do quality work on both the walls and floor of the pool with XtremepowerUS’s cleaner. This makes it stand out from others in a good way.
Another nice thing about this particular cleaner is that it contains an adjustable diverter. This allows it to clean both in-ground pools and above ground pools, making it much more versatile than other suction pool cleaners.
Installation is also very easy, as this cleaner attaches right to your filtration system. Keep in mind that it requires a pool pump that uses at least 1 horsepower for it to perform well.
In-Ground Suction Side Pool Cleaner by Zodiac
Common suction pool cleaners tend to struggle when it comes to cleaning the walls of a pool. They either take far too long or they are not capable of cleaning walls at all.
The turbine blade Zodiac’s side pool cleaner comes with allows it to climb walls very quickly. It also works for both in-ground pools as well as above ground pools. You’ll get even more out of it if you have a variable speed or dual speed pump.
While Zodiac’s side pool cleaner is able to reach the bottom of most above ground pools, it will struggle with in-ground pools because of how deep they tend to get.
Other Suction Pool Cleaners You Might Like
Many excellent options for your above ground and inground pools beside the two best sellers ever are above. Let’s dive in.
Zodiac Baracuda G3 W03000 Advanced Suction Cleaner
You’ll get a lot out of Zodiac’s Baracuda cleaner if you are looking for a pool cleaner that you can connect to a low-speed pump.
It also contains a wheel deflector which really helps around the tighter corners of your pool.
AIPER SMART Suction Pool Vacuum Cleaner
You’ll want Aiper Smart’s Kreepy Krawly pool sweeper if you are looking for a pool cleaner that you can use for leaves. Its extended diaphragm allows you to remove such objects.
The Kreepy Krawly also works with your pool pump which means it does not need to require any form of electricity.
Hayward Suction Pool Cleaner for In-Ground Pools
Look no further than Hayward’s Poolvergnuegen suction cleaner if you need a pool cleaner for pebble tec. The turbine vanes it possesses do a very good job of removing dirt from pebble tec.
You will also enjoy Hayward’s pre-programmed internal steering sequences, which will allow you to cover your entire pool with ease.
Hayward W3900 Wanda the Whale for Above-Ground Pool
Despite its cartoonish look, you’ll get a lot out of Hayward’s Wanda the Whale pool cleaner when it comes to covering the bottom of your pool. It uses SmartDrive technology to accomplish this.
Unlike most other suction pool cleaners, you do not need to use a pump for Hayward’s Wanda the Whale cleaner either.
Types of Suction Pool Cleaners
There are a few aspects of suction pool cleaners that you should educate yourself on before buying one.
Just like there are different types of pools, there are also different types of cleaners that you can use to clean them.
- Manual suction pool cleaner
The first of these is the side sweeping pool cleaner. These allow you to clean the sides of your pool without worrying about scratching the sides of the pool, which is what can happen if you use a floor cleaner to clean the sides of your pool.
- Automatic suction pool cleaner
Automatic suction pool cleaners are what you are looking for if you are need a pool cleaner that can clean the bottom of your inground pool. These are more powerful machines that remove any debris that has been stuck to the bottom of your pool.
However, inground pool cleaners tend to be much too powerful for pools that were built above the ground. For these, you’ll need an above ground pool cleaner. These operate the same as an inground pool cleaner but are a little easier on the floor of your above ground pool, which is necessary as said pools are not as strong in their foundation.
TIPS
- Remember that a suction pool cleaner operates very similar to a vacuum. Make sure that both the skimmer and the hose are as clear of debris as they can be before setting it up.
- The sides of the pool are often more sensitive to cleaners than the bottom is. This is especially true when it comes to above ground pool cleaners.
- Different suction pool cleaners are better at cleaning certain kinds of debris than others. The best thing you can do is determine what kinds of debris you come across the most and make your decision from there.
Features of Your Pool and Other Things to Consider
Understanding your pool’s features is necessary when it comes to buying a proper suction cleaner for it.
Was the pool built above the ground or under the ground?
Check if the pool itself was built above the ground or in the ground. Different suction pool cleaners are designed for different pools, but some suction pool cleaners are able to clean both kinds of pools.
How big is the pool?
The overall size of the pool is the next thing that should be considered. Nearly all suction pool cleaners utilize a hose. The bigger the pool is, the longer the hose needs to be. Most of the time, you’ll be able to connect hoses together if necessary. These are sold separately.
What materials make up the walls and floor of the pool?
