Hometown Pools & Spas

03/18/2021

With leading innovation in the design and manufacturing of Imagine Fiberglass swimming pools you can experience faster installation so you can enjoy your new pool sooner. If you are interested in a Fiberglass swimming pool this season please reach out to us before opening season to start the process and get swimming sooner.

03/06/2021

DOES MY POOL NEED A STANDARD OR A CUSTOM SAFETY COVER?

When you own a pool, you have a responsibility to make sure its safe and secure when you aren't using it, and a safety cover is a great way to achieve that goal. Pool safety covers provide a safe and long-lasting covering that prevents children and animals from falling in to your pool during the offseason. Safety covers also help keep debris and critters out of your pool during the winter months, and they can help make cleanup easier when you open your pool up again. However, safety covers aren't one-size-fits-all. One of the most common questions we get from pool owners when they decide to buy a safety cover is how they can tell whether their pool needs a standard safety cover or a custom-made cover tailored to the pool?

When Do I Need a Custom Safety Cover?
Our standard safety covers are versatile products, but they aren't suited for every pool. Custom sizes, custom accessories, and non-standard layouts might require a custom cover. If you're wondering whether you need a standard or custom pool safety cover, there are a few things you should consider.

1. What Shape Is Your Pool?
The first factor that determines when custom covers are needed is when your pool is a non-standard shape. At Royal Swimming Pools, we offer standard safety covers for several of the most common swimming pool shapes such as rectangular pools, Grecian pools, and oval pools. However, if your pool is a non-standard or irregular shape, you will need to order a custom cover to fit it.
2. Does Your Pool Have Any Special Features?
Another important consideration is whether or not your pool has special features that the cover would need to account for. Common pool features that can affect your cover include:

Offset or irregular steps that the cover would need to go over
Water features such as waterfalls
Built-in hot tubs or spas next to your pool boundary
Non-removable ladders, slides, or railings
Diving boards with the base within 12' of the pool's edge
If your pool has any of the above features, you may have to order a custom-made safety pool cover instead of using a standard safety cover. Custom covers can be made to fit over or around these obstacles.

Do You Have Existing Pool Cover Anchors?
If you're replacing your old safety pool cover with a newer, safer model, chances are your pool already has anchor points set up to attach the cover to your pool deck. Unfortunately, a new standard cover will likely have different anchor points than the cover you had previously.

It's never a good idea to try to "force" a new standard cover to use existing anchor points, as this could cause the cover to bunch, stretch, rip or fray. On the other hand, custom safety covers can be made to perfectly match your existing anchors for a secure fit without worry.

Do You Have Enough Deck Space?
Standard covers require you to have at least 30" of deck space on all sides of your pool to install properly. This is required so the anchors have enough room to securely hold your cover down and so you can move freely around them. If you don't have that much clear space around your pool on each side, a custom cover is the best way to achieve a safe and secure result.

How to Order A Custom Safety Cover
If you need a custom safety cover for your pool, don't worry. Although each custom safety cover is made to your specifications, the process of ordering one is simple and straightforward. Simply visit our custom safety cover page and follow the steps below:

First, measure your pool's square footage using our detailed online measuring form. If you aren't sure how to get accurate measurements, you can watch our instructional video to make sure the measurements are correct. You can also estimate your costs using these measurements. Plus, if you already have a safety cover, we can use it as a template to create a new custom cover with anchors in all the same positions as your existing cover.

Second, decide what kind of safety cover you want. At Royal Swimming Pools, we offer several types of custom safety covers:

Standard Mesh Covers - These lightweight, easy-to-handle covers are simple to install and remove. They prevent the majority of debris from entering your pool and are easy to store when not in use.
High-Shade Mesh Covers - High-shade mesh covers combine the simplicity of mesh with more UV blocking and durability. High-shade covers inhibit algae growth in your pool and keep out more debris due to their tighter, heavier weave.
Solid Safety Covers - Solid covers are the most durable and protective but are also heavier than mesh. They block 100% of UV rays and prevent rain and snowmelt from entering your pool. Because they don't let water through, we sell solid safety covers with either a drain or a cover pump that removes water from the cover surface. Our covers with pumps use automatic pumps to make the job even easier.

