Pressure Side Pool Cleaners
SwimmingPoolSteve.com is user-supported. In order to keep this resource about pools and spas available for free to all readers I earn commissions for purchases made through links on this page. For more information see the full disclaimer page. By using this website you are agreeing to the terms and conditions.
Pressure side pool cleaners are the unique type of pool vacuum that uses pressure from a dedicated pump in order to drive itself around your pool. Pressure side cleaners represent the very beginning of the automatic pool vacuum which today has evolved to include robotic pool vacuums. While there are new options available the popularity of pressure side vacuums is still going strong. In some areas names like "Polaris" are synonymous with "pool cleaner" and easily 75% of inground pools utilize pressure side vacuums for their cleaning system of choice. There is no actual limitation with pressure side vacuums versus suction side vacuum or robotic pool vacuums, and you can use a pressure side vacuum on any pool in any area, but they tend to be popular in certain geographic areas.
Benefits of pressure side pool cleaners - One of the main reasons for the popularity of pressure side pool cleaners is how effective they are at cleaning the pool. Suction cleaners and robotic pool cleaners tend to be slower moving when compared to the relative free-swimming pressure side cleaners. Having an entire pool pump dedicated to a single pressure line means that the vacuum will have power to spare and easily can agitate any debris and navigate any size of pool. Pressure cleaners help your pool filtration system to work more effectively and being first-to-market has allowed the product to establish deep roots with swimming pool owners who have always used pressure side cleaners.
Drawbacks of pressure side pool cleaners - While effective, having to purchase a dedicated pump is not ideal for a budget pool installation. While a pressure side cleaner could be used as part of the pressure side from the filtration pump, most typically you will find them installed with a dedicated pump system. Single speed pool pumps, even smaller ones like typically found with a pressure side pool cleaner system, use quite a lot of electricity. This is why variable speed pool pumps have taken the swimming pool industry by storm. Running a single speed electric motor for an hour, like for a pool cleaner, uses as much energy as the same size pump running at 1/4 speed for 64 hours. While a pool cleaner pump does not need to run all day, even an hour or two of running would use as much or more electricity as your entire filtration system would use in 24 hours to filter your pool water. If you have a system that uses your filter pump to power a pressure side cleaner then this uses less electricity than having a two pump system, but does put an appreciable load on your main filtration pump which is typically large and fairly expensive.
Most popular pressure side pool cleaners - While you will recognize many of the brand names for pressure side cleaners in this list, the industry is moving towards a system where new models are released every few years with constant design revisions, improvements, and new features to attract more sales. Do you need to get a new pool cleaner every three years to benefit from the latest and greatest features? No, probably not. A reasonable expectation of service life from a pressure side cleaner purchased today would be between six to 12 years, with the most defining factor of longevity being how well you keep the water in your pool balanced. This is especially important if you just leave the cleaner sitting in the water 24/7.
