Above Ground Pool Cleaners

Above ground pool cleaners are vacuum cleaners designed specifically to remove dirt and debris from above ground swimming pools.

Background

Invented in South Africa in 1974 by Ferdinand Chauvier, pool cleaners are now a pool maintenance staple. Designed to save time and make pool cleaning easier, pool vacuums remove debris, dirt and other sediment from the water and the bottom and sides of pools, creating a cleaner and safer swimming environment.

As their name suggests, above ground pool cleaners are specifically designed to be used for cleaning above ground pools. These cleaners come in a range of different styles and brand names and are available from many online and in-store distributors. Some popular brands and distributors of pool cleaners include Kreepy Krauly, Baracuda, Polaris and Intheswim.com.

Above ground pool cleaners make it easy to clean hard to reach places and can be used to maintain many different types of above ground swimming pools. Whether you have a flat bottomed above ground pool or one with a dished bottom, there are pool cleaners available that will make swimming pool maintenance fast and easy.

In addition to removing dirt and debris from swimming pools, some above ground pool cleaners also help to improve the distribution of heat and chemicals throughout the water. As a result, pool cleaners not only keep swimming pools clean and safe, they also promote a more balanced environment.

Types

There are three main types of above ground pool cleaners, each of which functions in a slightly different way. These pool cleaners are classified according to the drive mechanism incorporated into the vacuum. The three main categories of above ground pool cleaners include suction side cleaners, pressure side cleaners and robotic pool cleaners.

Suction Side Pool Cleaners

Suction side pool cleaners for above ground swimming pools attach via a hose to either the pool's skimmer or special vacuum port. When the filter pump is running, the water being pumped out of the swimming pool creates suction on the bottom of the cleaner so that dirt and debris will be drawn into the cleaner. Once the debris is inside the cleaner, it is sent through the hose to the pool's pump where it gets filtered out of the water. In addition to creating this suction, the pumping water also provides the locomotive force for suction side pool cleaners, allowing them to automatically move around the swimming pool.

Pressure Side Pool Cleaners

Pressure side pool cleaners attach to the return or pressure side of your pool's circulation system, which returns clean, filtered water to your swimming pool. The water pressure created by the outflow from the return creates what is known as the venturi effect. This force powers the suction and locomotion of the cleaner. The debris and sediment that pressure side pool cleaners remove from the pool is then collected in an attached bag.

These above ground pool cleaners are also available with an internal hydraulic power source which makes the cleaner even more powerful and effective. Pressure side pool cleaners for above ground swimming pools are particularly advantageous in the sense that they don't exert extra pressure upon the pool's filtration system and they also promote circulation of clean water throughout the pool.

Robotic Pool Cleaners

Robotic pool cleaners are also sometimes known as electrical cleaners. Rather than being powered by the pool's pump or filtration system, these cleaners run on low-voltage electricity delivered to the machine by a power cord. The electricity provides the necessary power for both the suction and the locomotion, and debris drawn into the cleaner is strained through the machine's built-in filter.

Since robotic pool cleaners contain their own filters, the pool's regular pump and filter don't need to run as much. This not only saves electricity, it also extends the life of the filtration system. Furthermore, as robotic pool cleaners operate apart from the pool's pump and filter, they exert no pressure or resistance on the system. Many of these pool cleaners also come with a remote control, making them exceptionally convenient to use and operate.

Availability/Brands

Above ground pool cleaners are available from a variety of different well-known and respected manufacturers. Some popular brand names include Kreepy Krauly, Polaris, Zodiac, Aqua Products, Pentair Pool Products and Hayward Pool Products. These and other brands are available from many different distributors, including online distributors such as Intheswim.com.