There are many ways to maintain your pool.  Some simple methods for keeping your pool clean include using a pool cover, pool filters, or hiring a professional pool service.  Fiberglass pools are known for being easier to maintain than other types of inground pools (except of course the inflatable pool!).  However, one of the easiest and most effective methods is to purchase an automatic pool cleaner. Some of these even work on heated water for hot tubs or heated ppols!

If you are in the market for a new pool cleaner, you may be overwhelmed by the number of options available to individual pool owners. With automatic pool cleaners available at every price range, from $100.00 for the simplest model, to $1,000.00 and higher for more complex models, this new purchase will necessarily require some background work before a make and model can be settled on.  Even though they are pricey, inground pool prices these days will give you an incentive to protect your investment.  The following article will attempt to distinguish some of the features available on the newest swimming pool cleaner models.

When looking for the right pool cleaner to suit your needs, there are several factors that need to be considered. Price range is one the most obvious. Most swimming pool cleaners can be purchased for between $200.00 and $600.00 USD, with more or less complex and comprehensive models available for higher and lower prices.

Regardless of your desired price range, an automatic pool cleaner is an investment, and should be treated as such. Look for brands that offer warranties and product support. Also look for pool cleaner brands that have a good reputation for quality, effective, and long-lasting products. Some manufacturers even feature trade-in or trade-up programs, allowing their customers to upgrade to one of their newer, more efficient models, and ensuring a secure and loyal customer base.

There are dozens of brands of pool cleaners, many of which produce several models. Popular pool cleaner brands include the following: Aquabot, AquaVac, Zodiac Barracuda, Manta Ray, Dirt Devil, Kreepy Krawly, Letro, Polaris, Dolphin, Avenger, Smartpool, StaRite Lil’ Shark, and Totally Hayward. All of the above-mentioned brands have their advantages, and should be investigated before a final decision is made.

Three of the most popular brands however, are Barracuda, Dolphin, and Polaris. All three of these brands have excellent reputations, and offer a variety of models to suit every price range and pool cleaning requirement. In point form, here are some of their attractive pool cleaner features:

The Barracuda Pool Cleaner

• Boasts an obsessive compulsive clean
• Five different models, including the X7 Quattro, the G2 and G3, the S3 Robotic, and the Ranger
• All models are sleek and attractive designs, that can access even tight, hard-to-reach corners
• All models effectively climb walls and sharp inclines, in order to cover all available surfaces
• One to two year warranty offered on all products

The Dolphin Pool Cleaner

• Produced by Maytronics
• Multiple models of both residential and commercial robotic pool cleaners; eight for residential use; four for commercial use
• All models are diagnostic and self programming; they scan the pool for its dimensions, and calculate the most efficient cleaning patterns
• Each model features a self-contained filter bag
• Suitable for hexagonal and round pools, as well as conventional square and rectangular shapes
• Price ranges between $600.00 and $1,270.00 for residential models, and $1,300.00 to $4,800.00 for commercial models

The Polaris Pool Cleaner

• Nine models total; four pressure cleaners with booster pumps, four without, and one suction cleaner
• Sporty design of all models features all wheel drive wheels that are excellent at climbing all kinds of walls. Wheels also are reversible with back-up valves, providing and excellent solution to getting out of tight corners and avoiding obstacles
• Filter bags on each model are removable by twist and release mechanism
• The Polaris 360 pool Cleaner is an advanced pressure-side automatic pool cleaner that does not require a separate booster pump. It is powered by the pool’s filtered water pressure, and sweeps, scrubs, and a pool vacuum for the floor and walls while also dealing with larger debris such as pebbles and leaves

When choosing the right pool cleaner for your needs, it is important to distinguish the many different types of cleaners available on the market. The specifications between inground swimming pools cleaners and above ground cleaners are different, and although some cleaners work on all pool surfaces, certain models may be intended specifically for pool liners made from vinyl, gunite walls, and so on.

Ensure that you are researching the appropriate models for your type of pool. Another distinction that may affect your decision include whether or not the cleaner is attached to a suction hose, or is a self-contained robotic pool cleaner with an attached filter bag.

Although the initial cost of a pool cleaner may seem prohibitive (especially compared with the much simpler way to protect your pool from outside debris: swimming pool covers), you will likely find it to be a worthwhile investment. With most popular brands offering reasonable warranties on their products, combined with their combined convenient and time saving properties, you will find that your pool cleaner has paid itself off in no time at all.