The most popular cleaning systems used in backyard swimming pools today are:
When comparing these 3 types of cleaning systems, there are a number of important measures, beyond the obvious ability to clean your pool.
How much of your precious TIME does it take to operate each system properly?
Suction cleaners and robotic cleaners are best described as semi-automatic cleaning systems. Once YOU have unpacked them from their hiding place, they need to be positioned in the pool and either connected to a suction point (suction cleaners) or connected to a power point (robotic cleaners). To unpack, install, and then remove your semiautomatic cleaning system will take at least 20 minutes of your precious TIME on each occasion. During summer, when you're using your pool the most, this can be a daily task.
In-floor cleaning systems are the only truly automatic cleaning systems, because they are permanently installed, and operate automatically on a daily basis.
How much of your hard-earned MONEY does it take to operate each system properly? Pool running costs include electricity to run the various pumps, and chemicals to balance and sanitise the water. So it only makes sense to consider both costs when comparing the 3 types of cleaning systems. As each cleaning system operates differently, we have based electricity costs on achieving a standard turnover rate of pool water. It is generally accepted that pool water should be turned over twice a day to achieve good filtration.
Having worked out the electricity costs, we then need to consider the chemical costs, once again this varies with each type of cleaning system. Only the in-floor cleaning system sucks water from both the surface (skimmer box) and the floor (main drain) and returns freshly sanitised water to the floor (in-floor nozzles) to achieve top to bottom circulation. This results in more effective sanitisation of the pool water with up to 50% less chemical costs.
