Choosing the Best Pool Vacuum

Before you purchase a vacuum, make sure you know the right type for your pool. One of the main considerations is the depth and length of the pool.

In-ground pool vacuums are designed to clean to a depth of up to 8 feet.

Above-ground pools typically reach a depth of anywhere from 4 feet to 4-1/2 feet. In-ground pool vacuums may be too powerful for an above-ground pool and can cause damage. A manual pool vacuum is adequate for most above-ground pools, but there are automatic pool cleaners available that will work as well.

A handheld pool vacuum features a vacuum head that attaches to a telescoping pole that’s fastened to your pool’s skimming basket with a vacuum hose. There’s also a vacuum skimmer plate that attaches to the hose to allow for a proper fit over the pool skimmer. Many vacuums come equipped with a vacuum head, pole and hose.

While a handheld pool vacuum will get the job done, it requires you to push it around in the water to clean up mulch, leaves, sand, algae and other debris, making it more labor intensive than an automatic pool vacuum (discussed below).

Benefits of Handheld Pool Vacuums

• They're efficient and affordable.
• They’re a good choice when you need to spot-clean a specific area of the pool.
• They’re easy to use, although they do require manual labor.
• They come in plug-in or battery-operated models.
• They’re powerful, often offering more suction power than many automatic pool vacuums.

Wand pool vacuums are perfect for removing dirt, leaves, sand and other small bits of debris. They come in handy when you want small jobs done quickly.

Benefits of Wand Pool Vacuums

• They're lightweight, hose free and easy to maneuver.
• Most models have a telescoping handle integrated into the unit.
• They come in a battery-powered pump or a hand-powered model that uses a pump action to draw in insects, gravel and other debris.
• They're designed for above-ground pools, spas and hot tubs.

When time is of the essence or you’re unwilling or unable to manually vacuum the pool, a robotic pool vacuum will do the work for you. Robotic pool vacuums are an efficient way to get the job done. They automatically clean the pool floor, walls and steps while filtering the water as it moves.

Robotic pool vacuums have two stand-alone motors — one that pulls in water to catch dirt, and the other that enables the unit to skim the surface of the pool.

Benefits of Robotic Pool Vacuums

• They're low-maintenance.
• They’re fast and efficient.
• They operate on electricity, not your pool’s pump or filter.
• They’re plug-and-play out of the box, making setup a breeze.
• They're self-contained units that collect the debris inside an easy-to-clean integrated filter.
• They circulate and filter the pool water, helping to cut down on the amount of chemical treatments.

To extend the life of a robotic pool cleaner, remove it from the pool after each use, rinse off well and store in a cool, dry place.

A suction pool vacuum does what its name implies. It connects to your pool’s skimmer or stand-alone suction line and uses pressure from the pool’s intake to suck debris from the bottom of the pool. As the debris is sucked up through the hose, it’s sent out through the pool’s filtration system into the skimmer basket. The suction action causes the vacuum to move about randomly in the pool.

Benefits of Suction Pool Vacuums

• They're long lasting and dependable.
• They’re an economical pool vacuum.
• They’re easy to use and maintain.

If you find that you have large leaves, tree branches, etc., that are difficult to vacuum, consider a leaf canister, which catches leaves and other debris and puts less of a strain on the skimmer basket.