Keeping an above ground swimming pool clean during the swimming season can quickly become an undesirable chore. You probably want to spend your time doing anything but brushing the pool every day. If you are looking for the best automatic pool cleaner for above ground pools, then you may read my above ground pool cleaner guide.
Introduction
Automatic pool cleaners for above ground residential pools are made in three basic flavors, I mean types. Suction-side and pressure-side pool cleaners rely on the swimming pool pump or a booster pump for their cleaning power. A robotic pool cleaner has its own internal motors and filter baskets.
Most pool owners are probably familiar with automatic suction cleaners. This type of pool cleaner is usually a low-priced option to buy, yet it relies on the pool pump and filter for its operation. It is typically installed into the skimmer basket. This might increase both the strain on the pool’s filtration system and the overall electricity costs. Nonetheless, suction-side pool cleaners are not difficult to install, and they often require very little maintenance.
Pressure-side automatic pool cleaners are connected to the pressure return line of the swimming pool’s pumping system. This pressure moves the pool cleaner around the pool while it blows dirt and leaves into its own filter bags. In contrast with suction pool cleaners, you might need to install an extra booster pump to provide additional pressure to ensure optimal operation of most pressure pool cleaners.
If you are a fan of robotic gadgets, then the obvious choice is to get a robotic pool cleaner for your above ground swimming pool. Of course, pool robots are expensive, yet they are both easy to use and very energy efficient when compared to other pool cleaner types. Still, you will need a suitable outlet near the pool where you can plug in the power supply.
So, without wasting any more time, here are my suggestions for the best suction-side, pressure-side, robotic and Intex automatic pool cleaners for above ground pools.
Best Suction Pool Cleaner For Above Ground Pools
I think that the Hayward Aquabug is the best suction-side above ground automatic pool cleaner. Although, it has a very unusual design and quirky name, but this might be one of the reasons why it is so popular.
The Aquabug suction-side pool cleaner gets its vacuum power from the swimming pool pump. The hoses are connected to either the skimmer or to a dedicated suction port. The Aquabug is made to clean permanently installed above ground pools.
The Hayward Aquabug (which I reviewed here) is not the only model available. There are two other models you can choose: Diver Dave and Wanda the Whale. The internal parts are the same, even though the outer shell and appearance is different. If you do not like the look of a pool bug, then you might try the whale or Diver Dave.
Why is the Hayward Aquabug the best suction-side pool cleaner for above ground pools? Here are a few reasons why it might be a popular, but unconventional choice:
- It is easy to install and use
- Available at an affordable price
- A unique yet popular above ground pool cleaner
- It gets favorable reviews from the majority of owners
- Improves overall water circulation
If you like the whimsical designs of the Hayward Aquabug and its friends, then you may read more about it on Amazon (paid link).
Best Above Ground Pool Pressure Cleaner
The Polaris Vac-Sweep 65 might be the only, and therefore the best, pressure-side pool cleaner for above ground pools. It connects to the water return line of a residential above ground swimming pool.
The Polaris Vac-Sweep 65 has a unique design that consists of a surface module with a float hose and a jet sweep assembly with a sweep hose and filter bag attachment. Water jets flowing out of the surface module and jet sweep assembly help to remove dirt from the swimming pool walls and to push debris into the attached filter bag. The filter bag collects debris as it drags along the bottom.
The Polaris Vac-Sweep 65 does not always work in every above ground pool. A few owners did not like it at all, while other users liked it immediately. The key concern is that the floating hose can get tangled up, preventing the pressure pool cleaner from doing its cleaning work.
You can learn more about this automatic pressure cleaner for above ground pools by reading my Polaris Vac-Sweep 65 review.
Best Robotic Above Ground Pool Cleaner
Many years ago, I recommended the Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i (reviewed here). However, it seems like many Aquabot robotic pool cleaners have been discontinued. In light of that, I have changed my recommendation to the Dolphin Escape robotic above ground pool cleaner.
Unlike the Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i, the Dolphin Escape has rubber tracks that could offer better traction when compared to wheels. In contrast with the Aquabot, it has an active rotating brush for scrubbing the pool floor. Moreover, the Dolphin Escape uses a filter basket for filtration instead of filter bags. However, it has a higher suggested retail price when compared with the Aquabot Pool Rover.
The Dolphin Escape (read its review right here) is a robotic above ground pool cleaner with a 40-foot floating cable that can clean pool sizes up to 30 feet. It has great features such as an active scrubbing brush, continuous rubber tracks and a top-load filter basket.
The 90-minute cleaning cycle should be enough to clean an above ground swimming pool, unless there is a lot of dirt or leaves to remove. The Dolphin Escape only cleans the floor of the pool, so you will still have to brush the walls occasionally.
There is one feature that the Dolphin Escape does not have, and that is an anti-tangle swivel cable. This increases the risk of the floating power cord getting twisted. If this happens, then you will have to untangle the cord by hand.
A better suggestion than the Dolphin Escape for the best robotic pool cleaner for above ground pools escapes my mind at the moment. You can click here to read more on Amazon (paid link).
Although, I have just remembered that the Dolphin E10 robotic pool cleaner has similar specifications, so it could be a good second choice. Anyway, you can read my Dolphin E10 review to learn more about it.
Best Pool Cleaner For Soft Intex Above Ground Pools
There used to be only one pool cleaner to recommend: the Intex 28001E automatic pool cleaner. It is made by Intex for cleaning a soft-sided Intex above ground swimming pool. However, there are now also other models available, which you may read about by viewing my Intex automatic pool cleaner review.
The Intex 28001E is a pressure-side pool cleaner that is connected to the water return line of an Intex above ground pool. It needs a filter pump with a flow rate of at least 1200 GPH, even though a few owners have suggested that a filter pump with a flow rate of at least 2500 GPH is a more realistic figure. The bottom line is that it cleans better with a bigger filter pump. You may read my Intex 28001E review for more details on this inexpensive pool cleaner.
The Intex 28001E automatic pool cleaner is cheap to buy and maintain. If you own a soft-sided Intex swimming pool, then this is the only automatic pool cleaner you might need (click here for pricing on Amazon – paid link).
Conclusion
There are one or two other automatic above ground pool cleaners that could make the list, such as the Zodiac Ranger suction-side above ground pool cleaner. If you do not like the childish design of the Hayward Aquabug, then the Zodiac Ranger is the second-best choice (read my Ranger review).
I might add more examples to this guide in the future, even though I cannot think of any more examples at the moment.
To conclude, the automatic pool cleaners mentioned above is a good selection of the best above ground pool cleaners that money can buy. Keep it above ground, keep it clean, and keep swimming!