August 2, 2010

Automatic Above Ground Pool Vacuums - A Comparison

Many people might claim that above ground pool vacuums are a necessity and not a luxury and I'm disposed to concur, particularly if you've a big swimming pool.

The chief job in maintaining your pool is manually cleaning the grime and debris off the floor. Since it is too heavy to float on the pool water it does not get drawn into the filtration system through the skimmer and falls to the bottom. As a result, you either have to clean it manually or with a specially designed pool vacuum.

These days, there are a number of assorted devices to make it easier to do this but the simplest to operate, by far, are the automatic pool cleaners that are obtainable in both in-ground and above ground designs. Without one, you will be in the pool, cleaning the floor every few days or more frequently if outside conditions carry vegetation and dust into the pool water.

Types of In Ground and Automatic Above Ground Pool Vacuums

Automatic Suction-Side Vacuums

Suction side vacuums are powered by the suction generated from your pool pump. This allows them to travel about the pool bottom where they vacuum up the dirt. The water is drawn through your filter so extra water is sucked through the system in a smaller period of time.

As there is no necessity to put in any extra plumbing or pumps, suction-sides are often 50% of the cost of other cleaners. Though, because they suck stuff straight into your filter and pump basket, they can cause difficulties if the skimmer becomes bunged up.

This is a frequent occurrence if your pool is in an area that has lots of vegetation. Setting up a leaf trap will help avert this issue since it stops the bulkier stuff before it gets to the pump basket. If the suction cleaner does not come with a leaf collector, you could be able to include one in the vacuum hose.

A few suction side vacuums are able to "scrub" the pool's sides. It does so by agitating itself as it travels round the pool. This reduces the number of times you'll need to brush clean the pool. And, since it draws debris straight into your filtration system, it can extract much finer particles than a pool vacuum with a bag.

If you don't normally have vegetation in the pool, the everyday grime and dust should not block the skimmer basket.

If you decide on this sort of vacuum for the pool you need to be certain you keep the filter dirt free. If the filter is bunged up the suction will be lessened and so it will move less easily and cleaning can be negatively affected.

Pressure side Automatic Pool Vacuums

In contrast, pressure side vacuums are powered by water pressure, produced by a pump, and feature interior vacuum bags.

The force drives the vacuum round the pool and forces the dirt into the bag. It does not draw stuff into your pool filtration system or pump basket which means you don't have to vacuum them so frequently and they can manage leaves. However, they are not able to filter tiny particles through the bag and don't scour the walls very well either.

The cost of a pressure side pool vacuum is dependent, partly, on whether you choose a booster pump or use the swimming pool's main circulation pump.

A dedicated booster pump is inclined to clean the pool a bit better and go on longer than using the main pump but it is an additional expense and will need a dedicated line put in.

Robotic Swimming Pool Vacuums

Robotic pool vacuums are stand-alone units which function independently from the main pool filtration system so don't need hoses.

They are driven by interior electric motors that are powered via an outdoor outlet. They come with a transformer and power cable that changes the electrical power to a lower voltage after being plugged in.

Robotic above ground pool vacuums pump debris straight into the internal filters and come ready programmed. The on-board computer chip diagnoses any issues and "learns" the form of the pool. A few have a remote control which allows you to maneuver the vacuum round the pool and as a result you could scour any spots it might have missed.

Robotic pool vacuums such as the Aquabot Pool Rover are excellent at getting rid of tiny debris and silt. It can also clean the tile line as well as the sides.

Due to the powerful pump inside which vacuums up the dirt they are also a great way to boost the water circulation in the pool.

All this functionality comes at a cost however, and robotic pool vacuums are among the most expensive on the market, with prices ranging from $400 to $2000 and more.

Above ground pool vacuums not only help keep the pool looking beautiful, they also save you time and effort giving you many more hours to enjoy relaxing rather than cleaning.

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Filed under home theater by bob

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