jvc

Has anyone bought a swimming pool cleaner robot for their outdoor pool? If so, can anyone recommend a make, model, company etc? Also pro's and cons to them as opposed to manual ones. Casto do them, but no reviews which doesn't help, and also judging on how rubbish their products are will keep a wide birth from them I think!

dennerlymum

HI

we got a cheapish one last year - we are not very impressed - it clears gen waste, but doesnt get really clean and doesnt get into edges and corners. We second clean with our old very powerful hand held cleaner

jvc

Yes, corners aren't good with one of those, but our pool gets messy so quick. No good getting one if you have to double up with a traditional method. It is like those useless robot vacuum cleaners!

Tweedpipe

Can't help with pool cleaners. But (off topic) we bought a latest generation robot vacuum cleaner 3 months ago after having detailed all possible reviews and consumer magazines. It's really brilliant! Agree though, most appear to be a waste of money, so choose with care.

InVinoVeritas

JVC do you want a pool robot which is self-powered or one that runs off a prise robot (suction) or surpresseur (pressure).

TP I would be very interested to know which make/model of household robot cleaner you got as I was thinking of getting one myself.

jvc

On the subject of robot vacuum cleaners...you obviously don't have pet hair to contend with Not sure on the subject of pool cleaners, either really...depends on reviews and recommendations.

Peabrain

Hi,
I have a Polaris pool cleaner, which was supplied with the pool when I bought the house. It's probably over ten years old, and is still going strong. It is a simple piece of kit, working off pressure from its own pump, separately from the pool's filtration pump. However the two have to be on together. A new one would appear to cost in the region of 350€. Personally I find it does quite a good job, especially in the spring when it manages to get rid of loads of leaves, grunge and the occasional frog that have accumulated over the winter, despite the cover. I leave it on for a couple of hours a night during the off-peak electricity period and it bumbles around quite happily, very rarely getting stuck. The result isn't perfect, especially in corners but it's more than satisfactory. There is a bag that has to be emptied once a day or so; it also picks up quite a bit of the dust that tends to sink to the bottom without it slipping through the mesh. If it does get stuck this may indicate wear in the transmission system or a problem with the jet that propels it around.
Since having a pool, I've discovered that items related to it tend to be expensive for what they are; no doubt based on the premise that pool-owners must be bloated plutocrats, so they can afford such footling pleasures.
Still, it'll soon be time to get the covers off, give it a clean, fill it up and get swimming.
PB

InVinoVeritas

No it really depends what is already installed in your pool. If you have a connection in your pool for a robot then it's important to know whether it sucks or blows (if you'll forgive the expression). If you have no in-pool connection then you'll need a robot "autonome" which is much more expensive.

Peabrain

Yes, I quite agree. The one I have has a separate (small) pump and is plugged into an existing outlet in the side of the pool. It must have been built in when the pool was constructed.

jvc

Invinoveritas- we have one that sucks

InVinoVeritas

Haha! I used to have a Zodiac Baracuda G2 which I was very happy with.

Advantages: no separate pump so can be left running all the time the filtration is on; can be stood on without breaking (kids broke my Polaris twice by standing on it); quiet; cheap

Disadvantages: misses some areas and needs to be "guided" there: leaves are caught in the pump filter which needs emptying from time to time

I think the G2 has been replaced by the G3 which I assume is similar

PS you may need to increase suction by closing a skimmer valve or the sump valve.

Tweedpipe

JVC/IVV:- to address your queries (with apologies to the OP)........

With a large dog who frequently sheds very short, fine hair, one of the top priorities in our choice for a robotic vacuum cleaner was one that was particularly efficient in pet hair removal etc. And imho it does this very well indeed. Note:- we have no carpet throughout the house so this may be a significant point in our favour.
Without directly spelling out the make and model we chose, for those interested it's the second model reviewed in THIS link.
We purchased from Amazon.fr which gave a significant saving over a high street store.
Bottom line is we're very satisfied, as it lives up to advertised promises. Rather than using the programming facility to set-up virtual walls to prevent the robot from 'escaping', we simply close the doors in the room being cleaned. On completion, it's quite uncanny how the little blighter finds it's own way home to neatly park itself back onto the docking station to 'sleep' or recharge as required. One additional comment, we sometimes wish the dust 'bag' was just a little larger.
They certainly don't replace manual vacuum cleaners, but they supplement them admirably.

loy loy

Our robot pump broke last year. How I miss it. Cleaning that pool daily with a brush is a nightmare.

Chatter Static

It's a hard life cleaning a pool in the sun.

loy loy

yes I should think about my UK life in those instances.