Results for "robotic cleaner"

Equipment Easy 15 minutes 161 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Vacuum Plate? Complete Setup Guide

Noticed my 20,000-gallon inground pool vacuum's been running without a vacuum plate and now I'm worried it's dangerous with kids swimming daily. My skimmer doesn't seem to have a separate vacuum port - just the main opening where the basket sits. I've been manually vacuuming by removing the basket and connecting my vacuum hose directly to the suction line, but I lose all skimming action during the process.

The pool stays pretty clean most of the time with my regular chemical balance (chlorine at 2.0 ppm, pH 7.4, alkalinity 120 ppm), but I do need to vacuum weekly to pick up the fine debris that settles on the bottom. Would a vacuum plate help me maintain skimming while vacuuming, or is there another setup I should be considering for my skimmer configuration?…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes setup 146 👍 0

Can You Leave Pool Vacuum On All Night? Safe Operating Guide

Standing in front of my computer cart with a robotic vacuum for my 20,000 gallon inground pool — is leaving it running overnight worth it or just asking for expensive trouble? The pool gets pretty messy with leaves and debris, and I feel like running the vacuum for 8-10 hours straight would really help get everything spotless.

My main concerns are whether it's actually safe for the equipment to run that long, and if there are any risks I should be aware of. I have a newer robotic cleaner that I bought last season, and it seems to handle well during normal 2-3 hour cleaning cycles. The pool's circulation system runs 24/7 anyway, so I'm not worried about that side of things.

Has anyone had experience with extended overnight vacuum runs? I want to make sure I'm not going to damage my equipment or create any safety issues by leaving it unattended for that long.…more

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Pump Problems Easy 5 minutes 145 👍 0

Can You Run Pool Pump With Solar Cover On? Safety Guide

After getting slapped with a $200 "improper equipment usage" charge from my pool guy, I'm second-guessing whether I can safely run my pump with the solar cover on. I bought a solar cover to help keep the water warm, but I'm not sure about the pump situation. The pool store told me to run my pump daily for circulation, but they didn't mention anything about what to do when the cover is on.

Is it safe to run the pump while the solar cover is covering the pool? I don't want to damage anything or mess up the water chemistry since I'm still learning. Any guidance would be really appreciated!…more

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Product Ranking 8 compared

Best Pool Chemical Starter Kits

4.5 (18,700 reviews)

Equipment Easy 15 minutes research 144 👍 0

Does Costco Sell Pool Vacuums? Complete Availability Guide

Noticed my pool's looking rough this week and planning to tackle a deep clean Saturday — what vacuum equipment should I have ready from Costco? The pool store told me I definitely need a good vacuum to keep it clean, but their prices seem pretty steep.

I'm a Costco member and was wondering if they carry pool vacuums? I'd love to save some money if possible, and I trust Costco's return policy in case I mess up and buy the wrong thing. Do they have a decent selection, or should I stick with the pool store? Any guidance from experienced pool owners would be amazing!…more

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Equipment Easy 60 minutes 143 👍 0

Does Lowe's Have Pool Vacuums? Complete Buying Guide 2024

Looked at my pool this morning and decided I'm done paying someone else to clean it — just need to figure out if Lowe's has decent pool vacuums worth buying. Last week they tried to convince me I needed a $2,000 robotic cleaner when all I want is something decent to keep my pool clean without breaking the bank.

Does anyone know if big box stores like Lowe's actually carry pool vacuums? I'm hoping to find some options there since they usually have better prices than the specialty pool shops. I don't mind doing the research myself - just need to know what brands and price ranges to expect so I can make a smart purchase without some salesperson breathing down my neck.…more

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Equipment Easy 30 minutes 138 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Vacuum? Complete Equipment Guide 2024

Wondering if anyone else had their manual skimming routine work perfectly on their old above-ground pool but this inground one still looks swampy? I've been trying to maintain it with just skimming and brushing, but there's always debris settling on the bottom that I can't seem to get rid of. My neighbors keep telling me I need some kind of vacuum, but I have no idea what type would actually work for my setup.

I have a medium-sized inground pool that gets a decent amount of leaves from the trees overhead, especially in fall. I'm willing to put in some manual work if it saves money, but I also don't want to be out there for hours every week. What should I be looking for in a pool vacuum, and do I really need one or are there alternatives that actually work?…more

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Equipment Easy 45 minutes 138 👍 0

How to Vacuum Your Pool: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Called three pool stores asking which vacuum head to buy and got three different answers, now I'm more confused than when I started. Last time I tried, I think I messed up the connection and didn't get good suction.

