If you don't want to manually vacuum your pool, an automatic cleaner could be the answer to saving you some time and pain. There are three main types: suction, pressure and robotic cleaners.

Suction Cleaners

Suction cleaners are the most common and probably most popular of the automatic pool cleaners due to their ease of use and reliability. They use the existing suction of your pool pump, and can easily be plugged into your skimmer or designated cleaner line. The main purpose of suction cleaners is to clean the bottom of your swimming pool. Some manufacturers advertise that their cleaners will help clean the sides of the walls, but we have found that suction cleaners are usually limited to the bottom of the pool. These units are entirely dependent upon the suction from the pool pump to propel them.

There is some variation among these cleaners depending on your pool type and location. Most manufacturers divide their cleaners between concrete (gunite) pools and vinyl liner pools so it is important to make sure you choose the right model based on the surface type of your pool. For desert climates where sand can become a problem, Hayward makes a Desert model in both their Navigator and Pool Vac Ultra cleaners. This suction cleaner is designed specifically to handle sand better than the standard models.

Several models also have an optional leaf basket that is attached to the hose and catches leaves and larger debris, keeping it out of the pump and filter. This basket can be easily detached and emptied once full. This is a great accessory for pools in heavily wooded areas that get bombarded with acorns, twigs, berries, larger leaves, etc.

We have had good results with the Hayward pool cleaners which come in two slightly different body styles. The Navigator is more square and flat while the Pool Vac Ultra is more rounded. The Pool Vac Ultra has been reported to work a little better in the corners of the pool but both cleaners have the same hose and internal parts.

Pressure Cleaners

Pressure Cleaners use the pressure side of the pump to help propel them around the swimming pool. They are becoming more popular however these cleaners usually require their own booster pump and also have debris bags that need to be cleaned and eventually replaced. These bags come in different grades based on the type of debris in the pool. Fine mesh bags will trap small particles like sand and silt while all-purpose and leaf bags will catch larger debris. Pressure cleaners provide cleaning that is comparable to suction cleaners and clean mainly the bottom of the swimming pool. Hayward claims that their Phantom Hayward pool cleaner beats out Polaris and Pentair's Letro line when it comes to climbing walls and steps.

Most pressure cleaners require a booster pump which is typically a ¾ horse power pump that is dedicated for use with the cleaner alone. The booster pump allows you to operate the pressure cleaner without taking any suction away from your main pool pump. The addition of the booster pump does mean pressure cleaners require a more involved installation than either suction or robotic cleaners. An exception to this rule is the Polaris 360 which is designed by the manufacturer to work without a booster pump.

Robotic Cleaners

For the best pool coverage, robotic pool cleaners are the most thorough of the three types of cleaners. These self-contained units have an internal motor and are powered by electricity so they do not rely on your pool pump or a booster pump. For in-ground pools, robotic cleaners will clean the bottom and also the side walls. The robotic cleaners designed for above ground pools typically clean only the bottom as the walls are not strong enough to withstand the vibration of the cleaner. The only down side of this type of cleaner is that you will have to change the debris bag or cartridge. This however is much quicker than having to clean the sides of your pool. As with the pressure cleaners, the debris bag or cartridge can be cleaned and reused until a replacement is needed.

Some people are a little uneasy about robotic cleaners due to the electrical power supply. These cleaners run on normal household current of 120 volts but have a transformer that drops the voltage to 24 volts at the unit. This means that the electrical current going to the cleaner is lower when it actually enters the pool. This is considered to be safe for use in water however if concerns persist, you can simply clear the pool area and not allow any bathers while the cleaner is in operation.

Robotic cleaners use either a filter bag or a cartridge inside to catch debris. Both of these internal filters work well and there are advantages to both types. The filter bags are machine washable (without detergent) which is a nice feature. However, before going in your washer, you would still need to empty the bag and rinse off any large debris. The cartridge style filter is easier to just pull out and hose off. The standard filter bag that comes with the cleaner is designed to handle finer debris like sand and silt and typically last about three years. For Dolphin brand cleaners, there are disposable filter bags available which are designed to handle larger debris like leaves and twigs. These are recommended for use when opening the pool in the spring or closing the pool in the fall. The disposable bags last for two to three cleanings.

The scrubber brush is another replaceable part of the robotic cleaner. This comes into contact with the pool surface and typically lasts three to five years. The manufacturer recommends cleaning the scrubber brush periodically with a mild dish detergent to prolong the life of the brush.

Many of the robotic cleaner models on the market have an optional rolling caddy which conveniently stores the cleaner and makes it easy to move. Some of the higher-end Dolphin models include the caddy as well as a remote control option that allows you to direct the cleaner to particular problem areas in the pool for spot cleaning.

We recommend two Dolphin pool cleaners, the Diagnostic and the Explorer. For the price, the Diagnostic is a great value and has a six-hour cleaning cycle that will cover the pool floor, walls and waterline of pools up to 20' x 40'. The Diagnostic has to be manually turned on and off at the controller. The Explorer cleaner covers the entire pool also and includes three programmable cleaning cycles which allow you to set how many times per week the unit will turn on and off automatically. The Explorer's longer cord will clean pools up to 50' in length. It also carries a five-year warranty on the drive train which, over time, could make up for the Explorer's slightly higher price tag.

Visit our Automatic Pool Cleaners store at http://www.inyopools.com/category_automatic_cleaner.aspx