Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner Reviews
The next best thing to having a professional pool service is buying an automatic pool cleaner for your pool. These automated cleaners are a great investment for any pool owner. While money is obviously an important consideration, our reviews reflect the premise that quality and value are paramount. We try to help you make informed decisions on getting the best product available. The breakdown of our rankings below elaborates further on that.
1. Dolphin Oasis Z5 Pool Cleaner
The Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5 packs the power of a commercial cleaner into a residential cleaner’s package. It easily filters dirt, sand, silt, algae, and other debris. In the ever-heated competition of robotic pool cleaners, the Oasis Z5 can only be called one of the top contenders. The Oasis uses dual motors to make sure there is always enough power to clean the pool floor and walls in addition to propelling itself in the toughest of situations. Read More
Features at a Glance
- Cycle time: 1.5/2.5 hours
- Cable length: 59 ft ( 18 m )
- Filter porosity: Dual-level filtration – ultra-fine and spring net
- Weight: 24 lbs ( 11 kg )
- Suction rate: 4490 gallons ( 17m3 ) per hour
- Motor unit voltage: 24 VDC
- Power supply: Digital switch-mode, IP 54, Output less than 30 VCD
- Pool type: In-ground
- Pool size: Up to 50 ft
- Pool shape: Rectangle, lap, kidney, L-shape, round, oval
- Surfaces: Vinyl, gunite/concrete, fiberglass, tile
Like many other robotic pool cleaners, the Z5 helps keep your pool maintenance costs to a minimum. You will no longer need to hire someone to clean your pool or struggle through the messy process yourself. Where the Oasis Z5 differs, is the extreme quality and craftsmanship that goes into the manufacturing process. Being one of Dolphin’s newest cleaners, the Z5 sees all the gains in its predecessors without any of the drawbacks.
Also, as one of the top-level cleaners offered by Dolphin, you get a complete package included in the Oasis box. In addition to the pool cleaner and power supply, you’ll get a caddy for easy transport of the cleaner, and a remote for when you need to do some quick spot cleaning without getting wet.
Overall, the Dolphin Oasis Z5 is a big win, it’s a complete package cleaner, with a great three-year warranty. We commonly see this pool cleaner for under $1300 and that’s a deal we wouldn’t pass up.
2. Aquabot Turbo T2 Pool Cleaner
Since 2010, the Aquabot Turbo T2 has kept its place in the top five in-ground pool cleaners available.
The reason is simple: it continues to outperform other pool cleaners regardless of pool shape, size, or texture, and it does so without tedious maintenance or supervision during the cleaning. The Turbo T2 comes with a 4-year pro-rated manufacturer’s warranty and toll-free technical assistance with qualified and helpful associates. Aqua Products has been in business for 25 years, and it should be noted that the company remains committed to research and development so as to stay at the cutting edge of pool cleaning technology. Read More
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
- Manufacturer: Aqua Products
- Power Source: Electric-61′ ft. Cord
- Warranty: 3 years
- Cleans: Pool floor, sidewalls, stairs
- Filter: Self-contained reusable 19-quart capacity filter
- Suction Rate: 5,000 gallons per hour
- Drive System: Individually sealed, brushless oil-filled for lubrication and cooling, plus water-cooled
- Remote Control: N
- Cycle Time: 1 Hour
- Weight: 16.75 lbs.
The premier feature of the Turbo T2 is its highly functional design. To make this highly efficient unit even easier to use, it is designed so that even a child could manage it. One simply removes it from its packaging, plugs in the transformer box to an outlet and the Aquabot cord to the box, and drops the unit into the water. The Turbo T2 takes the job from there. The task could not be simpler. Even the instruction manual, written in clear English, is easily deciphered when getting started.