Third, submit your measurements and order to Royal Swimming Pools. We'll get started on your custom cover right away. Generally, once you've ordered your cover and submitted all the required measurements we have custom safety covers manufactured specifically for your pool and shipped within 1-2 weeks. Download your measurement form here!

One more tip: send us pictures of your pool! If you didn't get your pool from Royal Swimming Pools, it can be a big help for us to see the pool and make sure there aren't any important considerations you missed. And even if you did get a pool from us, pictures can help us judge what kind of material would be best for your project and why.

What About Automatic Covers?
Automatic pool covers provide all the same benefits as standard safety covers, with the additional benefit of being easy to install and remove by yourself at any point. Many of our automatic covers can be positioned in just 45 seconds, meaning you can cover your pool any time you aren't using it for added safety and protection. We offer both new and replacement automatic covers for a wide range of pool shapes and sizes. If you want to keep your pool as safe and secure as possible, an automatic cover can be a great investment.

Learn More About Our Pool Safety Covers Today
Whether you're in the market for a custom safety cover or a standard one, the specialists at Royal Swimming Pools are happy to help. We have years of experience with every part of swimming pool design and maintenance, and we'd love to start caring for your pool as well. Call 866-532-8194 to get a free estimate for your custom swimming pool safety cover today!

03/06/2021

03/04/2021

HOW TO INSTALL A SKIMMER ON AN ABOVE GROUND SWIMMING POOL

Your skimmer performs a big job when it comes to keeping your swimming pool clean. Proper installation is a vital part of making sure it's capable of doing the best job possible.

We've compiled the entire process into 7 easy to follow steps. You can follow along the step in the video or see each step detailed out in the text below.

For this tutorial we are using a an Embassy Skimmer from H.I.I. manufacturer of Doughboy Pools.

STEP 1
Attach the Weir to the Skimmer
The weir is a flap that gets attached to your skimmer.

The weir rises and lowers to mirror the water level in the pool in order to let debris into the skimmer and then keep it there.

Locate The Simmer Weir and Hardware pack and find the 3 smallest screws. These will attach the weir onto your skimmer using a number 2 bit on your drill.

On the weir, there's going to be 3 slots on one end. You'll line those up with the 3 holes on the inside portion of the skimmer's frame.

The easiest way to do this is to insert the weir through the top opening of your skimmer and then line the weir slots up to the skimmer holes.

Start by putting the first screw in the middle hole and tighten it using a drill or screw driver.

Be cautious not to over tighten the screws as the skimmer and weir are plastic and can crack under too much pressure.

Add the reaming two screws.

STEP 2
Attach the Vacuum Port Cover to the Skimmer Faceplate
Locate the vacuum port cover and the 4th small screw from your hardware pack (also using a number 2 bit on a power drill).

Secure the vacuum port cover using this screw to the very bottom of the skimmer's faceplate.

(You'll notice the hole on the faceplate for this item is smaller than the rest.)

STEP 3
Attach Gaskets to the Pool Wall
Locate the skimmer and vacuum port gaskets.

These items are designed for the pool wall to sit in between the flaps of the gasket to form a seal and prevent leaks around the skimmer and cleaner port.

When putting gaskets on the pool wall, work carefully as the edges of the wall are sharp.

After the skimmer gasket is on make sure all the holes on the gasket are lined up with the holes on the pool wall.

Next add your cleaner port gasket to the smaller hole in the pool wall just under your skimmer opening.



STEP 4
Prep the Skimmer Faceplate
Using your fingers on top of the liner, locate the two top corner holes of the skimmer gasket from the inside of the pool.

Pre-punch those two holes in the liner using the screws provided.

PRO TIP: Using a handheld screw driver for this can be easier than just trying to push the screw through the liner by hand.

Once your first screw is through the liner, remove it and puncture the second hole, on the other top corner of the skimmer gasket.

Make sure to remove the screws from these holes before continuing.

Insert two screws into the upper two corners of the skimmer faceplate.

Line them up with the two holes you just pre-punched, and press the screws into the holes you made.

This will help keep the faceplate in place while you add the skimmer.