The pool’s construction materials are also something that needs to be considered. Most suction pool cleaners are designed for rough materials. Walls and floors that are made of smooth materials will require cleaners that have different tracks or wheels.
Will the pool cleaner work properly with the pump and filtration devices?
As mentioned previously, suction pool cleaners work with the pump and filtration features of the pool. A good rule of thumb to follow is to make sure the pump can produce at least 25 gallons of water per minute. This will allow the hose of the pump to work faster.
How To Install A Suction Pool Cleaner
Installing your pool cleaner properly will allow it to be as efficient as possible. Although the following methods of installing a suction pool cleaner differ slightly among them, the general methods below are universal to them all.
The first thing you need to do is assemble the cleaner itself. Doing this is straightforward and is really a matter of following the instructions that came with the cleaner.
Determine whether your cleaner operates automatically or manually. If it operates manually, you’ll need to install the head of the cleaner on a telescopic rod of your choosing.
Set up the pool’s filtration system next, assuming the pool has one. Connect the hoses to the filtration system to the inlet of the pool and let it run for 10 to 15 minutes.
Now you want to attach the skim vac onto the skimmer of your cleaner. The skim vac is your cleaner’s suction plate and operates as an adapter for installing the hose to the skimmer.
Connect the hose after this. Most suction pool cleaners come with a hose. If the pool cleaner you possess does not, you’ll need to see what hoses can fit your pool cleaner and buy them separately.
Slowly lower the cleaner into the pool. To make sure your hose has sufficient water and air to escape, do all you can to submerge the end of the hose into the water vertically. Continue this until the hose is completely filled with water.
After this, you can finally allow the suction pool cleaner to drive itself along the sides or floor of the pool. Remember that you’ll need to do this yourself if your cleaner operates manually.
TIPS:
- Make sure the hose of your cleaner has plenty of room to maneuver. The pool cleaner will move in circles if the hose is crowded.
- Make sure the skim vac is very tightly attached onto the skimmer this way both move as little as possible.
- The cleaner’s hose must be completely full of water. This interacts with the pump to get the cleaner to move properly.
How Does A Suction Side Pool Cleaner Work?
Most suction pool cleaners only allow you to clean the bottom of the pool. These cleaners are usually not able to clean the sides of your pool because they are not flexible enough.
Suction side pool cleaners work very similar to ones that you use for the floor. The only real difference is that the hoses they use are much more flexible.
Why Is My Kreepy Krawly Not Moving?
Kreepy Krawly pool cleaners are known for being able to pick up leaves, pebbles, and other significantly large variations of debris in your pool.
Because of this, the hoses of these contraptions can get clogged very easily. When this happens, the cleaner will not move. This is usually because the main drain and suction lines of the Kreepy Krawly have opened up from all the debris that has been picked up.
Buildup of debris in your filter or pump basket might also be a reason why your Kreepy Krawly isn’t moving.
Zodiac Pool Cleaner Troubleshooting
One thing about Zodiac pool cleaners that set them apart is that they are completely automatic. Cleaning a pool with them is very easy since they do most of the work for you.
The most common issue that those who use these kinds of pool cleaners have is that they tend to move around your pool in circles instead of moving all around your pool like they are supposed to.
Something like this will happen if you leave such a pool cleaner in the pool for too long. When this happens, it’s hose will begin to curl. This is what causes it to move around circles. This is solved by removing it and straightening it.
Automatic pool cleaners can also completely stop moving. This is often because there is a lack of suction getting to the cleaner itself. To solve this, check to see if there is any debris in the skimmer and the pump basket.
Pressure Side Pool Cleaners vs. Suction Side Pool Cleaners
Suction pool cleaners aren’t the only instrument you can use to clean your pool. Another alternative are pressure pool cleaners, which use your pool’s booster pump to propel the cleaner around your pool, emptying debris that it collects into the bag they contain.
This is different from suction side pool cleaners which use your main filtration pump to collect debris from the side of your pool.
The main difference between these two is that pressure side cleaners are capable of picking up much larger objects in your pool. This is because of the bigger throat design that most of them contain.
What Can Suction Pool Cleaners Do For You?
Being able to use your own suction pool cleaners to clean your pool is going to save you time and money since they are much more cost-effective than a robotic pool cleaner or pressure cleaner or even hiring someone to clean your pool.
You have several options in front of you when it comes to selecting the best suction pool cleaner for what you need.
Knowing about how these cleaners work and how they interact with the pump and filtration of your pool is crucial to deciding on which one is best for you.
Indeed, you will be able to remove every bug, leaf, or pebble in your pool once you possess the right suction pool cleaner.