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Pool maintenance can be an arduous task. However, with the right vacuum, you can keep your pool clean and swimmable with minimal effort on your part. To help you narrow down your choices, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best pool vacuums on Amazon. Here are our top recommendations.
Best For Leaf Cleanup
Poolmaster Big Sucker Swimming Pool Leaf Vacuum
- $579
- $699.99
- 17% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Has a manual design
- Weighs 1.82 pounds
- Works in above-ground and in-ground pools
What Customers Are Saying
Customers were happy that this pool vacuum was lightweight and easy to use. They also appreciated how much debris it removed. However, some users struggled to control where it went. Others said that the bag sometimes fell into the pool once it got full.
Best Pressure-Side
Polaris In-Ground Pool Cleaner
- $579
- $699.99
- 17% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Has an automatic design
- Weighs 14 pounds
- Works in in-ground pools
- Comes with a 10-year frame warranty, with the remaining parts being protected for one year
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers found installing this vacuum to be a breeze. They also said that it picked up large volumes of debris. Select customers left negative reviews because it couldn’t collect fine debris.
Best Suction-Side
Zodiac G3 Automatic Pool Cleaner
- $324
- $349.99
- 7% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Has an automatic design
- Weighs 17.91 pounds
- Works in in-ground pools
- Comes with a 90-day warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Those who were happy with this pool vacuum said that it assembled quickly, operated easily, and suctioned powerfully. However, some unhappy customers thought that its bulky design made it difficult to maneuver.
Best Handheld
Intex Rechargeable Handheld Pool Vacuum
- $71.99
- $167.99
- 57% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Has a manual design
- Weighs 6.54 pounds
- Works in above-ground pools
- Comes with a one-year warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that this vacuum’s lightweight build made it easy to handle. They also liked how long it held a charge for. Some users did complain about how it took a long time to recharge and didn’t effectively clean larger pools.
Best Robotic
Hayward Navigator Pro Pool Cleaner
- $349
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Has an automatic design
- Weighs 17.71 pounds
- Works in in-ground pools
- Comes with a 90-day warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Those who gave this vacuum positive reviews said that it was durable and long-lasting. They also praised its programmed steering that kept it from getting stuck. On the other hand, customers didn’t like how difficult it was to clean.
Buyer’s Guide
To purchase the right pool vacuum, you must understand how its features and specifications impact its performance and user experience. Here are three factors to consider as you continue your search.
Vacuum Type
Pool vacuums are either manual or automatic. With a manual pool vacuum, you have to push the vacuum head across the pool’s floor and walls to collect debris. While manual pool vacuums are more affordable than their automatic counterparts, they’re usually less powerful.
Automatic vacuums, meanwhile, are attached to a power supply that propels the machine along the pool’s floor and walls for hassle-free cleaning. Automatic vacuums are usually equipped with adjustable cleaning settings.
Pool Size
Some vacuums aren’t compatible with deep or long pools. For example, one model may work in above-ground pools that are no bigger than 18-20 feet, while another can clean pools that are as large as 50 feet long.
Hose or Cable Length
Make sure your selected model comes with a hose or cable that’s long enough to reach your pool’s floor. An automatic vacuum comes with its power cord, while a manual one may or may not come with the telescopic pole that’s needed to maneuver it.
How To Keep Your Outdoor Pool Clean
Having an outdoor pool can be a nice treat for you and your family in the warmer months, but make no mistake—it takes a lot of work to maintain. The reality is, ignoring your pool for even a few days can make it unswimmable. However, with your vacuum and a few other simple steps, you can keep your pool clean.
Cover your pool
You can keep your pool uncovered during peak summer when you plan to use it multiple times per week. However, once the temperature drops, cover your pool to minimize how much work you have to do when next season rolls around.
Scrub your pool
Scrub your pool every day or every other day to help avoid algae buildup along the walls. A vacuum can be a big help with scrubbing, but you may also need to occasionally scrub tough grime manually.
Shock your pool
Shocking is when you quickly increase the water’s chlorine level to kill bacteria, algae, and other pathogens. We recommend shocking your pool once a week and after heavy use, such as a child’s birthday party.
Check your chemical levels
Check your pool’s pH level daily to ensure that it’s between 7.2 and 7.6. Also be aware of the cyanuric acid level (between 30 and 50 milligrams per liter) and the calcium hardness level (between 220 and 350 parts per million or lower for pools with vinyl siding).
Clean your pool filter
Check your pool’s filter routinely to ensure that there isn’t anything clogging it and preventing it from doing its job. Clean the filter once a week and its pipes once a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I run my pool vacuum?
If you use your pool daily, we recommend cleaning it once a day or every other day. If you use your pool infrequently, you can vacuum it once a week.
How do I remove floating debris from my pool’s surface?
You can use a skimmer to remove floating debris. A skimmer is a net with a long pole that reaches the center of the pool from where you’re standing on the side.
Should I brush my pool before vacuuming it?
Yes. Brushing your pool’s floor and walls dislodges any stuck-on algae and debris for easy vacuuming.
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We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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