In Ground Pool Cleaners

In ground pool cleaners are automated vacuum cleaners that clean debris, dirt and other sediment from in ground pools.

Background

Swimming pool vacuum cleaners were invented in South Africa by Ferdinand Chauvier. In 1974, Chauvier designed and built the Kreepy Krauly, the first ever automated pool cleaner. Now in ground pool cleaners are made by many different manufacturers and are used all around the world for swimming pool maintenance. In fact, since these automated cleaners make pool maintenance so much faster, easier and more convenient, their popularity is continuously on the rise.

The purpose of both in ground and above ground pool cleaners is to effectively and conveniently remove dirt and debris from swimming pools. While some in ground and above ground pool cleaners are only designed to clean pool bottoms, others will also clean walls and steps. Additionally, there are different varieties of in ground pool cleaners available for different types of pools. For example, some in ground pool cleaners are specifically designed to clean concrete pools while others are designed to clean tile, vinyl and fiberglass swimming pools.

By removing sediment and debris from swimming pools, pool cleaners promote pool health and safety. Certain vacuum models even have the capacity to remove bacteria and other small contaminants from pool water. It's also possible to find in ground pool vacuums that are powerful enough to remove large debris such as pebbles, leaves and twigs. By moving around the pool independently, automated in ground pool cleaners save significant time and effort for anyone involved in residential or commercial pool maintenance.

Types

In ground pool cleaners are available in many different models and varieties, but they all fall into three main categories -- suction side pool cleaners, pressure side pool cleaners and robotic pool cleaners.

Suction Side Pool Cleaners

Suction side pool cleaners for in ground swimming pools are powered by the pool's skimmer and filtration system. A hose attaches the vacuum unit to a suction port, either a skimmer or a special vacuum port. As the filtration pump runs, water is pumped out of the pool, creating suction on the bottom of the pool cleaner. This is what allows debris to be sucked inside the cleaner and it's also what powers the unit's locomotion. Once the debris has been sucked into the pool cleaner, it then moves through the hose and suction port and into the skimmer or the pump's strainer where it's filtered out of the water.

Since suction side pool cleaners are powered by the pool's existing filtration system and don't require any additional plumbing for installation, they are a relatively cheap option for pool maintenance. Moreover, these cleaners are particularly ideal for swimming pools that are mainly affected by dirt and smaller debris.

Pressure Side Pool Cleaners

Pressure side pool cleaners are, as their name suggests, powered by water pressure. The pump that creates the water pressure can either be a special booster pump or the pool's regular circulation pump. As pressurized water is forced through the unit, the necessary suction is created and the vacuum moves around the swimming pool. As a pressure side pool cleaner sweeps the floor and walls of a pool, it draws dirt and debris into an attached, reusable filter bag while also helping to distribute clean, filtered water throughout the pool.

One of the greatest advantages of pressure side pool cleaners for in ground swimming pools is the fact that they don't exert any extra pressure on the pool's filtration system. These cleaners also don't trap debris in the pool's filter so the filter doesn't need to be cleaned as often. Also, since pressure side pool cleaners won't clog up the pool's filter, they are ideal for pools that tend to get filled with larger debris such as twigs and leaves.

Robotic Pool Cleaners

Robotic pool cleaners are self-contained vacuum units that are powered by low-voltage electricity from a small transformer. These electrical pool cleaners don't require any installation and simply need to be plugged in to operate. Robotic pool cleaners have built-in, reusable filters which are easy to clean. Furthermore, since these pool cleaners operate independently from the pool's filtration system, they don't place any stress or resistance on the system, thereby increasing the system's life. While robotic pool cleaners tend to be more expensive than suction side or pressure side pool cleaners, they clean very effectively and often have a computer chip that allows them to diagnose internal problems and to become familiar with the shape of the pool.

Availability

In ground pool cleaners are available in many different models and brand names. Some of the leading manufacturers of pool cleaners include Zodiac, Polaris, and Hayward Pool Products. Other popular brand names include Aqua Products, Pentair Pool Products and Kreepy Krauly. All of these brands are widely available from a number of pool product distributors including Intheswim.com.