Should I get a robot?

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EmilyOTR

EmilyOTR

Bronze Supporter
Feb 15, 2017
767
Ferndale, MI
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I bought my house last year and a Polaris 380 vacuum was left for us. it does ok. I have a giant Oak tree that hangs over my pool. lots of stuff falls in the spring and acorns fall in the fall. Acorns rip my vacuum bags and they are $40 each. Plus the cost of my booster pump running the Polaris. Would I be better off with a robot? How do I even begin to know which one to get if I do decide on this?
 
I just picked up a Dolphin s300 and am impressed how well it works. I had a suction side unit, a Pentair Rebel that worked well but I could not run the skimmer at the same time unless I disconnected it. I also like the fact that the robot does not live in the pool so no having to swim around the hoses any more only clear blue water now.

My pool is also surrounded by tall trees and in the spring and fall when the wind blows a lot of debris falls into the pool. My solution to this is a pool leaf net that covers the surface and keeps the debris on top and is easily removed. I pull the net off after the leaf/seed drop and when the wind subsides.
 
I would have no hesitation recommending the Dolphin Active 20 or similar though I don’t have experience with how well they pick up acorns.
 
bmoreswim said:
I would have no hesitation recommending the Dolphin Active 20 or similar though I don’t have experience with how well they pick up acorns.
Click to expand...

Well maybe a better question is: I seem to have large debris rather than small. Are robots not as good for larger debris?
 
Emily, its going to be difficult for anyone to definitively answer the question.

I have a similar situation with acorns. The deciding factor, is how large is the suction port in the bottom of the robot. If its smaller than the acorn, ..... well thats the delimma.

I will stick my neck out and say that any of the robots have plenty of suction power. I dont think thats an issue at all.

My robot will pick up anthing less than about 1/2 inch in size. Anything larger, and they get stuck. Personally, I just use my net for a couple of minutes and scoop out the majority of acorns, and let the robot get the few which are left.
 
Hi Emily,

I have the Doheny's Discovery. I also have two large oak trees right behind my pool. The acorns are so bad that my first year here I didn't clean them up and they killed the grass in a lot of spots (there were small piles of them). That being said your concern was my #1 concern. This robot has had no issues whatsoever and I say get it. The basket is large and holds a ton of them. As you know the oak tree leaves are large and thick/tough. It still picks them up but they are so big that the basket fills quickly. Oaks in my area drop the leaves very late so if I close by mid October it's not an issue. Just don't expect it to be great at clearing an entire tree's worth. I love the two scrubbing wheels on the robot too. It scrubs the walls and floor great and if I keep leaves out of my pool over the winter I never look at the vacuum (I learned to keep the leaf net on all winter). I can't recommend the Doheny's enough. I made a cheesy video review of it :) Dohenys Discovery Review - YouTube The only thing is I said it was the fine filter it was showing, it wasn't it was the regular one. The fine filter is like a cartridge filter material and really helps to filter even further.
 
MannyT said:
Emily, here is a review youtube video that might give you and idea of the type debris it will pickup. Dolphin S300i Robotic Pool Cleaner by Maytronics - Smartphone MyDolphinâ„¢ app control - YouTube
Here is another review Maytronics Dolphin S300i - YouTube

I just purchased an Active 30i the functional equivalent of the S300i and I love it. I hope these videos help you decide.
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thanks, now I'm watching quite a few videos. One question - I went to the maytronics site and it seems there are no stores listed on the Where to Buy in the US. how weird? I'd like to buy at a brick and mortar location.
 
EmilyOTR said:
thanks, now I'm watching quite a few videos. One question - I went to the maytronics site and it seems there are no stores listed on the Where to Buy in the US. how weird? I'd like to buy at a brick and mortar location.
Click to expand...

Did you go to Dolphin Automatic Pool Cleaners : Go Robotic with Maytronics

I just did a quick check and there is one called Viscount Pools, in Madison Height I think that is like 8 miles or so from Ferndale, MI. There is also others.

Now is a good time to buy a Dolphin cleaner because they have rebates on some of their cleaners.
 