What's the right order to hook everything up? And is there a technique to actually vacuuming that works better than just randomly pushing it around? I feel like I'm missing some obvious steps here!…more

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Equipment Medium 45 minutes 137 👍 0

How to Vacuum Pool Without a Skimmer - 4 Easy Methods

Before the pool season even starts, my skimmer cracks from freeze damage every single year, leaving me staring at a swampy disaster. I've been dumping shock and algaecide for weeks but I know I need to vacuum out all this debris and dead algae to actually win this battle.

The problem is my skimmer is completely shot and won't be replaced for another week. Is there any way to vacuum without using the skimmer? I'm willing to try anything at this point - manual methods, different equipment, whatever it takes. I just need to get this gunk out of my pool before it gets any worse!…more

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Equipment Easy varies by cleaner type 136 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Cleaners Take? Complete Timing Guide

Nobody warns you that every spring when you're getting the pool ready for summer, figuring out how long cleaning actually takes becomes this recurring nightmare. I want to make sure the water is properly cleaned before they jump in, but I'm not sure how long each type of cleaner needs to run to do its job effectively.

I'm considering getting either a robotic cleaner, suction cleaner, or pressure cleaner, but I need to know how much time each one requires per cleaning cycle. I want to plan the cleaning times around when the kids aren't swimming, so knowing the exact duration would really help me create a safe routine that keeps the water clean without interfering with their swim time.…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 132 👍 0

How Long Do Pool Cleaners Last? Lifespan by Type

Called three pool stores and they're all closed — my robotic cleaner just died at 11 PM mid-cycle and I need to know how long these things should last before buying another overpriced replacement tomorrow.

I want to make a smart investment and buy something that'll actually last, but I need real numbers. What's the typical lifespan I can expect from robotic cleaners versus pressure cleaners versus suction cleaners? I'm willing to do proper maintenance myself to extend the life - just tired of throwing money away on equipment that craps out after a year.…more

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Equipment Easy 30 minutes 120 👍 0

Does Walmart Have Pool Vacuums? Complete Buying Guide 2024

Our neighbor casually mentioned that we're the only house on the block still manually cleaning our 18,000-gallon inground pool and now I'm wondering if Walmart carries decent pool vacuums. I've been manually cleaning with a net and brush, but with two kids jumping in constantly, the debris builds up faster than I can keep up with. I'm hoping to find something more efficient.

Does Walmart actually stock pool vacuums in their stores, or do I need to order online? I'm curious about what types they carry - I've seen manual ones that attach to the skimmer, automatic suction models, and those fancy robotic ones. My local pool store quoted me $400+ for a decent automatic vacuum, so I'm hoping Walmart might have more budget-friendly options. Also wondering if their selection changes seasonally since we're heading into spring pool opening season.…more

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Best Pool Filters

4.5 (15,600 reviews)

Equipment Easy 15 minutes 116 👍 0

How to Connect Pool Vacuum - Complete Setup Guide

Staring at pool vacuum options online with my credit card ready, but genuinely wondering if I'm about to blow money on something that'll actually work. Need to connect it properly but instructions are confusing. What's the right order to attach everything - the head, pole, hose? And how do I connect to the skimmer without losing suction?…more

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Salt Water Medium 2-3 hours for complete cleaning 111 👍 0

How to Clean Salt Water Pool: Complete Maintenance Guide

Salt pool has been running great for two years but it's starting to look dull — waterline buildup, cell is crusty, and the water just doesn't sparkle like it used to. Nobody told me saltwater pools needed this much upkeep. What's the proper maintenance routine I should be following?…more

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Equipment Easy 30 minutes 111 👍 0

Do I Need to Vacuum My Pool? Complete Guide & Schedule

Spent more money on pool filter cartridges in the past month than I did all last season, yet debris keeps settling on my pool floor.

From a technical standpoint, what are the limitations of relying solely on filtration versus implementing a systematic vacuuming schedule? I need to understand the optimal frequency and whether this is actually necessary for maintaining proper water quality and circulation efficiency.…more

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Equipment Easy 15 minutes 110 👍 0

Do I Need a Pool Skimmer? Essential Equipment Guide

Spent the morning staring at my new pool setup and realized I can't tell which equipment is actually essential versus just expensive extras. The skimmer seems like it would be helpful for picking up leaves and stuff, but I'm wondering if it's something I actually NEED or if I could get by without one to save some money.

I keep seeing them mentioned everywhere but nobody really explains if they're required or just recommended. Are there any safety issues or code requirements I should know about? Just want to make sure I'm not skipping something important that'll cause problems later!…more

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