The 5 Best Suction and Pressure-Side Pool Cleaners of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
These affordable pool cleaners will help you spend more time relaxing and less time cleaning
People / Kristin Kempa
When warm weather comes, the first thing we want to do is lay by the pool or take a swim. The last thing we want to do? Clean a leaf-filled, pollen-encrusted swimming pool. That’s where suction-side pool cleaners and pressure-side pool cleaners come in: They do the hard work for you by sucking up yucky debris so that you can sit back, relax, and actually enjoy your pool.
There are a lot of great pool cleaners on the market, and, as we all know, not every device does exactly what it claims to do. So, we decided to test the best-selling suction and pressure-side pool cleaners ourselves, with an extensive testing process informed by pool-cleaning experts. We tried out multiple pool cleaners in our backyard pools, putting them up against a season’s worth of leaves, pollen, rocks, and all of the other things that fall to the bottom of the pool.
After all that scrubbing and scouring (by the pool vacuums, not by us), we were left with five pressure-side and suction-side pool cleaners that clearly outperformed the rest. It's worth noting that we also tested many robotic pool cleaners, but we still recommend these suction and pressure-side pool cleaners; they can give you an incredible clean at half the price of a robotic model.
Read on to discover the best pressure-side and suction-side pool vacuums to leave your pool sparkling and spotless.
Best Pressure-Side Pool Cleaner: Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Pressure Inground Pool Cleaner
Pros
Reliable suction gathered leaves, pine needles, and more debris into a large debris bag and left our pool looking spotless
Captured both large and small debris and was easy for us to empty out after use
Cons
This is one of the more expensive pool cleaners that we tested, and it requires an extra Polaris pump in order to operate
With strong, reliable suction, the Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 swept away the competition (literally!). It gave us everything that we’re looking for in a suction pool cleaner: a large debris bag to gather leaves and pine needles, automatically scheduled cleaning times, and the ability to clean the pool floor, walls, and stairs.
Our 820-square-foot pool was cleared of pine, leaves, and pollen in just three hours. The Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 appeared to handle both big and small debris with equal success, and we found the debris bag to be surprisingly simple to empty out. The dual venturi jets create a powerful suction that left our pool looking nearly spotless — without us lifting a finger.
The device connects easily to a dedicated pressure line and requires a booster pump that’s sold separately. If you’ve already had a Polaris pool cleaner in the past, then it’s possible you might already have the necessary pump at hand, but if you don’t, then you’ll have to buy the compatible accessory as well.
Pool Type: All inground pools | Dimensions: 20 x 23 x 10 inches | Weight: 6.2 pounds | Cleaning Cycle Time: 3 hours | Jet type: double venturi jets | Filter: Bag
Best Suction-Side Pool Cleaner: Zodiac Baracuda G3 W03000 Advanced Suction Side Automatic Pool Cleaner
Pros
Effectively scrubs pool floor and walls and removed chemical buildup, minerals, and algae from all surfaces
Automatically regulates water flow to achieve the ideal suction level
Cons
Took us over an hour to initially set up; the included instructions weren't helpful
While there are many devices on the market that can suck up leaves and debris off the bottom of a pool, there aren’t many options that effectively scrub the pool walls and stairs. Those areas are commonly missed and left to develop crusts of minerals and algae, which can ultimately be an expensive problem to fix if left unattended. That’s where the Zodiac Baracuda G3 Advanced Suction Side Pool Cleaner comes in — with a 36-fin disk that suctions onto pool surfaces, this device left our pool walls sparkling clean.
Although we loved the finished result, the setup was not easy. It took about an hour and a half for us to get the device up and running, in part because it didn’t come with a physical manual, and the online manual was difficult to read and a bit confusing. Once we finally set it up (it took two people because we had to push the hose below the surface to fill it with water), we had a much easier time using the suction-side pool vacuum for repeated testing. We were very impressed with the results each time, so we still think it’s worth the set-up time, especially for anyone who’s felt the frustration of scrubbing chemical residue off the sides of their pool.
