Choosing the Right Pool Cleaner
Now that you have your pool, you know it will provide the best summer experience for your family - and you can't wait to jump in! However, a dirty pool isn't an inviting one. You'll need to find a good cleaner. In the Northeast, where the pool season might be only 3-4 months long, efficiency is critical. Zodiac Pool Systems Inc. has provided this article to identify the information you need for finding the best pool cleaner: one that will do a good job at a competitive price and finally allow you to enjoy that pool!
Pool Cleaner Basics
The first thing you need to know before you go to the pool store or call the pool service technician is this: what type of pool cleaner do you need? Is your pool already plumbed for one type over another? Or should you buy a robot that can work in any pool?
Automated Pool Cleaners
The types of debris in your area will determine the kind of cleaner you need. In the Northeast, with its heavily forested areas, you most likely have larger debris made up of twigs, leaves, larger insects, heavier ground cover, seedlings and maybe even stones. If that's the case, your pool is probably plumbed for a pressure cleaner.
Suction cleaners work best with small to medium-sized debris like berries, acorns, pebbles, and sand.
If you do find that you are plumbed for a suction cleaner and it's not working well, you may want to consider a robotic cleaner rather than having your pool re-plumbed.
Robotic Pool Cleaners
Robots that clean your pool are relatively new on the market, but are especially good for the types of debris common in New York and New England. As an aftermarket solution, no additional plumbing is required for a robotic cleaner; they will work in any pool. They are extremely cost-effective on energy. Although they cost a bit more upfront on the purchase price, they operate for only about six to ten cents per cleaning cycle. And since you might clean your pool only two or three times per week, you can see how inexpensive they are to operate, saving you money in the long term.
A robotic cleaner can climb walls and scrub tile, climb stairs and scrub steps while you lounge. With an onboard filter, the robot captures debris in its own filter bag or canister. You can shake the filter out over the trash can without having to touch the debris at all. Because the pool is now pre-cleaned, you will find that much less debris gets caught in your pool filter, which will also save you money on hiring a pool maintenance person and extend the life of the primary pool filter.
Pressure Cleaners
Pressure cleaners have been the standard in pool cleaners for many years. They are mechanical in design, connected to a dedicated cleaner line or to your pool's return line, and they help to distribute clean, filtered water throughout your pool. Pressure cleaners are perfect for large debris, including those "helicopter" seedlings that fly around your backyard in the summer. They can operate daily on a timed, pre-programmed schedule via the installed timer and can work with automated controllers that operate other functions, such as lighting and waterfalls.
Because they can be stored in the pool most of the time, they are relatively simple to work with. A pressure cleaner's central vacuum line must be built in when the pool is built, however, so if your pool doesn't already have one, it may be too late to get one. In that case, you will probably want to consider a robot.
With any type of cleaner, it is a good idea to remove the cleaner from the pool before swimming. We hope these energy- and time-saving tips will help your family to have a fun, safe, and smart family experience in your backyard pool and spa this summer!
This article was provided by Zodiac Pool Systems Inc.
About Zodiac Pool Systems: Zodiac offers a complete family of brands, including Polaris®, Jandy®, Nature2®, and Baracuda®. With our rich heritage of innovation excellence, we develop technologically-advanced, energy-efficient, reliable products that afford our customers a better life. Through our best-in-class consumer products and our industry-leading dealer loyalty program, Zodiac is the provider of choice for millions of pool owners and professionals worldwide.