Robotic pool cleaners and pool vacuum cleaners can do a much more thorough job than water propelled pool cleaners that bounce around at random. Some pool cleaners can map the bottom of the pool and ensure that they clean every inch, while most are smart enough to not get stuck in the corner or get caught on anti-vortex pool drains. What are the best robotic pool cleaners and robotic pool vacuum cleaners on the market? There is a lot to consider. Can it climb walls? Does it have a remote control? What is the cartridge capacity? How long does a cleaning cycle take? The following guide on the best automatic pool cleaners looks at the key pros and cons to highlight these important considerations and the differences between the models to help you make your choice.
Best Robotic Pool Cleaners for InGround Pools 2019
This pool vacuum has much more capacity than its rivals. You can get replacement leaf canisters and sand and silt canisters. This is a plus if you need a vacuum that does a better job cleaning up silt brought in by the wind other vacuums don’t contain very well. Both filter canisters do a good job of picking up all the debris like pollen, shredded leaves and fine particles. It doesn’t do as good of a job picking up whole leaves. Polaris F9450 has one of its weaknesses is not climbing the walls as well as the manufacturer promises.
One of the strengths of this unit is the ability to program it with a seven day cycle, such as telling it to clean on one schedule on weekends when the kids use the pool more to a different schedule during the week days so that it is done before you get home from work.
This is the best robotic pool vacuum for someone on a budget. You can buy this model with a caddy for an extra fifty dollars. Replacement filters are around fifteen to twenty dollars apiece. This unit is easy to find replacement parts like drive belts.
This unit doesn’t rely on the water flow to run; it is electric.
This unit can adjust its own cleaning pattern and is able to navigate most pool configurations. It doesn’t get stuck in the deep end of the pool and instead gets the shallow end equally clean, too. Its weakness is trying to clean steep walls without flipping over; if it flips over, it spills the debris and dirt it had already picked up. This pool cleaner can avoid most types of drains. It is easy to use.
A fast cleaning cycle is a top priority for many but the ability to create an effective cleaning pattern is also very important.
The Pentair 360032 Kreepy Karuly Prowler has a lot of the features that you may come to expect having learnt about the other options – such as the tough cleaning brushes and the wireless remote for extra control – but it also has an extra-long 60ft cord and promises to scrub, vacuum and filter a pool in just 2.5 hours. Where users are particularly impressed is with the auto reverse feature – a simple piece of intelligence to help it out when it reaches corners and obstacles.
Clearly this robot is not as fast as machines like the Polaris Sport and Hayward SharkVac but this is not the main concern for buyers. The issue with this machine is the small capacity, which does decrease its ability to be fully convenient and hassle free slightly. Despite this, it is pretty easy to clean it out when it is full and the inclusion of a the LED full cartridge indicator helps too.
This unit is significantly more expensive than the other Dolphin pool cleaner discussed in this review.
This pool vacuum cleaner is unique in that you can switch from a filter with an optional kit; this is especially useful if it is constantly catching debris that otherwise clogs the filter quickly. The filter bags, though, are not as durable as the filter.
This pool cleaner comes with a caddy that some other manufacturers require you to buy separately. It can scrub the sides of the pool as it rolls around on the bottom, but it doesn’t really climb the walls to scrub them.
It comes with a remote for cleaning cycle selection, but it isn’t as good for spot cleaning. Unlike some of its rivals, you can buy a replacement remote if the one that comes with it is accidentally dropped in the pool.
The Dolphin Premier automatic pool vacuum cleaner is one of the top products in this niche.
This is an expensive pool cleaner. It can be found new on sale or refurbished for around a thousand dollars, and this cost doesn’t include a pool caddy or extra filter bags. One of the strengths of this product is the modular design that lets many people swap out filter bags and media, replace treads and make other repairs themselves. Another benefit is the ability to get replacement filters or larger debris bags from the manufacturer online.
This vacuum does a decent job navigating every inch of the pool bottom, making its way out of the deep end and up onto the steps. However, it will only make half the way up the average pool wall and rarely makes the tile line.
Put in the high grade filters and bags, and this vacuum can contain the mold and algae it picks up. These items do come at an extra cost, but the pool vacuum does come with a basic filter and debris bag.
The Tigershark has a somewhat longer than usual fifty five foot power cord. It is able to suck up almost all debris, and the filter is easy to clean with a garden hose. Replacement parts like filters can be found online. It lacks a bag for holding the debris, which some consider a plus.
The unit is intelligent enough to determine the most efficient pool cleaning pattern that uses the least power.
Replacing belts and rollers when they wear out after a few years is a challenge, but this model does last several years, whereas many rivals fall apart after a year or two of heavy use.