Pool Type: All inground pools | Weight: 17.66 pounds | Cleaning Cycle Time: 1.5 hours | Pump type: Compatible with any single, two-speed or variable-speed pumps | Filter: Connects to pool filter
Best for Large Debris: Polaris Vac-Sweep 360 Pressure Inground Pool Cleaner
Pros
Easily sucks up large debris like leaves, rocks, and bugs and left our pool looking spotless in two hours
Three powerful venturi jets move this device across pool floor and up walls, with a trailing sweep hose that was able to clean every corner of our pool
Lightweight device doesn't require any additional pumps or accessories, it connects right to your existing pool return line
Cons
It took a few tries to figure out the right level of pressure to enable the pool vacuum to move up the pool walls without moving too quickly and missing spots
Anyone who has a swimming pool with trees nearby understands the frustration of fishing leaves out of their should-be-relaxing backyard pool. That’s why we love the Polaris Vac-Sweep 360. It's a very similar model to our Best Pressure-Side pick, but it has three venturi jets and doesn't require an additional booster pump.
In our test pool, we were able to easily hook it up to our pool’s existing pressure line. After adjusting the pressure a few times to get to a level where the device could navigate the pool’s floor and walls without moving too fast, the pool vacuum got to work quickly and efficiently. The lightweight pressure pool cleaner has three powerful venturi jets and a sweep hose that trails behind the vacuum to kick up debris that can get stuck in hard-to-reach spots. It easily sucked up everything into an all-purpose debris bag.
We tested the Polaris Vac-Sweep 360 in our pool after a rainstorm, which meant that our 512-square-foot pool was covered in slimy discarded leaves and bugs. We weren’t sure that an automatic vacuum would be able to handle the job, so we were shocked when, after about two hours of scrubbing and vacuuming, this pool cleaner picked up every last leaf. Our pool was left sparkling and spotless, and we were able to relax and swim with peace of mind.
Pool Type: All inground pools | Dimensions: 20 x 10 x 22.75 inches | Weight: 14 pounds | Cleaning Cycle Time: 3 hours | Jet type: 3 venturi jets | Filter: Single chamber bag
Best for Leaves: Hayward W3925ADC Navigator Pro Suction Pool Cleaner for In-Ground Gunite Pools
Pros
Suction vacuum cleaned up a season’s worth of fallen leaves from our test pool in less time than any other device we tested
Very quick setup; it connects to your existing filtration system and doesn’t require any additional pumps or tools for installation
Specifically designed for gunite surfaces (a.k.a. it can handle a bumpy pool wall)
Cons
Heavier than most pool vacs we tested and difficult for us to get out of the water once full
We set the Hayward Navigator Pro Pool Cleaner loose in our 960-square-foot test pool on one of the first cleaning days of the pool season, which meant that it had to tackle piles of squishy leaves and debris. The suction pool cleaner got to work quickly, and within one hour, our pool was clean and sparkly.
This Hayward suction pool vacuum was explicitly designed for gunite surfaces (a mixture of cement, sand, and water), which can be rougher along the bottom of the pool than, for example, materials like fiberglass. The Hayward Navigator Pro can easily tackle those lightly bumpy surfaces, with SmartDrive technology that routes the device across pool walls and floors in a path that avoids hose tangling.
Our biggest qualm with this suction robot is that it’s quite heavy to lift even before it’s filled with waste, so pulling it out of the pool takes some serious muscle. But, we found the setup to be very quick compared to some of the other pool vacs we’ve tested (this one doesn’t require a booster pump or any extra tools to install), and we were really impressed with how many leaves this device could suck up in just one hour.