STEP 5
Attach the Skimmer to the Wall
Have someone help you by holding the skimmer up to the outside of the pool wall and line up the top two corners with the ones on the pool wall.

Secure the top two corners of the skimmer to the pool wall using a hand held or cordless drill.

The skimmer should be secure enough on the wall so you can finish adding the rest of the screws yourself.

The screw holes should be lined up perfectly once your top two screws are secured.

PRO TIP: A good setting for your cordless drill (if using) is a 10, possibly an 11 if you're working on a colder cloudy day (the liner will not give as much when not warm).

Don't tighten the any of the screws until all the screws are in place. Once all the screws have been added, go back and tighten each one.



STEP 6
Cutting the Liner
Next, you'll need to have a sharp razor blade or box cutter.

Carefully cut the liner out from the inside of the skimmer's faceplate.

Do the same for the inside of the vacuum cleaner port.



STEP 7
Adding the Skimmer Accessories
Add your skimmer basket into the skimmer and the lid to the top opening.

Your skimmer installation is now complete!

03/04/2021

It is not every day you find a home for sale with more garages than bedrooms ...

03/04/2021

03/03/2021

HOW TO START UP A SALTWATER SWIMMING POOL

So you're feeling salty, huh? It's actually a good thing! Salt pools offer a ton of benefits including less time spent on maintenance and more time enjoying your pool. Unlike traditional chlorine, salt pools are gentle on eyes, skin, and clothes. They can be harsh on some equipment though so make sure you follow these steps when starting up or converting to a salt pool!

*As with any product, always refer to your salt chlorinator's owner manual for detailed instructions specific to your model and brand.

PRO TIP: Regardless of the type of pool you own the water does not need to be drained, even when converting a chlorine pool to salt pool. This is especially true if you have a vinyl liner pool. We cover the only time you should drain your vinyl pool here.

Step 1. Find your Pool's Gallon Capacity
Find your swimming pool's gallon capacity
The first step regardless of your startup situation is knowing the gallon capacity of your swimming pool. Use our handy dandy calculator to find out how many gallons of water your pool holds. This will help you determine how much salt you're going to need.

Step 2. Test & Balance Your Pool's Chemical Levels
Once you know how many gallons of your pool holds it's time to test your water. The amount of water in your pool will help determine how much of each chemical you'll need to add after you've tested the water for it to be properly balanced.

Here's what you'll need to test for and their ideal range:

Alkalinity (80-120ppm)
pH (7.2-7.6)
Chlorine (1-3 ppm)
Cyanuric Acid (50-80 ppm)
Calcium Hardness (200-400 ppm)
Metals (0)
Salt (per chlorinator's manual, typically around 3200 ppm)
Your water needs to be completely balanced with all the ideal levels before turning the salt chlorinator on. Read more on testing your water here. An existing pool converting to chlorine will have a salt presence already. you'll want to know your starting salt level after all the rest of your chemicals are balanced so you know how much salt to add in the next step.

If pool maintenance seems confusing or just isn't your thing, now is also a good time to add E-Z Pool to your backyard living style. The combination of these two products takes out the need for adding a bunch of different chemicals to your pool to balance out your levels.

Step 3. Add Salt to Your Pool
Every salt chlorinator has a suggested range for salt so check your manual to make sure you the best dose for your pool. We'll be using the average salt level required which of 3200 ppm.

Make sure you are using the proper kind of salt for your pool, i.e. Sodium Chloride Salt that is at the very least 99% pure. We strongly recommend using AquaSalt which is 99.9% pure; especially if you need to add a lot salt like for a new pool or converting to salt. While that 0.1% may not seem like much of a difference, when you have to add several bags of it to the pool it adds up.

Use the below chart to see how many lbs of salt needs to be added to your pool based on the current salt ppm and the gallons of water in your pool. Salt is typically available in 40lbs bags.

To add the salt, pour a few bags directly into your pool at a time. Then use your pool brush to move the water around and help kick up any salt sitting on the bottom to help disolve the mixture. Once you start getting close to the final number of bags recommended, go ahead and test your water's salt levels. You can always add more but the only to remove salt is to add more water. If your salt levels are too hight this could result in needing to drain your pool several inches before filling it up again with fresh water. Start low and build your salt level.