Constructed from the best plastics in the world, this particular unit weighs less than 20 lbs, so it is easy to handle. Its improved brush design and drive-train prove to be much more durable and adaptable to different pool surfaces, unlike other manufacturers’ generic brush designs. The Turbo T2’s quad-brush design and G-Tooth drive track system enable the unit to maneuver around obstacles like filters and ladders easily and make the hard climb up pool steps. The quad-brush design is also more durable because it disperses friction between four brushes instead of one. This leads to less resistance on the machine and a longer life expectancy for the unit. The only real maintenance required is emptying the surprisingly durable filter bag once it has collected about 20lbs of debris.
Another important and unique aspect of its design is the use of power-washing jets that lift dirt and bacteria from the pool floor and out of hard-to-reach places while the brushes and vacuum conduct the debris into the filtration system. This means that even the tightest corners of the pool floor will be thoroughly cleaned. Gone are the days of clunky cleaners that rely on your vacuum system, and gone is the worry that something unpleasant is growing in the corners of the pool.
The Turbo T2’s unique design boosts its cleaning speed and cost-efficiency, which everyone appreciates. The Aquabot Turbo T2 is the fastest (non-remote) residential Aquabot cleaner when compared to Dolphin, Polaris or Kreepy-Krauley cleaners on the market. It is rated to clean a pool up to 50’ and filter 5000 gallons of water in one hour. This makes for an efficient machine, especially when you do not have to rely on your filtration system while the cleaner is in use. Hiring a pool service to clean your pool regularly, you’ll easily spend over $100 a month, but the T2 will clean your entire pool more efficiently for only pennies per cleaning. Obviously, it pays for itself very quickly.
3. Polaris Vac-Sweep 3900 Sport
The Polaris 3900 comes in 4th place out of our 5 top pool cleaner picks based on a combination of performance, product design, price, innovation, and current pool cleaning trends.
The Polaris 3900 is the first and only pool cleaner in our model review that doesn’t operate off of its own source, but instead off of the pool’s filtration system. The Polaris 3900 Sport is made by Polaris and has over 40 years in the pool cleaning industry. Out of these years, they have been the biggest company to sell strictly vacuum-based pool cleaners that operate off of the pool’s filters. When you look at the 3900 at first glance, you will notice a slightly familiar shape of cleaner with the common wheels and brush filter tail. The 3900 along with the other newer Polaris cleaners are painted with striking blue and silver metallic colors which shows that Polaris has every intention of keeping their products looking up to date. Read More
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
- Manufacturer: Polaris
- Power Source: Electric-75 ft. Cord
- Warranty: 1 Year
- Cleans: Pool Floor, Sidewalls, and Waterline
- Filter: 5-liter capacity filter bag with easy twist-release connector
- Suction Rate 2,400 gal per hour
- Drive System: PosiDrive all-wheel chain drive system
- Remote Control: No
- Cycle Time: 5 hr cycle time
- Weight: 18 lbs.
The functionality is slightly different than a self-contained unit such as an Aquabot or other cleaner. When you first hook up the 3900, you need to thoroughly go through the operating manual and pay close attention to the vacuum tube installation instructions to ensure the unit will hook-up and work properly. We found it slightly annoying the number of steps to prepare the unit for use, though you should only have to perform setup a few times. Since the cleaner is powered off of a booster pump, it will require more work and maintenance to ensure high enough water pressure along with adequate rpm’s powering the unit. Again, these are small things, but when you compare the amount of setup time on the 3900 to an Aquabot or Dolphin, this unit requires much more attention and time to setup.
The drive track on the Polaris 3900 is made out of sturdy stainless steel parts which have proven to be highly effective in long-term durability. Along with the drive-train, the unit has tires that are weighted to help climb the side walls successfully while maintaining cleaning efficiency. These tires are wrapped around silver wheels which sport the look of a sports car, hence the reason they call it the sport. The debris bag is attached to the vacuum line and stands vertical to the unit. The filter bag holds 5 liters of debris and easily comes off for emptying and cleaning purposes. The Polaris is designed to scrub, sweep and vacuum all pool surfaces using a combination of vacuum ports located on the bottom and the sweep hose which drags in the back of the unit like a tail. This hose blows high pressure which helps sweep debris off of the surface. We found this to be not very innovative and out of date when compared to the simplicity and newer design on the Aquabot’s power washing jets which are located on the bottom of the unit and provide more direct pressure washing.
