Replace Kreepy with another Kreepy?

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sdmark

sdmark

Bronze Supporter
Mar 13, 2016
51
San Diego, CA
Pool Size
17500
Surface
Fiberglass
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
I have an in-ground pool in San Diego, about 15K gallons, more or less kidney-shaped, so the only 90-degree corners are where the wall divides the pool from the spa. Resurfaced in fiberglass in 2005, which is holding up well.

I bought a Kreepy Krauly classic K70405 in 2013. The hose goes directly into the skimmer so it just runs four hours a day with the pump. I count on it to clean up leaves and debris (the pool is surrounded by trees) and also to "brush" the bottom and sides of the pool to dislodge algae that may be forming.

The Kreepy used to work okay, though it seemed subject to a lot of variability depending on pump speed, depth, jet direction, etc. Over time, I had to replace all the hose sections, which I did with (somewhat heavier) after-market sections. Then the pleated seal deteriorated I replaced it with an aftermarket seal that has never "stuck" to the bottom as well. More recently, the two wings on the side fell off, which may explain why the unit now floats an inch or two off the bottom as it moves around.

What's my best move now? Keep the old one but buy all new genuine parts? Buy a new Kreepy? Which one? The 360042 looks closest to what I have, but the K60430 Kruiser is $100 less. This podcast favors the Classic for better debris pickup, which I have a lot of--I'm used being able to yank a stuck twig out of the throat of the Kreepy when it stops clicking. I saw one recommendation for a Zodiac MX8 or G3 over a Kreepy (for vinyl). In this 2011 thread, the PoolCleaner is the bees' knees. Budget is probably up to $400.

If there is some unbiased review and comparison of current models, I'd be glad to see a link.

Thanks,

Mark
 
You'll hear primarily recommendations for a robotic cleaner, because they do an awesome job and with their fine filters installed can also clean the water a fair bit. I'm the loner that likes suction cleaners because, for me, they're less work, the debris all goes to the filter which is easy to clean, no tangled hose catching surface debris and looking out of place where everything else is neat and tidy, and you just leave them in without a worry and they clean all the time. I only take the suction cleaner out for large pool parties just to have it out of the way (and one grandie with an irrational fear of it, haha.) If those aspects are less important for you, get a robot; they're great.

I use all three suction cleaners you mention, although my "the pool cleaner" is a pentair rebel ('warrior' in the States TBMK). My take is that if you don't mind the thumping and replacing the diaphragm then the old original creepy does a nice job on most debris and rubs the walls more than the others. The MX8 elite is pretty good at walls. The downside of the MX8 is the number of moving parts which seems to me to lead to more fouling needing cleanout. There's also the cost to replace the brushes which wear out fairly quickly on plaster. The tracks need fairly frequent replacement if you want it to climb. The brushes probably wouldn't wear out very fast on fibreglass. There's a rebuild kit for the MX8 that includes new tracks, and you'll need to do it around once every three years. It will start rotating but not change direction properly and then eventually find a single spot to stay at, so you know when the rebuild is needed. The pentair rebel has the longest lasting hose but climbs walls only at high flow (clean filter, high speed), and has no rubbing effect other than tyre slippage. The rebel goes the longest with no attention.

I have no experience with fibreglass, but I do have a theory related to all cleaners. Wall climbing is more difficult on a smooth surface. The basic plaster pool I look after gets good climbing from all the cleaners, including the robot. The pools with glass beads embedded in the plaster are more of a challenge for climbing by all the cleaners.
 
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Thanks for the replies. Gives me some helpful things to think about. Even if I were to drop $1000+ on a good robot, would I really want one? My pool maintenance routine is decidedly lazy. Or rather, I have other things going on in my life than going out twice a day to drop in and remove a robot. I sometimes go four or five days without going out to the pool. Then I'll glance out and see that the water is getting cloudy or that the Kreepy isn't clacking so I'd better bump the chlorine or empty the skimmer. Which is to say, I want a cleaner that will just work every day without my attention. Maybe the Hayward PoolCleaner or similar does that as well?

Hmm, even diaphragms and wheels and treads and brushes on suction-side cleaners... Maybe I'm still a Kreepy guy.
 
I probably would be a kreepy guy, lol, except for all the glass pool fences. The cliacking/thumping seems to ring through the concrete into the glass making a very noticeable noise. I can't speak for hayward "the pool cleaner". They bought it from poolverneugen and there was some chatter about quality changing and not in a good way, but I have no knowledge to know if that was true or not. The pentair warrior chugs away with no attention, just not good at rubbing anything, as 'the pool cleaner' would also not rub much (both just tire slippage.) The benefit of the kreepy is they pretty much eliminate any need for brushing.

p.s. A lot of people leave their robots in the pool. Opinions vary whether that's good or not. Some have timers to run them on a schedule, which indirectly suggests leaving them in the pool is fine. Robots are the peak of brushing competence.
 
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Well, Crud. Clicked on some related posts below, looked at a robot comparison, watched a video... here I go down the robot rabbit hole! I was so close to being happy with replacing the status quo... Actually I think what you mentioned earlier, that some cleaners can be left in the pool and set on a schedule, may make a difference. We'll see.

Meanwhile I've got a major manual brushing job because the Kreepy isn't kreeping right!
 
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