Once your salt level is in the ideal range for your chlorinator and the rest of your chemicals are balanced, you can then turn your salt chlorinator on! Start at roughly half or 50% the highest chlorine products and wait 24 hours. After 24 hours, test you pool and check you Chlorine levels. If too high, lower your salt generator chlorine output by 10%. If too low increase the putput by 10%. Test again after another 24 hours

Once you're up and running you probably shouldn't expect to need to raise your pH since the continuous production of chlorine typically raises the pH as a side effect. But if the pH ever gets too high use muriatic acid.

Because salt is a corrosive substance (i.e. it will rust the metal components of your pool if you're not careful) you will absolutely want a sacrificial anode (also called a defender anode). These little heroes sacrifice themselves to the corrosive powers of salt instead of allowing the salt to attack other pool components (like expensive equipment).

Step 4. Add Pepper
Okay, that sounds funny but we're not talking about table pepper any more than we're talking about table salt.

While this is an optional step, regular use of pool Pepper will increase the life and performance of your Salt Chlorinator, improve sanitizer effectiveness, greatly enhance water clarity, limit troublesome pH fluctuations caused from generating chlorine, inhibit calcium scale formation inside the salt chlorinator (on the pool equipment and surfaces, and helps maintain low phosphate levels).How to start up a saltwater pool

For starting up a pool, once your chemicals are balanced and salt is added, with the pump running you can add Pepper directly in front of a return jet or sprinkle it over the pool surface (not on windy days); dosage rate 1 per 10,000 gallons.

Another benefits of using Pepper? Test chlorine levels after seven days and adjust your salt chlorinator as necessary, since most chlorine generators can now be operated at a lower setting.

Although Pepper was designed to be as trouble-free and easy as possible, some pool owners can forget to dose regularly when the schedule is set for every two weeks. If a once a week dosage is more your style follow these protocols:

WEEKLY
Check and adjust the water balance and clean/backwash filter, if necessary.
Add Pepper directly in front of a return jet or over the pool surface with the pump running; dosage rate 1/2 per 20,000 gallons.
Enjoy your pool!
Use Pepper in conjunction with E-Z Pool and you can all but forget about those other pool chemicals needed in ordinary swimming pools giving you more time to enjoy your pool!

Make sure to clean your salt cell at least once per season to remove any calcium buildup. To d, carefully this soak and rinse your cell in dilutded muriatic acid. Make sure to use gloves.

03/03/2021

𝙒𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪!
𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙮 𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙙.

Enjoy Free access to Swimming Pool and unlimited servings of satay, rojak buah, burger, hotdog, mee kari, chicken rice and more for only RM55 nett per adult & RM25 nett per child.

Waves Pool, The Pacific Sutera Hotel
Every Saturday and Sunday
From 11.30am to 3.30pm

Call to book
017-833 5877 (9am to 10pm)
088 303673 (9am to 10pm)

As part of hygiene and SOP guidelines, all guests are required to bring their own towels.



Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/suteraharbourofficial/

03/03/2021

A young boy has impressed many on social media with his artistic display. He created a nice one storey building that has a bar, swimming pool and a car in it.

02/26/2021

Optimum Swimming Pool

Semi-inground swimming pools -- also known as “Optimum Pools” -- give you the best of both worlds. You get the quality and durability you’d expect from a traditional inground pool -- with the affordable price tag you’d expect from an above-ground pool. What’s more, their flexible installation options make them a great choice for DIY fans and homeowners with challenging backyards.

New to the world of semi-inground pools? Wondering if you should take the plunge on this innovative, customizable swimming pool option? Let’s take a closer look at the ins and outs of being a semi-inground pool owner.

Flexible Installation Options
When it comes to installation, semi-inground swimming pools are the most flexible pools on the market. They can be installed 100% above-ground, or they can be installed like traditional, in-ground pools. And, of course, these swimming pools can also be installed partially inground.

The semi-inground option is ideal for backyards that feature uneven ground, steep hills, slopes, or any other features that would make a traditional installation challenging or outright impossible. Many pool owners also find that the semi-inground option allows them to meet city, town, or neighborhood pool height requirements.

