Once upon a time, there were no pool vacuum devices. I kid you not!
Anyone who had a swimming pool before 1937 was doomed to the continuous tedium of sweeping and scooping to maintain a clean swimming pool. And in fact, even decades later, the clever pool cleaning devices that were being invented and honed hadn’t reached South African shores.
The Birth of The Pool Vacuum
So, we’d like to tip our hat to Roy Everson who rather cleverly invented the basic model of the pool cleaner which was the first suction side apparatus which cleaned the bottom and the sides of the pool. There were previous inventions of course, and many patents filed, which allowed busy homeowners to suck up debris and dirt from the pool walls. However, most of these required some human intervention and were a far cry from the plug-n-play devices that we now enjoy.
It was our very own South African inventor, John Raubenheimer, who invented the Pool Bug in 1972, predating the ubiquitous Kreepy Krauly by a good two years.
Since then, we have seen an explosion of smart devices designed to make our lives that much easier. But as with everything in life, more choices lead to more questions.
Which Pool Vacuum is Right for Me?
Pool vacuums can be broken down into three main types:
- Suction side pool cleaners
- Pressure pool cleaners
- Robotic swimming pool cleaners
So, what is the difference?
There are a number of makes and models available to pool owners, so we will talk generally. Please feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have.
Suction side cleaners attach to your pool pump which allows it to propel itself around your pool independently. These popular options are fairly affordable, low maintenance and do a pretty darn good job of cleaning your pool walls. On the downside, they increase pressure on your filter and only work when your pump is running.
Pressure cleaners, on the other hand, don’t use your filtration system to remove dirt. Rather, they use a filtration bag to collect the debris, while running off your existing pressure system. While this is also an affordable option, and easy to maintain, they can require an extra booster pump to work effectively. They too, require your pool pump to run, but this option doesn’t work your filter quite so hard.
Robotic pool cleaners are incredibly efficient little machines which run off your home power grid. They don’t place any strain on your pump or filter system as they operate independently. Some makes are able scrub the steps and the waterline which eliminates the need for your normal Saturday morning brushing. Robotic cleaners are a pricier option, but they do a great job and are more energy efficient than the other options.
Whatever your pool needs are, Pool Spa are here to help.