The next issue I would like to address on the 3900 is efficiency. For its class, the Polaris 3900 is as good as they come. With that said, it still doesn’t hold a candle to the efficiency found in an electrical/self depending unit. The 3900 runs strictly off of your vacuum system which powers all of your jets, drains, and filters. Since the unit requires vacuum power from the booster pump, this draws more power and in return requires you to run your filtration system longer equaling higher energy costs. In today’s pool owning statistics, it costs an extra $40-60 on average to operate a pool, solely based on running the filter system. Newer cleaners that don’t require vacuum power but instead have their own power source are much more efficient. Some of these models would be the Dolphin Evolution, along with our all-time favorite, the Aquabot Turbo T cleaners. All of these cleaners use a significantly lower amount of energy to operate because they simply plug into a transformer box which in return plugs into a regular electrical outlet. Most of those cleaners are rated to clean your entire pool only costing you anywhere from 5 to 10 cents per cleaning cycle. Also, these units pump an average of 5000+ gallons per hour which almost completely eliminates the need for you to run your filtration system while it cleans. The 3900 only pumps 2400 gallons of water an hour.
All in all, The Polaris 3900 is the top of the line for vacuum-powered pool cleaners and comes from a company with 40 years of innovation along with decent warranty service. If you have owned one of these types of machines before and want a great model with many features along with the latest and most durable parts, this unit would work well for you and your pool. If you prefer a unit that will cost less to operate and will require much less time to set up or maintain, we would recommend looking at a cleaner that operates on its own power source and not off of your pool’s system.
4. Aquabot Turbo T4RC Robotic Pool Cleaner
The Aquabot Turbo T4RC was very nearly our top pick, but it came in a close second for the sole reason of a higher price tag compared to the Turbo T2.
The Turbo T4RC is almost identical to the Aquabot Turbo T2, except for the fact that it sports a handy remote-control unit excellent for spot-cleaning certain areas of the pool when you prefer to do so. We found this handy to have when we had just a few areas in the pool that needed cleaning attention. Instead of setting it to a timer and letting it clean the entire pool, we used the remote-control feature to pilot the unit to those specific areas. Though the remote control is definitely not a necessity for cleaning, it is a nice luxury to have in a pool cleaner. Read More
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
- Manufacturer: Aqua Products
- Power Source: Electric-75 ft. Cord
- Warranty: 4 Years /300 Cycles Prorated
- Cleans: Pool Floor, Sidewalls, and Waterline
- Filter: Self-Contained Reusable 19-quart Capacity Filter
- Suction Rate 5,000 gal per hour
- Drive System: Individually Sealed, Oil-Free Water-Cooled
- Remote Control: Yes
- Cycle Time: 1 hour
- Weight: 16.75 lbs.
The Aquabot Turbo T4RC has the longest power cord reaching 75’ in length. This comes in handy especially for larger pools or situations where the transformer box is placed further away than normal from the pool. The cord is made from buoyant thermoplastic rubber and non-corroding Kevlar. This reassures durability while creating a floating cord that won’t get caught up in the pool’s cleaning path. The buoyancy factor also aids in helping the Turbo T4RC make its full climb of the sides up to the waterline.
Like the Turbo T2, the T4RC has the 1-7 hour adjustable timer feature with an automatic 2-hour shut-off timer for the continuous mode. If you have the timer set, you can program your cleaner to run consistently anywhere from 1-7 hours. If you prefer to run your cleaner without the timer set, the 2-hour shut-off timer will activate to prevent over-usage and to efficiently save on energy. Weighing in at about 19lbs, the T4RC is rated to clean your average-sized pool in about 1 hour and cost about 5 cents per cycle. You can’t hire a pool company to do it any cheaper and why would you if you can save money and have a robot do it for you?
