Commercial robotic pool cleaners offer several key advantages in getting the pool clean and clear. Reductions in labor and time in getting the pool cleaned manually as well as shortening the completion time overall. Utilizing a robotic cleaner eliminates the human scheduling element as well because a robotic cleaner is ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Investing in a robotic cleaner adds the value of filtering your pool water. This expert level of filtration accomplishes a couple of different things. It adds an additional level of cleanliness and clarity but also takes some of the burden off of main pool filter and other equipment. This lessening of normal “wear and tear” will prolong the life of equipment and also contribute to the optimal mixing of pool chemicals as the robots are continuously working and filtering the water.

In today’s market, there are many different commercial pool cleaners to select from. With this is mind, it’s important to have an understanding of the pool you’re in charge of plus an understanding of features and abilities that are important to you in a cleaner.

-Pool Size

The size of the pool that you are purchasing a cleaner for is probably going to be one of the most important factors to consider when doing research. Each commercial cleaner is rated by its manufacturer for a maximum pool size and a corresponding cord to reflect that length is also included. When thinking about power cord length, you have to consider the distance between the pool and an electrical source. Also, having an appropriate length of cord for the robot to maneuver in the pool is something to factor in. An example of this would be the following: If the commercial cleaner comes with a 100’ cord and it’s 40’ from the power source to your pool then that only leaves you 60’ for the robot to use to move around in the pool. The robot should be able to successfully reach all of the pool corners and not miss any area for cleaning purposes. Something else to consider is that many manufacturers require the robot’s power supply to be a certain distance away from the water’s edge, typically this is 10’ so that’s something to consider as well.

-Wall Climbing

Depending on which robot you are inquiring about, it may or may not climb the pool walls. This is important as some robots can climb and clean the surface of the vertical walls while others are only pool floor cleaners. If you don’t choose a wall cleaning unit, you will have to dedicate man hours to scrubbing and cleaning the walls. We definitely recommend weighing your options and checking the specifics for all robotic cleaners you’re interested in.

-Cleaning Cycles

These days, it’s pretty typical for commercial pool robots to have several different cleaning cycles programmed into the cleaner. These cleaning cycles dictate how long the cleaner will operate before being automatically shut off. Robotic cleaning cycles last anywhere from 3 to 8 hours depending on the robot and brand. Programmable cycles also exist in that the operator can input a cycle time as is desired.

-Remote Controls

Some cleaner models have remote controls included with them. A remote control allows you to take manual control of the robot while it’s in the water. This would help you to direct the cleaner to any problems areas for cleaning or to direct it out of corners or off stairs if it gets stuck.

-Internal Filtration

All commercial pool cleaners utilize some form of internal filtration to cycle the pool water through and collect debris. The method of filtering changes, but the idea behind it doesn’t. There’s usually either a bag or a cartridge depending on the brand and these are removed, cleaned, and reused as is needed.

-Swivel Cord

Because of some robot’s extended power cord lengths, they have had a tendency to get tangled. Many commercial models from many major brands use a power cord on a swivel to prevent this problem.

Caddy

Commercial pool cleaner caddies allow for easy and convenient transportation and storage when not in use. They house the robot as well as the power cord and power supply. Even if the caddy is not included with the robot, then it’s usually available for purchase by itself.

-Size and Weight

Commercial pool robots vary in size and weight. Some of them actually can get fairly heavy so it would be good to take into account the physical abilities of the people operating and handling the robot that you select. It also becomes more difficult if you are not using a caddy when moving it. You may also want to consider the overall cleaner dimensions if storage space is limited.

-Availability of Parts

In addition to the previously mentioned filter bag and cartridges, there are other parts that may need to be changed here and there. These parts would include things like: the impeller, drive belts, brushes, and bearings. Many parts are easily obtainable but it’s still a great idea to check on availability. This becomes even more important for commercial cleaners as down time is costly to the operation of the swimming pool. You’ll want to get replacement parts quickly and you could even consider purchasing some of the most common parts when you buy your selected cleaner so you have them readily available if something were to break or cease working.

We hope that this blog has helped provide some information on what to think about when purchasing a commercial robotic pool cleaner. E-Z Test Pool Supplies sells many different commercial pool robots that are located here and we also sell all of the parts as well right here.