I'm probably going to buy a <$1000 robot cleaner, but before I do, I want to have an idea of how much time this is going to save me. I spend about 1-2 hours per weekend (2 hours+ this time of year) brushing and vacuuming my 20X40 (9' deep end) in ground salt water pool, vinyl lining. Can using one of the newer, high end robots eliminate the need to brush and vacuum?
How much time do robot cleaners save?
- Thread starter Thurston
- Start date
- May 23, 2015
- 25,713
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
It will eliminate the manual vacuuming and brushing for the most part but you’ll still be taking the cleaner in and out of the pool to clean the filter. Even though they can be left in the pool, the manufacturers all recommend you don’t.
With a big deep vinyl pool, I wouldn’t go cheap as your going to need a robot with ooompf to get up those slopes in the deep end. You’d probably do well with an M series Dolphin. They also sell special foam rollers for vinyl pools that help to clean the smoother vinyl walls better.
If you call Dolphin up they can give you a few models to research that would be best for a vinyl pool. Then you can shop around for a deal in your local area. I’m always a fan of buying local but it depends a lot on what’s available in your area.
With a big deep vinyl pool, I wouldn’t go cheap as your going to need a robot with ooompf to get up those slopes in the deep end. You’d probably do well with an M series Dolphin. They also sell special foam rollers for vinyl pools that help to clean the smoother vinyl walls better.
If you call Dolphin up they can give you a few models to research that would be best for a vinyl pool. Then you can shop around for a deal in your local area. I’m always a fan of buying local but it depends a lot on what’s available in your area.
Taking the robot in and out of the pool sounds good to me. I'll check out the m series, any others I should look at?
I have never vacuumed my pool. I did used to brush the bottom drain when I had a Pentair Legend II pressure cleaner. Since I got the Doheny's Discovery (same as Maytronics S200) last fall I have tried to brush a few times but there is nothing to brush. I still have to brush the benches and steps but that only takes a couple of minutes. I took the cartridges out of the filter today and I was very surprised at how clean they were. Cleanest they've ever been. They were last cleaned in March. There have been some seasons in the past where I had to clean them twice in spring or fall. The robot is making a huge difference in the overall cleanliness of the pool and way less work.
I don't take mine out of the pool except to empty the basket and unwind the cord a bit and weekends when people come over to swim.
I don't take mine out of the pool except to empty the basket and unwind the cord a bit and weekends when people come over to swim.
Actually I'd say I now spend MORE time cleaning the pool than I did before with previous pools. Once you get a good robot and just SEE how much stuff that thing pulls out of your pool... you'll want to toss it in every day.
However the actual work is very different... plug in, toss in pool, go have coffee
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I still give the walls a good brushing once in a while though.
Cheers
Tim
However the actual work is very different... plug in, toss in pool, go have coffee
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I still give the walls a good brushing once in a while though.
Cheers
Tim
I've owned two robots and without a doubt, the most significant factor is this: How easy is it to remove the filter canister...empty it...and reinsert it for the next cleaning cycle. My Dolphin Dynamic used a bag which took me at least 20 minutes to prep for the next go-round. My Polaris 9550 uses a mesh cartridge which takes barely 5 minutes to prep. That robot has saved me dozens of hours of brushing, skimming, and vacuuming this season.
borjis
LifeTime Supporter
So Time also being money, I know my Dolphin E10 is using way less power than using
my hayward navigator suction cleaner with the pump running.
I don't have to deal with priming and putting all the hoses together. Then taking
them apart again hours later. The suction cleaner also had a habit of
being in the deep end more often then not and it was always frustrating
having to wrangle it back into the shallow end to clean up that area.
I too have noticed the pool is much cleaner than ever using a robot.
my hayward navigator suction cleaner with the pump running.
I don't have to deal with priming and putting all the hoses together. Then taking
them apart again hours later. The suction cleaner also had a habit of
being in the deep end more often then not and it was always frustrating
having to wrangle it back into the shallow end to clean up that area.
I too have noticed the pool is much cleaner than ever using a robot.
I also have a vinyl 20x45 pool and am interested in a robot. I think I may be buying one at the start of the next pool season. Currently I spend a couple hours a week vacuuming and brushing.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,713
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
You might look around now. Prices are usually lower at the end of the season. I bought my S300i at the start of this last season and I definitely paid full price for it. The same unit now is running about $300 less than what I paid in April. Marina’s Pool Supply is a good online resource for new robots. They can sell to you over the phone and it counts as a brick & mortar sale which means the warranty is honored by Maytronics.
Just wanted to give this a bump as I'm thinking of buying a robot again. Really interested to hear from folks with large and/or deep in-ground pools and what they've had success with.
- May 3, 2007
- 18,087
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
- May 23, 2015
- 25,713
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
My pool’s not particularly deep so my robot doesn’t have to hold its breath for too long but my understanding is that the M-series are really good for a deep pool as they have the longer cleaning cycles, middle 3rd roller brush and the extra power needed for the deep dives. I do believe there are specialty foam rollers that replace the standard rubber ones for vinyl pools. Search TFP for the M series owners thread.
i have dolphin m500
takes about 2 minutes to plug in and drop in pool
takes average 1.5 hours to do his thing
then about 5-10 minutes to remove and clean and put away
i would say 10 minutes of your time
and it does a much better job than vacuum
takes about 2 minutes to plug in and drop in pool
takes average 1.5 hours to do his thing
then about 5-10 minutes to remove and clean and put away
i would say 10 minutes of your time
and it does a much better job than vacuum
I have a 16x40 FG pool. 9' deep. My S200 does not do a good job on it. It is constantly stuck on the drain. It also slips and slides around on all the curved walls, only making it to the waterline once in a while. Im sending it back. I guess there are some out now with a 3rd roller that are supposed to handle the main drains better. Good luck!
- May 23, 2015
- 25,713
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Yes, the S series robots are not well suited for deep pools. The M series robots have a third brush (in the middle of the unit) and a more powerful motor which gives them greater climbing ability. Unfortunately the M series are quite a bit more expensive...I think the starting prices are around $1200