Pool Cleaning

It's almost summer time and we all know what that means. Time for spending fun days in the sun by the pool. Anybody with a pool would rather spend more time splashing and having fun and less  time skimming and scrubbing and keeping it clean. Luckily, the market is full of options to help keep your pool clean. From basic pool vacuum systems to automatic robot cleaners to hiring help, you’re sure to find the best option to suit your pool and your budget.  

Robot cleaners are an excellent solution, do not require an exorbitant amount of money and leave you more free to enjoy your pool. A few points to evaluate before purchasing:

Does the robot climb?  Pools with graded deep ends need a climbing robot, and if your pool has steps, consider if a stair climbing is important to you as well.

How long is the cable?  Nearly any residential robot will have enough cable for up to a 20x40 swimming pool. But only get as much cable as you need, and you’ll thank yourself later when you’re coiling it up for storage after every use.

How fast is the robot and what kind of debris does your pool collect?  If your pool tends to have heavy sand or silt accumulating, a faster robot might glide over it too quickly to suction it up.  A slower robot with a large volume pump will work better in this case. Pump water volume is more important than robot speed when it comes to heavy silt and sand.

System maintenance: This includes cleaning cartridges and/or filter bags. Disposable bags can be used to keep your hands from getting dirty in hand washing a soiled filter bag.  Usage will vary according to your needs, but on average a disposable bag lasts through 2-3 cleaning cycles. A cartridge filter eliminates the option of using a disposable bag.

How much does the robot weigh? When you pull the machine from the pool and it’s filled with water, it can weigh a lot more. Avoid buying a heavy machine if this is cause for concern.

How long is the warranty coverage?  Sooner or later any machine will break.  More expensive robots tend to have better coverage.  Read the fine print to see what is covered, warrantees are not always equal regardless of how long the coverage is for. While manufacturers typically guarantee motors for 1, 2, 3, 4, or even 5 years, the rest of the robot may only be covered for the first year. At that point, brushes, belts, bushings and more become the responsibility of the owner.  Robots may not be easy or economical to repair, you might want to investigate availability of parts for the model you’re interested in.

One popular robot is the iRobot Verro 300 Pool Cleaning robot. This hands-free, pool cleaning robot systematically vacuums from the pool floor surface to the waterline in 60 to 90 minutes, all with the touch of a button. The Verro pumps over 70 gallons of water each minute, guaranteeing clean, clear results with every use and leaving the distribution of chemicals and water temperature undisturbed. The reusable fine filter bag removes both large and small debris and bacteria, pollen, algae, dust, dirt and hair, which  reduces the run time of your pool's primary filtration system. iRobot Verro is durable, lightweight and easy to use.  Simply plug Verro into a power source and drop it in the pool.