Best pool cleaner for above ground?

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QuiltinMom

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Platinum Supporter
Mar 24, 2013
203
Central Iowa
Hello,

Since the weather is starting to change here in Central Iowa I would like to start thinking about the pool and what things I need to be doing. However, there is still quite a layer of ice on it, but at least I can be prepared!!!!

So, we bought a used above ground pool and it had a Wanda the Whale cleaner with it. We could never get Wanda to work properly last year (our first year with this pool) and that was my biggest source of trouble was keeping the gunk off of the bottom of the pool. The pool is too tall for me to be able to reach over the side and reach the bottom with a net to clean so I would really like something automatic that will pick up the gunk on the bottom for me.

What is the best automatic cleaner for the size pool I have (hopefully my pool info is still showing in my signature) for around a couple hundred dollar or so. I also need to keep in mind the pump we have as I think you all had advised that it was a little on the small size for this pool. So do I need something with a booster pump?

Would love to find a great sale before the pool season is in full swing.

THANKS so much.
 
I only have experience with Dolphin cleaners, but it's hard to imagine one that performs better than my M5. The Dolphin Z5 Oasis also gets very good reviews. For a pool that large, I would suggest one in this category at least. Don't skimp on a robot. $$=Cleaning power. :goodjob:
 
Doing a google search I am planning on sticking with my suction cleaner unless someone has adviceon a robot none seem to be able to handle a 42 foot AG. Some will do thefloor but without getting the sides would it bewotth it?
 
Re-visiting this post as I did not ever purchase a pool cleaner yet.

Any more advice for me? I would like a robot, but do they work off of the pool pump or do they have their own drive system? I don't want to over work our pump if it is on the small side already.

Pool is a lovely shade of green and I need to get busy on it. This is the last week of school for the kids and the weather is going to turn and stay nice one of these days!!!

THANKS!!
 
The Wanda vac is rated very highly. Instead of buying a new vac, I would suggest you consider buying a new pump that can provide the right amount of suction. I hesitate to recommend a different cleaner because they all work the same and you will likely be disappoint. Your pump is the place to start.
 
Aquabot makes cleaners for AGPs. I have one called the Swimmer. I have had it for four months and I wish I had skipped all other cleaners. It cost me about $350 but you can find them a little cheaper if you shop around.
 
There are basically 3 types of pool cleaners

suction cleaners like Wanda, Kreepy Kraully, etc

pressure cleaners, these usually need their own pressure booster pump so I will go into more details

and robot cleaners which are powered by electricity and drag a power cord around

Of the 3 suction cleaners are the cheapest from under $100 for cheaper import models to around $400 for the latest brand name super duper models, but if your pump does not generate enough suction to power them there is no point in considering them without a pump ugprade

This leaves robots which run from about $500 - $1,800, again this is somewhat of a get what you pay for unless you find a deal, I owned 2 Dolphin Diagnostics like you were considering (actually one was a Diagnostic Pro, but for all practical purposes they were the same, and recently switched to an Aquabot Turbo T) The thing I don't like about the older Maytronics Dolphin designs is the potential repair cost as they must be shipped back in for repair and they don't sell many repair parts, they also have a high enough minimum repair charge that it goes along way towards buying a new robot. I have also read but things about Aquabot repair service, but at least you can buy the parts and do it yourself with most of their stuff.

Ike
 

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My Wanda the Whale works great. I am very happy with it. I usually toss it in every Saturday AM for a couple hours. It cruises around pretty good on high, and even works on low speed too, just not as fast. Have you tried to call Hayward maybe they can help troubleshoot Wanda.
 
f3justusc said:
The Wanda vac is rated very highly. Instead of buying a new vac, I would suggest you consider buying a new pump that can provide the right amount of suction. I hesitate to recommend a different cleaner because they all work the same and you will likely be disappoint. Your pump is the place to start.
Click to expand...

