Robotic vs suction pool cleaners

Illustration.

Compared

How to choose

• Lots of leaves? A robotic cleaner's bag keeps leaves out of your filter.
• Want the lowest buying cost? A suction cleaner.
• Want walls and the waterline scrubbed? Most robotic cleaners do it.
• Running costs matter? The SA Government notes a pool typically uses 2,000 to 3,000 kWh of electricity a year, mostly the pump, so a cleaner that needs the pump running adds to that.

Maple's tip

Whatever cleaner you use, still brush the steps and corners by hand once a week. Algae starts where cleaners do not reach.

How a suction cleaner works

A suction cleaner plugs into the skimmer box or a dedicated suction line with a long hose. The pool pump pulls water through the cleaner, and that flow moves the cleaner around the floor and walls, sucking up dirt and leaves on the way. Everything it picks up goes back through the pump basket and into the filter. Suction cleaners are the cheapest type to buy, have few moving parts, and run whenever the pump runs, so there is no extra power cost. The trade-offs are that they rely on your pump and filter, they fill the pump basket and filter faster, and they can get stuck on steps, ladders and drains, or miss areas in pools with unusual shapes.

How a pressure cleaner works

Pressure cleaners connect to a return line, often with a booster pump, and use water pressure to drive the cleaner and push debris into a bag on the cleaner itself. Because the debris is caught in the bag, the pool's filter has less work to do. They are good with leaves and larger debris, but a booster pump adds purchase cost and power use. They are less common in Australian backyard pools than suction and robotic cleaners.

How a robotic cleaner works

A robotic cleaner has its own motor and filter and plugs into a low-voltage power supply beside the pool, or runs on a rechargeable battery on newer models. It drives itself around the floor, walls and often the waterline, scrubbing with brushes and trapping dirt in its own filter bag or cartridge. It does not use the pool pump or filter, so the pump can run on a shorter or quieter schedule, and the filter stays cleaner. Robots usually clean more thoroughly and quickly than suction cleaners and cope better with fine dirt, but they cost more to buy, need their own filter emptied after each cycle, and have more parts that can wear out.

Running costs compared

A suction cleaner adds no electricity of its own, but it needs the pump running while it cleans, often for longer than the pump would otherwise run, and it loads the filter, which means more frequent backwashing or cartridge cleaning. A robotic cleaner uses its own small motor for a few hours per cycle, a modest amount of power, and lets the main pump run less. In many pools the total running cost is similar or lower with a robot, especially with a variable speed pump on a short schedule. Parts are the other running cost: suction cleaners need new hoses, diaphragms and skirts now and then; robots need brushes, tracks and sometimes a motor or power supply over their life.

What each does to your filter

Every bit of dirt a suction cleaner picks up ends in the pump basket and the filter. On a pool with lots of leaves or sand, that can mean emptying the pump basket often and backwashing or cleaning the cartridge more frequently. Robots keep the dirt in their own filter, so the pool's filter stays cleaner. Pressure cleaners catch debris in their bag. If your filter is small or already struggles, a robot or pressure cleaner takes load off it.

Pool shape and surface

Suction cleaners work well in simple rectangular pools with a flat floor and gentle transitions. Freeform pools, deep ends with steep slopes, large steps and ledges can confuse them. Robots map or bounce around more systematically and many climb walls and clean the waterline. Surface matters too: pebble and tiled pools need cleaners with suitable treads or brushes; vinyl and fibreglass need gentle brushes. Check the cleaner maker's list of suitable surfaces.

Leaves and trees

If your pool sits under trees, leaves will be the biggest job. Suction cleaners can clog on large leaves and fill the skimmer and pump baskets fast. Robots with large debris baskets cope better but still fill. A leaf canister in line with a suction cleaner's hose, a leaf rake for heavy drops, and a pool cover during leaf season all help. Pressure cleaners with large bags are also strong on leaves.

Looking after a pool cleaner

Suction cleaners: check the hose for cracks and leaks, which reduce suction, replace worn skirts and diaphragms, and keep the leaf canister and skimmer basket clear.

Robotic cleaners: empty and rinse the filter after every cycle, check brushes and tracks for wear, keep the cable untangled (most have a swivel), store the robot out of the sun, and never run it out of the water. Lift it out by the handle, not the cable.

Both: remove the cleaner before adding large doses of chemicals or shocking the pool, and before swimming.

Which cleaner suits you

Buying tips

Check the warranty length and what it covers, especially the motor and power supply on robots. Buy from a supplier who stocks spare parts and services the brand locally. Make sure the cable or hose is long enough for your pool's size and shape. Read whether the robot needs a caddy for storage, and whether it has a timer or app. For suction cleaners, check that it suits your skimmer and pump size; a pump that is too weak or too strong will make it perform poorly.

Battery and cordless robots

Newer robotic cleaners run on rechargeable batteries with no cable to the pool edge. They are easy to drop in and lift out, there is no cable to tangle, and they suit pools with awkward shapes or no nearby power point. The trade-offs are run time per charge, the time it takes to recharge, and battery replacement after some years. Many cordless robots clean the floor well but climb walls less, and some float to the surface when finished so you can lift them out. Check the run time against your pool's size, and whether the battery is replaceable.

