In this post, we will discuss in detail what is a robotic pool cleaner (RPC). It is also called an electric self-propelled pool cleaner. This intelligent machine scrubs your swimming pools to make it clean and dirt-free. It uses an advanced pool-cleaning technology that provides fast, easy and reliable pool maintenance without giving much effort to the pool owners.
It aids with floor scrubbing, wall sweeping, debris collecting, and other cleaning activities that a regular automated pool cleaner is capable of. The one primary difference between a robotic pool cleaner from the conventional pool suction and vacuum cleaner is that you can just run the device and it will do the job by itself without having to do much human interactions at all.
A robotic pool cleaner is similar to a robotic indoor vacuum cleaner, only it is used for swimming pools.
Why use a Robotic Pool Cleaner?
Pool owners use RPC so they can enjoy the luxury of their pools without thinking too much of the burden of keeping the pool clean after utilizing it. Many pool owners are using automated pool cleaners with the mindset that they will have the freedom of keeping their pools dirt-free without spending any time or effort of cleaning their pools afterwards. That is where they are wrong about. Even with an automatic vacuum pool cleaner at hand, there is still work needed to be done. They will have to use a remote control to manipulate the device into the direction they want it to sweep. Without the person taking charge of the remote control, the technology is useless. The long suction tubes connected to the suction cleaner can also tend to be tangling, annoying, and most of the time, messy.
What is great about owning an RPC is that it functions as a plug-and-play machine. You turn it on and it will do the work for you. You don’t just save your energy from doing the manual job of cleaning the pool, but you also save time by doing other chores/relaxing activities while waiting for the robotic pool cleaner to finish its job for you.
Another reason for owning an RPC is that it is cost-effective. If you manage or own a public pool, a commercial pool, or generally a humongous pool, you will need employees to do the pool maintenance for you. You get to pay an employee thousands of dollars per month doing a job that a robotic pool cleaner can do efficiently and effectively as its human counterpart, or even better. And you don’t have to deal with your employee’s health insurance, absenteeism issues, and work complaints. Basically, you only invest one time and spend your valuable money in a robotic pool cleaner and that’s a real cash saver for you and your company.
What are the types of robotic pool cleaner?
There are different types of RPCs. We can categorize these by: (1) its purpose and (2) its pool kind.
Types based on Purpose:
- Domestic
- Commercial
Domestic Robotic Pool Cleaners
A domestic robotic pool cleaner is a type which works best in small swimming pools and basically for private and residential home pools whether it be in-ground pools or above ground pools. This type can be classified together with other robotic machines that help families finish their daily chores, such as vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, and lawn mowers. These robotic machines are not widely used in today’s households, but it is said that it will become more common in the near future.
Commercial Robotic Pool Cleaners
As the name suggests, commercial robotic pool cleaners are used for business-oriented purposes that includes pools found in, but not limited to, resorts, hotels, attraction parks, theme parks, swimming centers, schools, gyms, athletic clubs, and spas. But don’t let the “commercial” label fool you. Commercial RPCs are basically designed to clean much bigger pools compared to small family pools. So even if you run a public pool for free, you can still make use of a commercial robotic pool cleaner.
Types based on Pool Kinds:
- Inground
- Above ground
Above Ground Robotic Pool Cleaner
What sets the above ground different from an inground RPC is that it does not have the ability to climb walls and it is less complex compared to inground type. It is simpler and it does not need to study the full details of your pool landscape.
There is no need for complicated set-up before turning the switch on. All you have to do is turn it on and dip it directly into the pool and away it goes. Although, there is a need to manually move the device from time to time or after each cleaning cycle because it may be stuck in a certain area.
Most above ground pools are either perfectly rectangular or ovular with no complicated extra design. They are not sturdy and not strongly built because commonly, they are just temporary and can be disassembled. This is the reason why some above ground robotic pool cleaners are not designed to climb walls.
Inground Robotic Pool Cleaner
If you are searching to purchase your first RPC, you will probably end up finding an inground pool type because they are more common and more widely used.
This type is more intelligent but more complex, in a sense, than inground type. Depending on the brand’s features, it is able to clean walls, climb stairs, wash corners, and even sweep non-flat surfaces. Unlike above ground pools, inground pools are more fixed, solidly built, wide, and has more curves. A top-performing inground robotic pool cleaner is right for you. It can be set-up in a way that it understands the corners and dimensions of your pool.
As mentioned earlier, what makes it different from an above ground pool cleaner is that it has the ability to suck up to walls, powerfully climb steps, and sweep non-flat surfaces.
What are the parts of a Robotic Pool Cleaner?
We discussed the parts of a robotic pool cleaner in much detail in another blog post. In this post, we are just going to summarize the basic parts for an overview and clear understanding.
- Water Pump
This is one of the electric motors that is responsible for picking up dirt, from granules of dirt to pieces of fallen leaves, and sucks them towards the filter bag.
- Canister Filter
The filter bag is the container where the dirt is collected and maintained. The bag is removable for us to dispose the trash collected and place it back once it’s free of dirt.
- Drive Motor
This is another electric motor which is responsible for navigating the machine around your pool. It basically is the engine that drives the device to keep it moving.
- Jet Drive
Some robotic cleaners use jet drive to propel water from the rear of the machine to keep it moving, instead of using wheels.
- Remote Control
Some robot cleaners use remote control to facilitate and manipulate movement of the device while you are away from it. It is best used for cleaning spot precision.
Meanwhile, take a look at this video on Aquabot Robotic Pool Cleaner to learn more in detail how an RPC works, what are its basic parts, how to set it up, and how you can benefit from it.