The Pros and Cons of Semi-Inground Swimming Pools
There’s more to these pools than their flexible installation options. Here are some other great reasons to consider a semi-inground swimming pool:

Your pool arrives as a kit, which means it costs less to ship than, say, the shell for a fiberglass pools, which is shipped to you in one large piece.
Your pool can be installed more quickly than traditional, inground pools and requires less digging and construction. They’re also fairly easy to assemble: In fact, some pool owners opt for the DIY route and do the installation themselves!
Your pool is built to last: Semi-inground pools are sturdier than above-ground pools and are typically constructed from super-durable, corrosion-resistant materials like aluminum and high-quality foam. What’s more, many semi-inground pools come with a lifetime warranty, so you can rest assured that if something goes wrong, you’ll get it fixed.
Optimum Pool with Waterfall
Of course, every pool has its drawbacks, too. For semi-inground pools, the main drawback is that you’re limited to basic round or oval shapes. If you’re looking for a custom design with lots of curves and angles or an asymmetrical shape, you might be happier with a traditional inground option.

Maintaining Your Semi-Inground Swimming Pool
Your semi-inground swimming pool needs the same care as any other above-ground or fully inground swimming pool. Semi-inground pools need routine care, which includes things like testing your pool water and adding chemicals, cleaning and scrubbing surfaces, and cleaning and maintaining your filter.

Semi-Inground Swimming Pool Ideas
In addition to offering flexible installation options, Optimum Pools also offer near-endless customization options. Surround your semi-inground pool with decking or use landscaping to create a more natural look. Add a step kit or incorporate features like colorful lighting or waterfall features.

Not sure what you want? Do some research and collect a few swimming pool pictures you like. Your pool professional can help you incorporate your favorite design elements into your new pool.

Optimum Pool with Waterfall
Semi-Inground Pool FAQs
How much does a semi-inground cost?
In general, a semi-inground pool is more affordable than a traditional inground pool. The exact price you’ll pay for your semi-inground will vary depending on the shape and size of your pool, and the type of installation you choose (above-ground, semi-inground, or inground).

What are the advantages of a semi-inground pool?
Semi-inground pools have several advantages over both inground and above-ground pools. They are sturdier and offer a longer lifespan than above-ground pools. What’s more, a semi-inground pool offers more flexible installation options than traditional inground pools -- and it’s more affordable, too!

How long will my semi-inground pool last?
With proper maintenance, your semi-inground pool could last up to 20 years (by comparison, a typical above-ground pool typically lasts 7 to 15 years).

02/26/2021

The polar bears are enjoying the sunshine today!🌞♨️
Overlook Pools: 101/105, Family Pool: 98, Lanes: 78.

02/26/2021

A pool was added to plans for Century High School when voters approved a $180.9 million bond referendum in 2019.

02/25/2021

Protect Your Family & Health With This Water Safety Guide

It’s National Water Safety Month! Every May, we remind swimmers about the importance of safety around the pool as it’s one of the key responsibilities of pool ownership. Attentiveness to your swimming environment and building good habits will help prevent injury and allow your family to maintain a healthy peace of mind throughout the pool season.

Pool Safety Tips for Pets
If you have first time swimmers, contact your local aquatic facility to find swimming classes and lifeguarding classes provided by Red Cross instructors. For more experienced kids, it always helps to remind them of the rules at a public pool and the importance of listening to the Lifeguard on duty.

Here’s a list of the most important safety guidelines for each type of situation your family might encounter:

Safety for Kids
Make supervision mandatory. Teach your kids that it’s only okay to swim if there’s an adult nearby. This will train away the temptation for them to go swimming while you are at work or running errands.
Install a safety fence. Experts recommend 4 feet in height with slats close enough together that kids can’t squeeze through. Make sure there are no footholds for climbers.
Install an alarm. A water-level pool alarm is another safety measure that you can install so that you will be alerted when someone jumps or falls in the pool.
Pool Safety Rules for Kids
Teach them to dive carefully. Make sure children understand the difference between the shallow-end and the deep-end of the pool. If they are old enough, you can teach them how to read pool depths on the edge of the pool.
Wear sunscreen. It is critical that you and your children wear sunscreen when you are outside for an extended period. This will prevent painful and unsightly sunburns as well as protect your skin health in the long term.
Get rid of chewing gum. It’s easy to forget something as seemingly harmless as gum, but chewing gum is an additional choking hazard that becomes even more dangerous while you’re swimming.
Safety for Pets
Install a perimeter fence. For a similar reason as kids, a fence should be installed around the pool to protect your animals.
Not all pool covers are made equal. A pool cover that isn’t made specifically with safety in mind is a potential risk for animals. In fact, it can sometimes fool animals into thinking it is a sturdy, traversable path.
Don’t assume your pet can swim. Be especially careful around your pets if they haven’t been acquainted with water at a young age. Not all animals are natural swimmers.
Teach them how to exit the pool. If you are letting your pet swim, you should have steps or a ramp that they can exit from. Make sure they can enter and exit the pool on their own.
Pool Safety Tips for Pets
Sun Exposure Safety
Always wear sunscreen! While some exposure to sunlight can be enjoyable, too much can be dangerous. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can result in painful sunburn, or even serious health problems like skin cancer or premature aging.
Wear protective clothing. Long-sleeved shirts, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses protect your body and eyes from harmful rays, but should still be supplemented with sunscreen.
Check the UV Index. Remember, the sun can be harmful even if you aren’t swimming. It can be useful to know how intense the sun’s rays are throughout the day by checking the UV index issued by the National Weather Service. Their rating will help you figure out what times of day you should be most cautious or even stay inside.
Sun Exposure Safety for Kids
UV Suggestion Sunburn Time

0-2 Minimal protection is needed – Wearing a hat is sufficient More than 1 hour

3-4 Low – Hat and sunscreen with at least SPF 15 is recommended More than 1 hour

5-6 Moderate – Wearing a hat, applying sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and taking shade whenever possible is recommended About 30 minutes

7-9 HIGH – In addition to the precautions recommended above, it is advised to stay indoors between 10am and 4pm About 20 minutes

10+ VERY HIGH – In addition to the precautions recommended above, it is advised to stay indoors, if possible Less than 15 minutes

For More Information
For a complete guide for responsible safety habits, visit our Pool Safety Resource center. There you can find information on Pool Safety Equipment, Hot Tub Safety, Above Ground Pool Safety, and more.

You can find water safety brochures & booklets with a wealth of information about pools, spas, and hot tubs at APSP.

You can also visit NationalWaterSafetyMonth.org for more tips on how to promote water safety all year long.

02/25/2021

02/25/2021

Here's how much it costs to get a pool installed, according to Home Advisor.

02/21/2021

How to Choose the Right Pool Cleaner for You

The decision to get a pool naturally involves a great deal of research. From shapes and sizes, to colors and features, you go to painstaking effort to determine every detail. Now that it's installed, how do you keep your investment looking its best? Maintenance and regular cleaning are crucial to the longevity of your pool.

Automatic pool cleaner
Not unlike your home, your pool is easier to keep clean if done consistently. The more time that passes between cleanings, the more effort it will take to get it back to sparkling. An automatic pool cleaner is your best tool for establishing a regular cleaning routine, but manual options are available as well for precision cleaning.

Automatic Pool Cleaners
When first introduced, automatic pool cleaners simply served to agitate floor debris, with the expectation that it would eventually reach the skimmer or the main drain. Today, cleaners actually vacuum debris as well as circulate, providing a far more effective means to keep your pool pristine. Among the automatic pool cleaners, there are three main options – robotic, pressure (or pressure-side), and suction cleaners.

Each type of automatic pool cleaner has its own pros and cons, so you’ll need to determine what best works for your needs. When making your selection, the type of pool you have should be considered as well. Specifically, if you have a vinyl liner or above ground pool , talk to your local pool to make sure that the cleaner or vacuum you select is compatible.