Polaris Vac-Sweep 280
Hose length: 31 feet
Booster pump needed: Yes
Features: Economy model
Buy from Amazon.com: Polaris Vac-Sweep 280
Buy from PoolSuppliesCanada.ca: Polaris Vac-Sweep 280
Polaris Vac-Sweep 360
Hose length: 31 feet
Booster pump needed: No
Features: Does not require dedicated pump
Buy from Amazon.com: Polaris Vac-Sweep 360
Buy from PoolSuppliesCanada.ca: Polaris Vac-Sweep 360
Polaris Vac-Sweep 380
Hose length: 31 feet
Booster pump needed: Yes
Features: All wheel belt drive
Buy from Amazon.com: Polaris Vac-Sweep 380
Buy from PoolSuppliesCanada.ca: Polaris Vac-Sweep 380
Polaris Vac-Sweep 3900
Hose length: 31 feet
Booster pump needed: Yes
Features: All wheel drive / stainless steel drive chain
Buy from Amazon.com: Polaris Vac-Sweep 3900
Pentair 360228 Kreepy Krauly Racer
Hose length: 30 feet
Booster pump needed: Yes
Features: LED light for night lighting
Buy from Amazon.com: Pentair 360228 Kreepy Krauly Racer
Pentair Kreepy Krauly Legend
Hose length: 30 feet
Booster pump needed: Yes
Features: White bottom cleaner for light color pools
Buy from Amazon.com: Pentair Kreepy Krauly Legend
Pentair Kreepy Krauly Legend II
Hose length: 30 feet
Booster pump needed: No
Features: Does not require dedicated booster pump
Buy from Amazon.com: Pentair Kreepy Krauly Legend II
Pentair Kreepy Krauly Platinum
Hose length: 33 feet
Booster pump needed: Yes
Features: Best for heavy debris loads / leaves
Buy from Amazon.com: Pentair Kreepy Krauly Platinum
Polaris Vac-Sweep 65
Hose length: 24 feet
Booster pump needed: No
Features: Entry level / smaller pools
Buy from Amazon.com: Polaris Vac-Sweep 65
Polaris Vac-Sweep 165
Hose length: 32 feet
Booster pump needed: No
Features: Entry level / longer hose
Buy from Amazon.com: Polaris Vac-Sweep 165
Hayward TriVac 500 Pressure Cleaner
Hose length: 30 feet
Booster pump needed: Yes
Features: Designed for safe use in vinyl pools (works in all pools)
Buy from Amazon.com: Hayward TriVac 500 Pressure Cleaner
Top content from www.SwimmingPoolSteve.com
Pool and spa chemistry crash course
New pool owner guide
The Swimming Pool Steve blog
Have a question - ask Steve
Swimming Pool Steve is an award winning, second generation swimming pool and spa specialist from Ontario Canada. With over 10,000,000 views on the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel, winner of the 2018 Pool & Spa Industry Leadership award and author of hundreds of pool and spa articles both online and in print Steve is committed to helping pool and spa owners as well as pool and spa industry workers learn more about the technical side of building, renovating, repairing and maintaining all types of swimming pools and spas. Follow Swimming Pool Steve on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Endorsed Brands From Swimming Pool Steve
The following links and products are to affiliates of the Swimming Pool Steve website. These are brands, products and services hand selected by Steve for endorsement. Please note that these endorsements can include monetary compensation, affiliate links and referral fees to Swimming Pool Steve, however there is zero additional cost to you should you use one of these products or services. Income generated from these links helps to keep this pool and spa resource available for everyone. To have your product or service considered for listing here as an endorsed brand email SwimmingPoolSteve@gmail.com.
Amazon Disclosure Statement - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
www.ClearComfort.com
Clear Comfort's patented hydroxyl-based advanced oxidation systems (AOP) represent the pinnacle of water care technology available to pool and spa owners. To put a complex technology simply, if you are looking for the best possible water care system for your pool or spa then you are looking for a Clear Comfort AOP system.
- Swimming Pool Steve
www.PoolPartsToGo.com
New Black + Decker variable speed pumps are available online from www.PoolPartsToGo.com and they are a drop in replacement for many popular pump models including Pentair Superflo and Hayward Super Pumps. With an adjustable platform base, union connections included and a very strong warranty these pumps offer an impressive value to pool owners.
- Swimming Pool Steve
www.PoolSupplyWarehouse.com
Pool Supply Warehouse has a large stock of swimming pool equipment, chemicals, maintenance items and consumables needed for caring for your swimming pool. They offer fast shipping and by shopping with this retailer you are helping to support Swimming Pool Steve directly.
- Swimming Pool Steve
www.PoolSuppliesCanada.ca
When it comes to ordering pool and spa supplies online in Canada www.PoolSuppliesCanada.ca is by far the best option. They carry everything from chemicals to replacement pumps to entire pool kits, with free shipping options and more "in stock" items than any other Canadian online retailer.
- Swimming Pool Steve