Smart features

Some robots offer scheduling, app control, different cleaning modes (floor only, walls, waterline), and mapping or gyroscope navigation that covers the pool more systematically. These are helpful extras, but the basics matter more: suction power, filter fineness, brush type, cable length and the quality of local service.

Fine dirt and sand

Fine dust and sand are where robots shine. Their own fine filters capture particles that a suction cleaner would send through the pump into the pool's filter, some of which can pass straight back into the pool, especially with a sand filter. If your pool gets a lot of dust from nearby building work or dry, windy weather, a robot with a fine filter keeps the floor noticeably cleaner.

Cost over the life of the cleaner

When comparing prices, look at the whole life of the cleaner, not just the purchase price. A suction cleaner is cheap to buy but uses pump time and wears hoses and diaphragms; a robot costs more up front but can save pump running time, lighten the load on the filter and clean better. A robot that lasts many years with a few brush and track replacements can cost less per year than it first appears, while a cheap robot with no local parts support can be expensive if a motor fails out of warranty.

Getting the best from a suction cleaner

• Set the pool's water level halfway up the skimmer.
• Adjust the flow regulator so the cleaner moves steadily without racing or stalling.
• Use the right hose length: long enough to reach the far corner, without extra lengths that tangle.
• Keep the skimmer and pump baskets empty, because full baskets cut suction.
• Backwash or clean the filter when the pressure rises.
• Remove the cleaner before swimming and when shocking the pool.

Getting the best from a robot

• Run it on a schedule, often a few cycles a week, more in leaf season.
• Empty and hose its filter after every run.
• Untangle the cable regularly and store the robot in the shade.
• Replace brushes and tracks when they wear smooth.
• Keep the power supply dry and out of direct sun.

Cleaners and pool chemistry

A cleaner moves dirt but does not sanitise the water. Keep chlorine, pH and stabiliser in range, brush corners and steps the cleaner misses, and use the cleaner as part of a routine, not instead of one.

Our summary

For most Australian backyard pools, a good robotic cleaner gives the cleanest pool, the least load on the filter and the chance to run the pump less, at a higher purchase price. A suction cleaner is the low-cost option that works well in simple pools with a capable pump and filter. A pressure cleaner suits leafy pools where the filter struggles. Choose the type, then a model with strong local support.

How long pool cleaners last

Suction cleaners can last many years with replacement hoses, skirts and diaphragms. Robotic cleaners often give several years of service, with brushes and tracks replaced as they wear; the motor and power supply are the parts that end a robot's life, which is why warranty length and local repairs matter. Store either type out of the sun and rinse it with fresh water after use in a salt pool.

When a cleaner stops working well

If a suction cleaner slows or stalls, check for a full skimmer or pump basket, a dirty filter, a leaking hose, a worn diaphragm, or a blocked throat. If a robot leaves patches, check its filter, brushes and tracks, untangle the cable, and run it on a different program. Most problems are simple fixes.

Do you need a cleaner at all?

A small, simple pool with little debris can be kept clean with a weekly brush and a hand vacuum on a telescopic pole, connected through the skimmer. It takes perhaps half an hour and costs nothing extra beyond the pole, head and hose. Most owners find an automatic cleaner worth the money once the pool is larger, sits near trees or gets a lot of dust, or when they would rather spend weekends swimming than vacuuming. Even with an automatic cleaner, brush steps, corners and the waterline by hand now and then, because no cleaner reaches every spot.

Pool cleaners for different surfaces

Pebble and exposed aggregate pools are rough, so cleaners need sturdy skirts, wheels or tracks that will not wear quickly. Tiled pools need brushes that clean grout lines. Fibreglass pools have a smooth gelcoat that benefits from soft brushes and gentle wheels. Vinyl-lined pools need cleaners rated for vinyl, so the liner is not scuffed or punctured. Check the maker's surface list before buying, and replace worn parts promptly, because a worn part can damage the surface.

Leaf season tips

When trees drop leaves, empty skimmer and pump baskets daily, use a leaf rake before running the cleaner, fit a leaf canister to a suction cleaner's hose, and empty a robot's basket after every cycle. A pool cover in autumn saves hours of work and stops leaves staining the floor and adding phosphates to the water.

Safety around pool cleaners

Never swim while a cleaner is running: hoses and cables can tangle around legs, and suction fittings can trap hair. Take the cleaner out before anyone swims, and store hoses and cables where children cannot pull them into the pool. Keep a robot's power supply well back from the water's edge and plugged into a protected outdoor power point, as the maker specifies. Check cables for cuts before each use.

Buying second-hand

Used suction cleaners are cheap and simple to check: look for cracks, a worn diaphragm and a complete hose set. Used robots are riskier, because a worn motor or power supply may fail soon after purchase and the warranty rarely transfers. Ask for the age, service history and proof of purchase, and test it in your pool before paying if you can. A new robot with a full warranty is often better value than an old one at half price.

Common questions