| Aquabot: a Pool Vacuum Review |
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Aquabot: a robotic pool cleaner? Looks pretty cool, but is it worth the $?
Getting maximum enjoyment out of your pool means minimizing maintenance. Read below to get advice on pool filters that save you time. I'll also admit. It's no secret that I think the best buy here is clearly the Aquabot! I have provided some additional information about Pool Vacuums as well for comparison.
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| The Aquabot by Aquaproducts is by far the most convenient in pool cleaner, but it does more than make cleaning easier. Using an Aquabot can make your whole pool system run smoother. Not only do they filter the water, they scrub the pool floor as they operate. | |
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Drop an appropriate Aquabot in your pool (check with the dealers for your pool type) and it gets to work immediately. The first thing you'll notice is you aren't tripping over any hoses. The robotic pool cleaner has an internal filter that filters out sediment in the water it vacuums up. This makes the unit itself more efficient, but makes your existing pool filter more efficient as well. You end up with less debris cycling through the system which improves performance and extends the life of your system. It also helps reduce the need for back washing your filtering system. Back washing is a waste of time and water. Not to mention it wastes chemical.
In fact, by using the Aquabot, the water is circulated so you don't end up with lower chemical concentrations in one part of the pool. There may not be a magic bullet to stop the need for chemicals, but this little guy sure does help by reducing chemical usage. It also creates a more uniform temperature by constantly pushing the water out as it runs. That's how it maintains suction as it travels around.
Ease of use is also a huge advantage to using the Aquabot. Just plug it in and drop it in. The robot goes to work around your pool floor, up the sides (yes! up the sides!), and up stairs. Mine didn't get stuck at the ladder, but I guess it would depend on your ladder. Mine just reversed when it couldn't go forward anymore. Also when it came out of the water, it just went around the perimeter cleaning at the water line. Very nice.
Don't take my word for it though. Check with your dealer or online retailer. Amazon and the other retailers have a pretty thorough description for each product, but you can always check out the manufacturers website as well. |
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There are three major types of pool vacuums. In no particular order, they are: suction powered, pressure powered, and electrically powered. The type you use depends on your pool, your filtering system, and your desired maintenance schedule. We will give you details of each below
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Suction powered pool vacuums usually use your existing filter to suck up debris from the bottom and into the filter. The movement is generated from the suction of the filter. Usually these have hose that attaches to your filter and the move around the bottom. Some must be attached to poles.
Pressure powered are like suction but they push the water back out into the pool. Recirculating the water is beneficial since it helps to equalize temperature and chemical levels. Some pressure powered units must have a booster to supplement the existing filter. Some also use a bag to collect debris instead of adding the debris to the existing filter system. This is beneficial because it reduces strain on the main system.
The electrically powered systems are usually just pressure or suction driven units that are powered by electricity. This provides for robotic units that crawl around the pool on their own. They have pre-programmed patterns, and can also have additional brushes for cleaning the surfaces in addition to sucking up debris. An electrical pool vacuum also takes some strain off the existing filtering system by not using it for propulsion. This helps to extend the life of the unit by eliminating debris and additional suction. |
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| When comparing the Aquabot to another pool vacuum, remember to look at the whole picture. Remember to look at savings for electricity, chemicals and time. Also be sure to understand the implications of how each vacuum works. For example, is it manual or automatic? Below is a compilation of what to look for when searching for your next pool vacuum. | |
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Does the vacuum also scrub or just suck up debris? If it does scrub, do you need to change the brushes at all?
Do you have a filter bag or do you attach it to your existing filter system? What are the cost of the filter bags?
Is it a set and forget pool vacuum, or do you have to manually guide it around the pool? Does it need to be attached to a pole? How about a tube of attached to your filter?
Will the pool vacuum clean the sides of the pool? Do you need additional attachments to clean the sides?
Does a particular pool vacuum provide energy savings over others? Can the dealer or manufacturer quantify them? (usually manufacturers list this on their websites if the retailers don't)
What about moving parts? What's the warranty and how accessible are replacement parts?
What's the return policy if you don't like a particular vacuum? Is there a place with consumer reviews?
Ultimately, online retailers have provided extensive information to compare models with each other. Combined with the manufacturers sites and sites like amazon that let large amounts of people rate products, you get a good picture of what particular pool vacuum will work for you. (Obviously the title of this page gives you my recommendation!)
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| Before you go looking at what pool filter you should by, be sure to research the different types of filters. In general, there are three common types of pool filters: Cartridge Filters, Diatomaceous Earth Filters, and Sand Filters. | |
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Cartridge Filters consist of a filter that sits in a container. It looks like a large aquarium filter. They are generally used in smaller pools, but larger units exist. You clean the filter by hosing down it's cartridge. When it gets too dirty or deteriorates, you just replace it. The positive is you don't need to backwash it. The negative is that they require cleaning more often.
The Diatomaceous Earth Filters are the most efficient filters. These filters work by adding a powder (the diatomaceous earth) to screens. This powder traps dirt. When the screens get clogged, you rinse and add more powder. The screens alone do not work. In fact you have to add more powder everytime you clean (usually once or twice per year on average). The powder traps debris down to 5 to 10 microns (depending on the model). The plus is it's a super filter. The negative is it's a little more complicated to maintain.
The third type of pool filter is a Sand Filter. Sand filters use a special pool sand to filter out debris. The sand gets more efficient as it collects dirt (up to a point). Also, the sand lasts around ten times longer than the diatomaceous earth. It doesn't filter as thoroughly though. It does however clean just as well or better than most cartridge filters. The positive to a sand type pool filter is that it is the most common filter. The negative is that backwashing is a little more complicated.
What ever pool filter you decide on, be sure to get the largest you can. Too small a filter will end up being replaced much sooner. |
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