Robotic Pool Cleaners
Robotic Pool Cleaners
Among the most popular cleaners available, robotic cleaners operate completely independent of the pool pump and filter system, requiring no hose connections. The cleaner’s autonomy from your pool equipment keeps it from consuming pressure and adding to overall pool costs, but it does require low-voltage electricity run through a ground fault interrupter circuit to operate.

Abilities of the robotic pool cleaner vary depending on the model, but all are fairly simple to operate. Just drop it in the pool and leave it to do its job. The cleaner will work its way around the pool surface, using small brushes and vacuum pressure to remove everything from dirt and algae to debris of all sizes.

The higher-end robotic cleaners can climb walls, work over stairs, and scrub all the way to the waterline. Many even scan your pool for a strategic path and learn a routine for regular cleaning. Optional quick clean or deep clean cycles let the pool owner determine their particular cleaning needs. You will have to put the unit in for each clean and remove it after, but otherwise the cleaning process is fully automated.

3 Advantages of Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaners
Robotic pool cleaners don’t need to be attached to your pool.
Energy efficient – Robotic pool cleaners run on very little power (about the same amount as a standard light bulb).
They are capable of cleaning nearly all types of debris.
Pressure or Pressure-Side Pool Cleaners
Pressure or Pressure-Side Pool Cleaners
Water that is pushed or pumped back into the inground pool through a “return” provides the power for a pressure-side cleaner. This can be done through the existing returns powered by the pool’s filter pump or by an independent line dedicated to cleaning, known as a booster pump.

The basics are the same on both models – the cleaner relies on water pressure and three separate ports to stir up debris, propel the cleaner, and suction debris into a collection bag. The booster pump option uses higher pressure levels and can work with a time clock to fully automate the cleaning. This does make it more expensive to purchase and operate than its lower pressure counterpart. It’s common practice by some inground pool owners to leave a pressure side vacuum cleaner in their pool even when swimming rather than moving it in and out of the pool, though you can’t forget to empty the debris collection bag periodically.

3 Advantages of Pressure Pool Vacuum Cleaners
Pressure pool vacuums are clog-free.
Capable of handling larger debris – pressure pool cleaners can vacuum up a large assortment of debris.
Pressure pool cleaners can run on a timer (with a booster pump).
Suction Pool Cleaners
Suction Pool Cleaners
As the name implies, suction pool vacuum cleaners rely on the suction side of the pool equipment to clean. They connect to the pool skimmer or a dedicated suction line and work around the pool collecting debris and sending it out through the pool’s filtration system.

The cleaner is propelled around the pool by the movement of the water being sucked through it once the hose is connected and the filter pump is running. Movement is automatic once connected, but it is random. Designs and features vary, including the ability of some models to climb walls.

Suction pool cleaners are the most cost-efficient cleaners, but they also tend to have more moving parts that need to be replaced over time. Additionally, their reliance on the pool filter to clean the water can create the need for more frequent filter cleanings.

3 Advantages of Suction Pool Vacuum Cleaners
Suction pool vacuum cleaners operate using the existing filtration system.
Looking to save money? Suction pool cleaners are the most affordable automatic pool cleaning option.
Suction cleaners move in patterns to clean the entire pool.
Manual Pool Vacuum Cleaners
Manual Pool Vacuum Cleaners
Automatic cleaners can be indispensable in the continued maintenance of a pool, but some clean ups require a more hands-on approach. If a thunder storm or sand storm tosses an excessive amount of debris in your pool, or you are attempting to remove an algae problem, a manual pool vacuum is a necessity.

Manual pool vacuums typically consist of a vacuum head, a vacuum hose, and a telescoping pole. The hose is connected to the vacuum head at one end and the water intake nozzle on your pool skimmer at the other. With the vacuum head submerged and against the pool surface, once the hose fills with water, it creates suction that will hold the vacuum head tight against the pool floor or walls.

When researching options for various pool cleaner models and brands, remember that it is always advisable to rely on the knowledge of a local pool professional – your pool builder or a local pool retailer. They can provide invaluable perspective on the unique needs of your region and your pool.

3 Advantages of Manual Pool Vacuums
Manual pool vacuums are the only pool cleaning option that can remove tough algae.
They can be useful for spot cleaning before a pool party or swim day.
They are cheaper than automatic pool cleaners.