I guess how do I know if it is Wanda or if it is the pump? Wanda will run for a while and walk around the bottom and then her little feet stop and there is no suction (if I remember correctly). Wanda is probably several years old. Is there a way to re-vamp her and put new life in to her or would we be better off getting something different?

THANKS!!!
 
Isaac-1 said:
There are basically 3 types of pool cleaners

suction cleaners like Wanda, Kreepy Kraully, etc

pressure cleaners, these usually need their own pressure booster pump so I will go into more details

and robot cleaners which are powered by electricity and drag a power cord around

Of the 3 suction cleaners are the cheapest from under $100 for cheaper import models to around $400 for the latest brand name super duper models, but if your pump does not generate enough suction to power them there is no point in considering them without a pump ugprade

This leaves robots which run from about $500 - $1,800, again this is somewhat of a get what you pay for unless you find a deal, I owned 2 Dolphin Diagnostics like you were considering (actually one was a Diagnostic Pro, but for all practical purposes they were the same, and recently switched to an Aquabot Turbo T) The thing I don't like about the older Maytronics Dolphin designs is the potential repair cost as they must be shipped back in for repair and they don't sell many repair parts, they also have a high enough minimum repair charge that it goes along way towards buying a new robot. I have also read but things about Aquabot repair service, but at least you can buy the parts and do it yourself with most of their stuff.

Ike
Click to expand...

So, do you all think I need to upgrade the pump? Or can I just add another pump or what would be the best way to proceed? I just don't want to spend all summer cleaning the pool and not being able to enjoy it. If I need a different cleaner I will get one, but if you think a pump would be the better investment then I will look in to that. I am open to suggestions. Have no idea what to look for in a pump. Buy used or only new? What size? Another sand filter? THANKS!!!
 
From my experience with suction cleaners, if the cleaner stops moving it's due to lack of pressure. For my system this simply means I need to backwash my sand filter. I'm using an inexpensive Pentair GW8000 Kreepy Krauly Lil Shark. It works so well that I've had no desire to spend several hundred on anything fancy. Unless I'm having a party I leave mine in everyday for the 6~7 hour run-time and my pool bottom stays 99% spotless. I'm using a Hayward 1 HP Power-Flow Matrix pump with a Hayward 18" filter.
 
In general I would say a 1HP pump should be enough, but not all 1HP pumps are equal so this is really hard to know for sure. By chance do you know someone else with a pool with a larger pump that you could try your Wanda in?
 
While your filter is on the small side, your pump is plenty large enough for your pool and plenty large enough to run a suction side cleaner effectively.

I've owned several suction side cleaners and presently have a cheapy from Amazon. I paid about $80 for it and it works as well as any of the other cleaners that I've owned. The trick to any suction cleaner is getting the suction and weights right, and in your case, keeping the filter clean enough to not restrict it.
 
I've been using a pool rover jr. since 2010 and I'm very pleased with the way it cleans. My only grip is the cord twists up so much that the cleaner can't get clear across the pool. I believe I have an earlier model and maybe this problem has been corrected. It is not dependent on the pool pump.
 
The above ground pool my parents have we use the Polaris Vac Sweep. It connects to the water outlet jet with a quick connect fitting. This will sweep leaves and the fine stuff gets mixed back up and the filter takes care of it. The skimmer is still open to take care of the surface debris. You won't ever have to hand vacuum with this guy.
 
All - sorry I have been so slow to respond. I had my settings set to receive notifications of updates to the thread, but I had an old, unused e-mail address listed. I have now updated it.

So what do you recommend I do? I am fine with cleaning out the filter a little more often. Is my pump size big enough to run Wanda? If so, why does it lose suction or Wanda stops working? Do I need to replace Wanda or do I need a larger pump or is there a possibility there is something else going on? What would cause Wanda to stop? Seems like when she was moving she was doing an awesome job of cleaning, but then I would look in and she had stopped.
 

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