The 5 Best Pool Vacuums

If you own a pool chances are it needs to be cleaned and chances are you don't really want to, don't have the time or your current efforts aren't working. A pool vacuum is a quick solution to clean up debris that's floating around and hard to catch. There are two options of vacuums: manual or automatic. Vacuums and pool cleaners are the same things. If you're looking to go the manual route, you'll be physically moving the vacuum around the pool. An automatic vacuum is a machine that does the work for you and has a power source. Below are the 5 best automatic and manual vacuums to look for.

Polaris Vac-Sweep Pool Cleaner

The best overall automatic pool vacuum

A great automatic pool vacuum for in-ground pools.

Best Overall

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This pool cleaner is a powerful model for in-ground pools and easily connects to a pressure line. It comes on wheels and looks like a little car rolling around the bottom of your pool. You need a booster pump to operate this machine. The machine is powered by double jets so the whole thing is pretty powerful. The vacuum is capable of sweeping, scrubbing, and can hold larger debris like acorns and twigs and small things like leaves and bugs.

Pros:

Powerful
Automatic

Cons:

You have to babysit it

Swimline Weighted Flex Vacuum Head

A great manual vacuum head

An adaptable and flexible design.

Best Manual

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This vacuum head is a great option for manual pool cleaning. The model comes with 4 wheels on either side so you won’t feel like your swiffering your pools floor against the current. The whole thing glides smoothly but you have to own or buy a separate pool rod to connect to the head. It’s not hard to assemble and you don’t have to strain to work with the head. The only negative is there are no instructions on setting up the spring that attaches the pole to the head, but you can look up instructions online easily.

Pros:

Good price
Easy to use

Cons:

You have to buy a pole
No spring installation instructions

Intex 28003E Deluxe Maintenance Kit

Above ground manual vacuum

A great pool cleaner that lets you clean with different types of parts.

Best for Above Ground Pools

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This product comes with 2 vacuum heads, a brush, and a mesh net. The pole is aluminum and is able to expand. It’s easy to use the brush to scrub the sides of the walls and it’s easy to switch parts. Because it’s all connected to a pole, the vacuum needs to be manually moved around the pool but it does a good job of picking up small and medium-sized debris. The top of the vacuum is a hose-like opening and isn’t very wide.

Pros:

Comes with many parts
Easy to assemble

Cons:

Hard to store

Poolmaster 2830 Big Sucker Pool Leaf Cleaner

The pool cleaner made for leaves

Built specifically to pick up leaves.

Best for Leaves

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This pool cleaner requires a pole to move around so it’s not automatic. It was designed to capture leaves, dirt, and bugs. The top has an opening where a mesh bag goes over. You pull on a string and secure the bag around the top. The machine works great with any garden hose. The machine doesn’t come with a hose or a pole. The water jets are underneath and are fairly powerful. The whole design is quite ideal because it’s circular and there are enough wheels so the vacuum won’t get stuck in the corner.

Pros:

Durable
Circular for good cleaning

Cons:

Doesn’t come with a pole

Hayward W3900 Pool Cleaner

An automatic above ground pool cleaner

Simple, cute, and easy for the whole family to use.

Best Automatic Above Ground Cleaner

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Hayward makes great automatic pool cleaning products that come in cute designs. The machine is quiet and is easy to install. The machine moves via SmartDrive technology and cleans in an organized way. You do need a pump to make the machine move but it’s a great little machine that gets the job done. Just don’t forget about it.

Pros:

Quiet
Impressive Clean

Cons:

Has a tendency to start and stop

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of pole should I buy?

Make sure your pole has a lock system so it can expand and is made of aluminum. It’s also helpful if the pole can connect to different types of heads. If you are buying a metal pole, make sure to store it in a cool place so it doesn’t get hot.

Do vacuums work on walls?

The vacuum itself won’t climb up the side of your pool wall but that’s what the brush is for. If your pool wall has leaves, dirt, or other bacteria stuck to it, you will have to give it a scrub to clean it.