Automatic pool cleaners: the three families
An automatic pool cleaner moves around the pool on its own, clearing the floor and, in many cases, the walls. There are three families, and they differ in how they are powered and how well they clean.
Suction-side cleaners
A suction-side cleaner attaches to the skimmer or a dedicated suction line and uses the pool pump's own suction to move around and pick up debris into the pool's filter. They are simple and economical, but they depend on the pool's circulation system, load the pool filter, and tend to clean less thoroughly.
Pressure-side cleaners
A pressure-side cleaner uses water pressure, often supplied by a dedicated booster pump, to move and to collect debris in its own bag, sparing the pool filter. They handle larger debris well, but they too rely on the pool's system and a booster pump.
Robotic cleaners
A robotic cleaner is a self-contained robot with its own motor, drive, and filter canister, completely independent of the pool's pump and filter. It plugs into a standard outlet through a low-voltage supply, or runs cordless on a battery, navigates the pool intelligently, and scrubs rather than just collects. Robotic cleaners clean the most thoroughly and are the premium choice; they cost more up front but save the pool pump work and clean better.
Corded and cordless robotic cleaners
Robotic cleaners themselves now split into two generations. A corded robotic cleaner plugs in through a safe low-voltage power supply, with a floating cable, and offers unlimited run time, which suits larger pools, though the cord can tangle. A cordless robotic cleaner runs on a rechargeable battery with no cable at all, moving freely with nothing to tangle, charged between uses; its run time is set by the battery, so it suits standard pool sizes well.
Both are excellent. The corded robot is the choice for unlimited-runtime cleaning, especially on larger pools; the cordless robot is the choice for convenience and freedom from cord tangles. WETYR Pools reviews specific robotic cleaners in depth in our product reviews section, covering both generations.
Manual pool vacuums
Even with an automatic cleaner, a manual vacuum has its place, particularly for spot-cleaning and for recovering a pool after heavy debris or an algae bloom.
A manual pool vacuum consists of a vacuum head that connects to a telescopic pole and a vacuum hose, with the hose connected to the skimmer or a dedicated vacuum line so the pool pump provides the suction. Vacuum heads come in triangular, weighted, and flexible styles for different pool surfaces. A skim-vac or vacuum plate adapts the skimmer for vacuuming. Manual vacuuming is more work than an automatic cleaner, but it gives precise control, which is why it remains a core tool, especially in a green-to-clean recovery.
Brushes, nets, and poles
The simplest pool tools are also among the most important, because they reach what cleaners and vacuums do not.
Brushes
A pool brush, on a telescopic pole, is essential. Brushing the walls, steps, waterline, and corners disrupts algae before it can take hold and lifts settled dirt so the filter can capture it. Nylon brushes suit most finishes; stainless steel brushes are used carefully on plaster for stubborn spots; tile and algae brushes target specific areas. No automatic cleaner replaces regular brushing.
Nets, skimmers, and poles
A leaf skimmer or leaf net on a pole removes floating leaves and debris before they sink and stain, and a deep leaf rake handles heavy loads. A leaf canister or leaf vac helps clear large quantities. The telescopic pole, or telepole, is the universal handle that carries the brush, the net, and the vacuum head. These basic tools are inexpensive and indispensable.
Matching a cleaner to your pool
The right cleaner depends on the pool as much as on preference. Pool size matters: a large pool needs a cleaner rated for its length, and with a cordless robot, a battery run time that can cover the whole pool on one charge. Pool shape and surface matter too, some cleaners handle steps, tight corners, and certain finishes better than others. And the kind of debris a yard produces is a real factor: a property under heavy leaf fall benefits from a cleaner with a large-capacity canister or bag, while one that mostly collects fine dust calls for fine filtration.
It also helps to be honest about how the cleaner will be used. An owner who wants to drop in a robot and press one button is best served by a straightforward model; an owner who wants app control and scheduling should look at a smart cordless robot. Matching the cleaner to the pool and to the owner is what makes the difference between a cleaner that genuinely earns its place and one that disappoints. WETYR Pools reviews specific models in depth in the product reviews section to help with exactly this choice.
Building a pool cleaning kit
A practical pool cleaning kit combines the categories. A quality automatic cleaner, ideally a robotic cleaner, handles the routine floor and wall cleaning. A telescopic pole with a brush handles the brushing that disrupts algae and lifts dirt. A net handles surface debris. And a manual vacuum stands ready for spot-cleaning and for recovery work. Together these cover the full range of pool cleaning.
It is worth being clear about what cleaning equipment does and does not do: it keeps the surfaces clean, but clear, safe, healthy water also depends on balanced chemistry, a healthy filter, and good circulation. Cleaning equipment is one part of pool care, not the whole of it. WETYR Pools handles the complete picture, the chemistry, the filtration, the circulation, and the cleaning, through our maintenance and service work, and a good robotic cleaner is a perfect complement to a professional service plan.