Get your bathing suit ready because it’s pool season once again. With the temperature rising to 80 to 90 °F (27 to 32 °C) during summer, you really need to defuse that heat to stay healthy. At these times, you need a cool dip in the pool to regulate body temperature and have some fun. When it comes to heat transfer on vinyl, take some precautions.
Fishing out leaves and debris at the last minute before you take the plunge is not the way to clean your pool. Remember that harmful microorganisms love breeding in dirty pool water, which can make you seriously ill. Because of this, it’s essential to keep your pool clean all the time.
You have two choices to clean the pool; the hard way using manual tools or the fast and easy way using a robotic pool cleaner. Both methods have their own pros and cons. If you don’t have time to clean the pool yourself, you better invest in pool vacuum robots designed for optimal cleaning.
5 Must-Have Features of a Pool Robot Vacuum
Although many pools are similar in terms of dimensions, depth, and accessories, there are many factors to consider when choosing a robotic pool cleaner that will work for you. Your personality, schedule, and budget are external factors that play a part when looking for a perfect product.
Before you start your shopping, it’s important to know these must-have features for a pool robot:
1. Durability and Reliability
A compact, heavy-duty model is what you need. A robot pool vacuum doesn’t come cheap, so make sure it lasts long.
2. High-Quality Brushes
Brushes are responsible for scrubbing pool surfaces it comes in contact with. A hard-bristle can lift all kinds of dirt, including algae and soil.
3. Wheels
Wheels determine how fast or slow the machine can go or what directions it’s heading to. You wouldn’t like a wheel to be too fast or too slow as you’re compromising either the quality or the speed of the cleaning process. It will help a lot if the device has four big and wide wheels, enabling it to go anywhere and climb inclined surfaces.
4. Smart Features
The whole idea of having a robot is to do the task automatically. You should be able to program the device and let it do its job on its own.
Intelligent features are what make the pool robot vacuum special. Without it, you can’t leave it alone which defeats the purpose of buying a robot. The essential smart features you need include advanced navigation, scheduling, various cleaning modes, and support for basic commands like planting palm trees to get a little beach of your own.
5. Can Climb Stairs
You can’t leave inclined surfaces like ramps or stairs unclean. Like the rest of the pool, these parts must also be free from pollutants to ensure clean pool water.
A powerful motor, wide wheels, and a swivel cord are the things that can support the device in cleaning inclined surfaces.
Best Robotic Cleaner for Summer in 2021
Now that you know what to look for in a pool vacuum, it’s time to name our top 10 picks for summer.
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner
Maytronics, the makers of all Dolphin-series, is known for producing robots that work for various pool sizes. And one of them is the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus, a top-selling model for many reasons.
The Nautilus weighs 22lbs and comes with a 2-year warranty. It has broad top access for the filter-system cartridge for easy cleaning.
The device is powered by CleaverClean technology which enables it to scrub and vacuum the entire area. Its cord is long enough to clean an inground pool up to 50 ft. The cable has a patented swivel system that prevents tangling, ensures uninterrupted cleaning for up to 2.5 hours!
Another highlight of Dolphin Nautilus is its built-in software that can scan the entire area of the pool. This app allows the device to clean your pool, notwithstanding its shape and size.
Dolphin Nautilus CC
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus (described above) works great, but it’s pretty expensive. If you are working on a budget, you can consider the regular Nautilus CC instead.
This model uses the same CleverClear technology, although less powerful as the Plus version. It scrubs, vacuums, and filters well, but not as fast as other Dolphin models. It also scans the entire dimensions of the pool for better navigation.
Dolphin Premier
Another Dolphin model that makes it on our list is the Dolphin Premier. This item has dual scrubbing brushes that effectively clean all surfaces.
With the help of Smart-Nav software, it reduces electric consumption by up to 87%, making it one of the best in terms of energy use. The same software also allows the device to scrub the surface while scanning it continuously. This ensures an optimal pattern that makes cleaning faster and efficient.
For more independent operation, Dolphin Premier has an intelligent swivel system for tangle-free operation allowing 360-degree rotation. It also comes with multiple types of filters to collect a variety of debris of all sizes.
Polaris 9550 Sport
At first glance, Polaris 9550 Sport looks like a mini-RV car, and you might think that it’s a toy and nothing else. In reality, this cute robot is one of the best cleaners, especially for pools with tight corners.
Polaris 9550 can get into those hard-to-reach corners with its front-focused brush system and unique design. Another notable feature is an extra-long cable (over 70 ft.) which allows the device to go into the deepest and farthest areas.
It also comes with intelligent features such as a weekly programmable timer and remote control system. You can issue a command using an app, making it one of the most versatile pool vacuums in the market today.
Aquabot Breeze IQ
Aquabot Breeze IQ can clean all the surfaces of the pool, including walls. It comes with a 60-feet cable, 10 feet longer than most of its competitors. This robotic pool cleaner has an excellent filter system that can trap dirt as small as two microns, such as pollen, dust, and even some types of harmful microorganisms.
This unit is energy-efficient and has dual top-access filter baskets for convenient access.
Hayward SharkVac
Another model that deserves recognition is Hayward SharkVac. Like most of its contemporaries, it also has a single and wide top-access filter which makes it easy to clean. SharkVac has an innovative steering technology for better cleaning patterns, brushing the surface, and filtering the water for about 2 hours.
You can buy this product alone or with the optional caddy system. The caddy will help you carry the unit and its cable from one place to another. This cart is beneficial, especially for users who are not physically fit to move the machine.
Hayward company is known for its post-sales customer care services. For instance, if you need to perform troubleshooting, you can do self-service by watching instructional videos or contacting their tech support team.
Pentair Kreepy Krauly Prowler
If you’re looking for an energy-efficient robotic pool cleaner, you have to consider this model. Just like other brands mentioned here, this unit cleans effectively for almost two and a half hours. It also comes with a wireless remote control which allows it to do spot cleaning and program cleaning schedule.
Kreepy Krauly also has many features such as auto-reverse and quick-clean mode, which clean the floor only.
Dolphin Triton Plus
Dolphin Triton Plus is probably the best controllable vacuum cleaner today. Its wireless remote control allows you to issue commands even while it cleans. This feature works great for spot cleaning.
Other noteworthy features include a large basket, a two-speed mode, and the ability to clean the waterline. For light cleaning mode, Dolphin Triton Plus can do the job in an hour. With this capability, this device works great if your pool doesn’t quickly get dirty.
PAXCESS Pool Cleaner
If you like a cordless robotic pool vacuum, PAXCESS Cleaner might be the one you’re looking for. This device comes with a rechargeable battery which can last for up to one hour of cleaning on a full charge. The battery is in-cased in a waterproof body, so it’s safe from getting wet.
The unit has a compact yet robust design. With proper use, this model can last for years. In terms of mobility, its wheels allow it to move smoothly on different surfaces. Overall, PAXCESS works and looks great and one of the most affordable options available this summer.
Dolphin E10
This model works perfectly for above ground pools. Although it doesn’t scrub the walls needed for in-ground pools, it doesn’t have any problem doing that for an above-ground pool.
Dolphin E10 has a powerful front brush that rotates two times faster than other brands. The brush scrubs away deep-seated dirt and algae. Like other Dolphin models, the E10 has a CleaverClean navigational technology that scans the pool’s entire dimension. This software picks the best route for cleaning to ensure every inch of the pool is clean.
