Suction Cleaners
Suction Side Cleaners: All Pool Types
The automatic pool cleaner is a
device that leapt right into the hearts of pool owners and service technicians alike. In a
genesis similar to that of human air flight, engineers and inventors have produced gadgets
of fancy in the hopes of finding one that will fly. Several have achieved wide-spread use
and acceptance by consumers and the service industry. These are described below and are
broken into three categories; suction side cleaners, pressure side cleaners and robots.
These are cleaners that attach to the suction side
of your plumbing. The suction side refers to the pipes and fittings that bring water out
of the pool to be filtered; that water which is being "sucked" out of the pool
by the filter pump. These cleaners
include the Hayward
PoolVac Ultra,
Navigator,
Aquabug,
Kreepy Krauly,
E-Z Vac,
Baracuda
Ranger,
Zippy,
Pacer,
G3,
G4, Polaris
150, and
ATV. Please visit our Swimming pool
cleaners page for a complete list of
suction side cleaners.
These cleaners attach to one of the suction ports at
the pool. Usually, this port is the
skimmer, or your pool may
have a separate vacuum port where the cleaner's hose can attach. With the hose attached
and the filter pump running, suction is created on the underside of the cleaner. The
cleaner moves randomly, or automatically around the pool with motion created by a device
that gives a stop/ start pulsing of water. As the unit travels, debris is sucked up through
the neck and then the hose, past the suction port, through the pipe, and stops at the
filter pump strainer basket, while smaller debris passes through to the
filter. Adjustments on the hose, the unit itself, and flow volume
will create different cleaning patterns, so as to maximize pool coverage.
Cleaner moving slowly?
Start by checking the pump basket for debris and
making sure the filter is clean and water is flowing properly. Then
I would check out the throat of the cleaner for any obstructions.
Obstructions can also be found where the hose attaches to the
suction line. Check hose for splits, obstructions or holes. If your
pool has lots of leaves (trees), you'll want to have an
in-line leaf
trap to use with your suction cleaner.
Cleaner not
cleaning the entire pool?
This can be
caused by any number of reasons. The hoses could be too short.
Another real common cause is the cleaner could be following the flow
pattern of the water in the pool, in other words, strong flow from
wall return jets will push the cleaner into a pattern. To fix this;
adjust the return port wall fittings, or add wall fittings to the
return ports. It helps to point the fittings down or at a downward
angle. If you pool doesn't have wall fittings at the return ports
there are alternative wall fittings made by the manufactures to
divert the flow.
Always rotate the wearable parts on the cleaners and replace those
wearable parts when needed. These parts will prevent the need to
replace more expensive components. If you have only one
skimmer, most skimming action is lost while your cleaner is hooked
up. Secondly, unless the cleaner has an in-line strainer basket
somewhere on its hose, the filter pump basket can get clogged up
rather quickly. That, or if the strainer basket becomes full,
reduces filtration and puts more front pressure on the system by
restricting the flow into the filter. My opinion is that having a
suction side cleaner would be much better than having none at all,
but less than what is possible. On the bright side, suction side
cleaners are available for half the cost of pressure side cleaners.
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