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A chainsaw would be cheaper ;)

Seriously, can you remove or prune back the tree? I had a mesquite tree near my pool and it was a royal PITA. Then I was talking to my neighbor and he said he hated the tree too (it was between our properties) and so we hatched a plan. The tree came down the next weekend.

Chainsaw + beer = fun

(Please Note that any alcoholic beverages should be consumed only after the conclusion of using gas powered landscaping equipment...)
 
JoyfulNoise said:
A chainsaw would be cheaper ;)

Seriously, can you remove or prune back the tree? I had a mesquite tree near my pool and it was a royal PITA. Then I was talking to my neighbor and he said he hated the tree too (it was between our properties) and so we hatched a plan. The tree came down the next weekend.

Chainsaw + beer = fun

(Please Note that any alcoholic beverages should be consumed only after the conclusion of using gas powered landscaping equipment...)
Click to expand...

I'd love more than anything to chop down the tree. it's not on my property. It's an Oak and it can't be trimmed now due to Oak wilt or something. Unfortunately it's a 100 year old healthy tree. it leans over my house, so it looks ominous but the former owner says every 5 years or more they trim it, but that's it. I think I'd get kicked out of my tree loving neighborhood if I cut it down. :(
 
Divin Dave said:
Emily, its going to be difficult for anyone to definitively answer the question.

I have a similar situation with acorns. The deciding factor, is how large is the suction port in the bottom of the robot. If its smaller than the acorn, ..... well thats the delimma.

I will stick my neck out and say that any of the robots have plenty of suction power. I dont think thats an issue at all.

My robot will pick up anthing less than about 1/2 inch in size. Anything larger, and they get stuck. Personally, I just use my net for a couple of minutes and scoop out the majority of acorns, and let the robot get the few which are left.
Click to expand...

Thanks! it's not acorn season but aren't acorns larger than 1/2 inch?? I'd say an acorn is an inch at least?
 
Nectarologist said:
Hi Emily,

I have the Doheny's Discovery. I also have two large oak trees right behind my pool. The acorns are so bad that my first year here I didn't clean them up and they killed the grass in a lot of spots (there were small piles of them). That being said your concern was my #1 concern. This robot has had no issues whatsoever and I say get it. The basket is large and holds a ton of them. As you know the oak tree leaves are large and thick/tough. It still picks them up but they are so big that the basket fills quickly. Oaks in my area drop the leaves very late so if I close by mid October it's not an issue. Just don't expect it to be great at clearing an entire tree's worth. I love the two scrubbing wheels on the robot too. It scrubs the walls and floor great and if I keep leaves out of my pool over the winter I never look at the vacuum (I learned to keep the leaf net on all winter). I can't recommend the Doheny's enough. I made a cheesy video review of it :) Dohenys Discovery Review - YouTube The only thing is I said it was the fine filter it was showing, it wasn't it was the regular one. The fine filter is like a cartridge filter material and really helps to filter even further.
Click to expand...

thanks for the review! So it can pick up acorns. you said this is like the Dolphin s200?
 
EmilyOTR said:
I bought my house last year and a Polaris 380 vacuum was left for us. it does ok. I have a giant Oak tree that hangs over my pool. lots of stuff falls in the spring and acorns fall in the fall. Acorns rip my vacuum bags and they are $40 each. Plus the cost of my booster pump running the Polaris. Would I be better off with a robot? How do I even begin to know which one to get if I do decide on this?
Click to expand...


I am considering ditching the auto cleaner in general. In my situation, I would be quicker to set up a manual vacuum hose and just clean out what I need at that moment. What happens most of the time is, the auto cleaner is roving around the pool for an hour or 3 trying to pick up what I need done immediately and everyone is waiting to get in. I don't have a large pool btw. 16 x 32.
 
MannyT said:
If you need to clean a certain spot use your Iphone or remote to pickup it up. If not, just drop it in and come back in 2hrs and your pool will be clean.
Click to expand...

The Dolphin T45 works well and does a fairly thorough job : https://maytronicsus.com/product/t45/

The unit works will out of the box. Just drop it in and turn it on.

The App is nice and you can "Joystick" over and manually pick up debris.

Sounds like a lot of great choices out there.
 

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