How Suction Pool Cleaner Work?

Have you ever wondered how those suction pool cleaners are actually able to vacuum up all the debris from your pool? The concept is really quite ingenious - it relies on the power of water pressure and suction.

You see, housed either on the cleaner itself or in a separate control unit is a water pump. When you switch this suction pool cleaner on, it starts circulating water very quickly through the system of hoses. Because the pump is moving the water so fast, it creates negative pressure - like a little vacuum effect in the lines.

The cleaner itself has one or more suction inlet ports located on its base or bottom side. As the cleaner moves about the pool, the suction from these inlets lifts debris from surfaces. Common components that facilitate the suction include brushes, jets, and a squeegee blade. Brushes help dislodge debris while the blade and jets concentrate suction power.

As particles are sucked into the inlet ports, they get carried along by the flowing water into the filtration area. Here a bag, cartridge, or other filter media traps and contains the waste. After a cleaning cycle, the pump is turned off and the collected debris can be easily emptied from the filter compartment or bag.

Why Trust New York Garden?

When it comes to trusting New York Garden, there are a few reasons why you can have confidence in our recommendations for pool cleaners. First and foremost, we have a team of experts who are dedicated to testing pool cleaners with great care. We understand the importance of providing accurate and reliable information to our readers, so we put in the time and effort to thoroughly evaluate each cleaner. Our experts pay close attention to the performance, features, and durability of the pool cleaners, ensuring that we provide you with trustworthy advice.

Furthermore, at New York Garden, we have undertaken numerous testing tasks specifically focused on pool cleaners. We understand the importance of thoroughly evaluating these products to ensure their effectiveness and reliability. Our testing tasks involve putting the pool cleaners through different scenarios and situations to assess their performance in various conditions. By conducting extensive testing, we can provide you with comprehensive and reliable information about the pool cleaners we review.

Buyers' Guide

You may have had a few ideas on where to choose the best suction pool cleaner. Our buyer’s guide below will provide you with information regarding the factors to consider when purchasing a suction pool cleaner.

Things to Consider When Choosing The Best Suction Pool Cleaner

When searching for the best suction pool cleaner, it's important to take into account its compatibility with the pool surface types that it can wipe, the hose length, as well as the pool pump. Find out more about these, as well as other characteristics of suction pool cleaners below.

Suction Strength 

Suction pool cleaners operate by sucking up debris and launching it over the pool floor and up the pool walls using the force of the pool pump. The majority of manufacturers provide the minimum pump flow rate necessary for the cleaner to function correctly. The normal flow rate needed for suction pool cleaners is 1,600–2,200 gallons per hour (GPH).

Hoses

A 1.5-inch hose is used by suction pool cleaners to deliver waste to the skimmer basket and pool filter. The length of the hose determines how far the suction pool cleaner can go. Typically, suction pool cleaners come with seven to ten hose lengths that may be added to increase the hose length to up to thirty to forty feet.

Measuring from the skimmer to the most distant corner of the pool and adding the water depth will yield the required hose length. A minimum of a 36-foot hose is required to clean a pool with a depth of 6 feet and a distance from the skimmer of 25 feet.

Pool Surface Type 

It's essential to think about how well the pool cleaner can work with the pool's surface. Concrete, vinyl, Gunite, fiberglass, pebble, and tile are all common pool surface materials. If the pool surface is not compatible with the pool cleaner, it may be impossible for the cleaner to climb the pool wall or achieve the necessary suction to remove debris. The pool cleaner may even ruin the pool surface.  The best suction pool cleaners work with the majority of pool surface types.

Amount and Types of Debris

Pool cleaners also differ in the size and kind of debris that they can tackle. The majority of pool cleaners have the ability to capture leaves, dirt, and other tiny particles. While some pool cleaners could have trouble removing heavier debris, others have features that make it possible for them to do so without clogging.

Pool Size 

Pool size determines the type of suction pool cleaner is appropriate for the work. Small above-ground and inground pools that might be too small for larger pool cleaners are best served by smaller-sized suction pool cleaners that can maneuver nimbly about the pool. Pool cleaners for bigger pools need to be able to move fast around the pool and have lengthy hoses to give them the distance they need to get to the distant corners.

FAQs

Continue reading to learn more about the best suction pool cleaners, including how they operate and whether they require power.

1. How do suction pool cleaners operate?

A 1.5-inch hose is used to connect a suction pool cleaner straight to your pool's skimmer. As it moves around the pool, the pool cleaner picks up debris and dirt and transports it to the filter and pump basket.

2. How much power does a suction pool cleaner use?

Pool cleaners don't require any electricity because the suction power of the pool pump gives power to them completely.

3. How long do suction pool cleaners usually last?

When maintained properly, an excellent suction pool cleaner will last between 5 and 7 years.

Conclusion

To sum up, here's our summary for the best suction pool cleaners. In general, the Zodiac G3 suction pool cleaner is the best alternative available due to its simple, low-maintenance design and ability to maintain adequate suction even at low pump speeds.

The Zodiac MX8 suction pool cleaner, with its enhanced ability to climb walls and navigate through sharp turns, is a high-end pool suction cleaner that is suitable for large pools.