I need to update my beloved, 13 year old, overhauled, Polaris 280. It has worked SO well I'm thinking of just replacing it with the same model but would like to hear from some previous owners who have switched if they are happy with their chosen replacements. I really wanted to try a bot, but the long term reliability just isn't there.
Polaris 280 Owner Recommendations
- Thread starter like2lean
- Start date
I have a Polaris 280 and an older robot (Dolphin Nautilus).
The Dolphin is more energy efficient and does a noticeably better job than the Polaris of scrubbing the pool walls. It also seems to perform slightly better than the Polaris during heavy leaf drop season (will be a moot point going forward though, as I'm going to cover my pool this coming winter).
Other than these advantages for the robot, I prefer the Polaris. It cleans well overall, is easy/cheap to maintain, and is more convenient (can be left in the pool continuously, whereas robot should only be left in during actual cleaning or it will wear prematurely).
If your booster pump is still in good shape I'd rebuild or replace your existing Polaris.
The Dolphin is more energy efficient and does a noticeably better job than the Polaris of scrubbing the pool walls. It also seems to perform slightly better than the Polaris during heavy leaf drop season (will be a moot point going forward though, as I'm going to cover my pool this coming winter).
Other than these advantages for the robot, I prefer the Polaris. It cleans well overall, is easy/cheap to maintain, and is more convenient (can be left in the pool continuously, whereas robot should only be left in during actual cleaning or it will wear prematurely).
If your booster pump is still in good shape I'd rebuild or replace your existing Polaris.
sktn77a
Gold Supporter
Any reason you don't just overhaul it again. The rebuild kits vary in componentry and cost but are way cheaper than replacing the whole thing or buying a robot.
The body being 13 years old concerned me, all the other plastic gets brittle so thought it might be time for a whole new one. I like the idea of the quattro pressure side that cleans like a robot, but sounds like they have reliability issues. Best bet may be to get a less expensive robot just to scrub 1-2 times a week and keep the 280.
Mine is 20 years old now (probably older). Plastic is still good. Replaced the wheels six years ago (after swapping the around for about ten years), bearings two years ago, tires last year.