The Aquabot Turbo T4RC is built with the most advanced navigation technologies. Inside the computer is a sensory incline chip that is designed to help tell the robot where to go, which direction to climb, and when it is approaching something like a side wall, pool steps, ladders or the main drain. Along with superior navigation abilities, the T4RC is built using the highest quality brushes identical to the Turbo T2. The quad-brushes are designed to provide a thorough cleaning motion while eliminating up to 85% of normal wear and tear that other single- brush units experience repetitively. Power washing jets that are located on the bottom of the cleaner help blast away dirt and grime from those tricky corners and we were surprised to find how good it actually worked.
The Turbo T4RC is very unique because it is the only Aquabot that has a 4-direction dual-drive axle. This feature is very intriguing especially when watching the unit move. The 4-direction refers to the way that it cleans and moves around your pool. If you picture someone mowing your lawn creating a neatly cut pattern, that is what the cleaning routine is slightly comparable to.
If you’re happy with a pool cleaner and don’t feel you need a remote-controlled unit, the T2 may be the better fit for you. If you want the top Aquabot with remote features for spot cleaning, along with the maximum efficiency, plus a long 4-year warranty, check the T4RC out. The price is a bit higher than the T2, though it is well worth the value.
5. Aqua Products SOLAG Sol Automatic Robotic Cleaner Sweeper
The SOLAG Sol gives pool owners many reasons to smile. It’s heavy on quality and light on both the environment and the budget—a rare combination in any industry.
It is an exciting new product in the line of pool cleaners from Aqua Products, Inc. because of its energy-efficient and eco-friendly design. By providing the same services like a pool’s main filter system, the SOLAG Sol allows pool owners to virtually retire their pools’ main filtration system; this provides significant savings in energy usage and costs. Also, because of the way it pumps and filters the water, chemicals are mixed and used more efficiently, thus decreasing the number of chemicals needed to keep the pool clean by up to 30%. It conserves water and energy and cuts down the impact on both the environment and the pocketbook. Read More
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
- Manufacturer: Aqua Products
- Power Source: Electric-51 ft. Cord
- Warranty: 2 Years
- Cleans: Pool Floor, Sidewalls, And Waterline
- Filter: Internal Mesh Filter
- Suction Rate 4,800 gal per hour
- Drive System: Single Jet-Drive Brushless Motor
- Remote Control: No
- Cycle Time: 1 hour
- Weight: 12 lbs.
This is all accomplished by a vacuum pump located on the underside of the cleaner. It takes a mere fraction of the normal energy required (as little as 1/30th compared to traditional pool cleaners) to move the water. Using an Ecojet pool cleaner, instead of your pools’ main filter prevents both water and chemical evaporation, conserving thousands of gallons of water a year and reducing your pools’ chemical consumption.
But the EcoJet Plus does not simply make sense because it is eco-friendly. It makes sense because it is an exceptionally high-quality cleaner. In cleaning performance, the SOLAG Sol matches or exceeds the quality and performance of the SOLAG Series models. The engineering is sound with a few differences worth mentioning: the drive belt system has been replaced by wheels. This difference makes Aqua Products models more effective in cleaning any shape of pool that has a bowl-like structure. The SOLAG Sol is “60° Certified”, which means it can climb walls with a gradual sloping transition from floor to wall of up to 60°, but many users have documented it easily climbing walls with a 90° slope.
This cleaner also offers state-of-the-art power-washing jets, which spray a high-pressure flow towards the surface, lifting debris easily so that the vacuum ports can clean it up. These power-washing jets are unique to AquaProducts cleaners and are a proven technology that increases the longevity of the cleaner and its components by minimizing stress to moving parts. In addition to the power-washing jets, the SOLAG Sol uses a guide brush that directs larger debris towards the vacuum ports.
Based on its performance, its eco-friendly specs, great consumer reviews, maintenance-free design, and its price, the SOLAG Sol receives our highest rating for in-ground pool cleaners. It will save you time, energy, and will more than pay for itself within 1 year by slashing energy and pool maintenance costs.
