Suction-side cleaners attach to one of
the suction ports on your pool. Usually, this port is the skimmer or
your pool may have a separate vacuum port where the cleaner's hose
can be attached. When the filter pump runs, it creates suction on
the underside of the cleaner. The cleaner moves randomly, or
automatically around the pool with motion created by a device that
creates a stop/start pulsing of the water. As the unit moves
throughout the pool, debris is sucked up through the neck and then
the hose, past the suction port, through the pipe, and stops at the
filter pump strainer basket, while smaller debris passes through to
the filter. Adjustments on the hose, the unit itself, and flow
volume will create different cleaning patterns, so as to maximize
pool coverage.
PRESSURE-SIDE POOL
CLEANERS
Pressure-side cleaners attach to the
pressure side (return) of your pool circulation system. The water
that is being pumped or "pushed" back to the pool powers these units
that have their own hydraulic power plant inside. Being on the
pressure side, these units have distinct advantages. They are
helpful in distributing clean filtered water around the pool and by
having their own debris bag, they don't compromise the filter
system. Even with the bag full, a pressure cleaner will still
operate, stirring up debris; it just won't suck up any more debris
until the bag is emptied.
ROBOTIC POOL CLEANERS
Robotic pool cleaners are self
contained electric powered cleaners that are put into the pool when
there is a need for cleaning. A transformer is plugged into a wall
outlet and a long cord from the unit plugs into the transformer
receiving low voltage power to operate the cleaner. This power
operates two motors; a pump motor that draws debris into the unit's
filter, and a drive motor that moves the unit around the pool. The
advantage of owning a robotic cleaner is the self-contained filter
bag, which can be cleaned easily. They also do quite well with
coverage of the pool. Some units are computer chip controlled and
some even have remote controls so you can steer the unit from a
lounge chair! Being that they are the only cleaners not attached in
any way to the pool's circulation system, they produce no resistance
or back pressure on the filtering. Their cost can be more than
suction or pressure side cleaners but the benefits are many.