Best Budget Pool Cleaner
Suction-side automatic pool cleaners are typically the most affordable pool cleaners. As a result, it is simple to locate low-cost generic versions of popular vacuum pool cleaners. Finding low-cost imitations of pressure-side or robotic pool cleaners, on the other hand, is much more difficult.
We recommend the Polaris Vac-Sweep 65 as a low-cost pressure-side pool cleaner. It can clean vinyl-lined or fiberglass-lined inground pools. It has water jets that blow water against the pool walls, as well as a long pressure hose with a filter bag that is dragged along the pool bottom. The filter bag picks up pebbles and other pool floor particles. Read our Polaris Vac-Sweep 65 review to learn more about it.
Polaris Vac-Sweep 65 Automatic Pool Cleaner Review
The Polaris Vac-Sweep 65 pressure-side pool cleaner is capable of cleaning above-ground pools up to 27 feet in length (or more if you add hose extensions). The pool’s maximum depth is 5 feet. Its universal wall fitting and float hose screw into a 1.5-inch return line opening. If your pool’s return line is a different size, you’ll need to find the appropriate adapter to make it work.
Some pool owners believe that the design or quality of this pool cleaner has deteriorated in recent years. It used to work better, but its performance in the pool is now a source of frustration. The main issue appears to be that its hoses become coiled and tangled, preventing it from cleaning properly.
FEATURES AT A GLANCE
- Manufacturer: Polaris
- Surface module
- 24-foot float hose
- Quick disconnect and universal wall fitting
- 7-foot sweep hose with wheel cages
- Jet sweep assembly
- Filter bag (not covered by warranty)
Utilizes pumps and filtration systems commonly found in aboveground pools to vacuum and sweep the bottom and sides in three hours or less. The patented jet sweep assembly blows water against the pool wall to loosen debris in difficult-to-reach areas, then sweeps it into an easily-removable filter bag. The filter bag collects debris, including larger items such as twigs and pebbles, before it reaches your pump, extending the life of your filtration system.
Do people really need pool cleaners?
Pools have become a popular sight in several states across the US. They vary a lot in shape of size but have one thing in common: maintenance. All require constant care which is not the most pleasant of experiences. Using the pool on a regular basis means you always have to have clean water. Depending on the environment you will have to spend more or less time removing debris and other unwanted things that end up in a pool especially if it is not covered. Large pools can really be a problem considering some like swimming every day. Why spend hours cleaning it when you could spend that time relaxing. In order to do so you should invest in a pool cleaner. There are dozens of options for you to choose from and several features to consider. Different models tend to different issues which means you will have to know a thing or two before actually buying something. Even so, it will be worth the effort. A top end pool cleaner will spare you a lot of time, and there is nothing more important than time.
What are your options in a pool cleaner?
With so many options available on the market, choosing the right pool cleaner may come off as a bit of a handful. We’ll offer both generic technical info and particular products which may fit your needs. There is no point wasting time on research when all you need to know is that there are a few basic features to check out and a few brands to consider.
The most popular pool cleaners currently available are known as no pressure-side, no suction-side or inflatable. Each have their downsides and their upsides. The second thing you need to know is that there are a bunch of manufacturers which should be on top of your list as soon as you decide to go shopping. The best brans you may want to check out are: Pool Buster, Haywards, Kauleys, Kreepy, Polaris, Baracuda and Hayward Viper. Keep in mind that some of these products should be able to gobble up twigs, stones and other large debris. Remember not to spend your money on features you don’t need though.
How much should you spend on a pool cleaner?
When it comes to price, you should firstly consider your basic needs. Some pools even if larger than others may not need such high maintenance because of the area in which you live in. The best pool cleaners come with price tags varying between $400 and $900. Don’t worry about the fact that some products may seem expensive. You will get your money back in time. Most pool cleaners are durable and save you a lot of time which added up over the years will definitely make up for your financial effort. The price of a pool cleaner is higher or lower depending on the features it provides. It can even save you money on electric bills as filter pumps tend to use more energy if clogged.