Pool Type: Gunite pools | Dimensions: 40.4 x 13.6 x 11.9 inches | Weight: 17.71 pounds | Cleaning Cycle Time: 1.5 hours | Filter: Connects to pool filter
People / Michael Navarro
Best for Pollen: Pentair 360042 Kreepy Krauly Pleated Seal Pool Cleaner
Pros
Easily picked up pollen and small debris that was stuck on the bottom, walls, and waterline of our test pool
Lightest pool cleaner we’ve tested; it's easy to setup and drop in the pool
Cons
Requires a filter attachment to pick up larger leaves and debris
The Pentair 360042 Kreepy Krauly pool cleaner did a remarkable job at collecting pollen and other small debris from the surface and bottom of our test pool. The suction pool cleaner cleaned the pool's floors, walls, and waterline, but we were especially impressed with how well the Kreepy Krauly tackled the grime stuck to our pool floor.
The design itself is pretty simple, with just one “moving part” — that means that there are fewer gears that could get stuck or need replacing, which makes us feel more confident that this is a dependable pool vac. This was also a very quick pool cleaner to get started with, and it was lightweight enough for us to carry and drop into the pool with ease. It can plug directly into a cleaner port if your pool already has one, or you can connect it to a skimmer basket with the included adaptors.
As great of a job as this suction pool vac did on the bottom of our pool, we had one major gripe: While it easily handled small debris, the Kreepy Krauly requires a separate filter attachment to pick up larger leaves. But, this aside, we think this suction pool vac is a great value.
Pool Type: Gunite pools | Dimensions: 42 x 16. 5 x 7. 5 inches | Weight: 1 pounds | Cleaning Cycle Time: 2 hours | Filter: Connects to pool filter
Things to Consider Before Buying a Pool Cleaner
Pool Type
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a suction or pressure-side pool cleaner is the type of pool that you’re working with — if you choose the wrong one, you risk damaging your pool’s surface. Some of the most common surface-types for in-ground swimming pools are concrete, gunite, fiberglass, and vinyl. Our best overall pick, the Polaris Vac-Sweep 280, is made to clean all common pool surface types.
Pool Size
Think about the size of your pool before choosing which suction or pressure pool cleaner is best for your needs — if your pool is larger, it will probably take longer to clean. “Pool vacuums can operate slowly; they may need to run overnight to fully clean the pool,” says Dr. Claudia Duncan, owner and CEO of Professional Pool Management. If time is of the essence, the Hayward Navigator Pro Pool Cleaner worked the fastest of any of the pool cleaners that we tested.
Suction Level
Depending on what kinds of debris tend to accumulate in your swimming pool, you might need more or less suction from your pool vacuum. If your pool is located near trees with large leaves, then you might require a pool cleaner with stronger suction, such as the Polaris Vac-Sweep 360, in order to suck up bigger debris. But, a stronger suction often means that the device requires more power to propel it, so if you can get away with less suction, you might save money on your electric bill.
How We Tested
In order to find out which suction and pressure pool cleaner is the best of the best, we tested some of the top-selling models in our own pools. We began by unboxing each pool cleaner, and we followed any included instructions to set it up. We then started a timer, placed the pool cleaner in a dirty swimming pool, and allowed it to run an entire cycle.
Over the course of our testing period, we used each pool cleaner at least three times, giving a few days in between each cleaning so that the pool would gather regular leaves and debris. We took careful notes on how thoroughly each pool cleaner worked, the amount of time it took to clean the pool, and how clean our pools looked when we were done. In the end, we were left with a list of the 5 best suction and pressure pool cleaners to leave your pool spotless.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a suction and pressure pool cleaner?
As its name suggests, a pressure-side pool cleaner uses pressure to force debris into its filter, where it captures it in a filter bag. Pressure-side cleaners commonly have a scrubbing “tail” behind the device, which can help scrub up dirt and debris in hard-to-reach areas, like corners and stairs. Suction-side pool cleaners don’t have tails; they are more like a vacuum hose connecting to your existing filtration system.
Suction pool cleaners are great at picking up smaller particles but can sometimes clog up with larger debris. Pressure-side pool cleaners are often better at capturing larger debris, like leaves and rocks, and they hold that debris in an attached filtration bag. But pressure-side pool cleaners are often more expensive than suction cleaners and sometimes require additional parts or attachments, like a booster pump, to work properly.
How much should I spend on a suction or pressure pool cleaner?
Cleaning out a pool can be an expensive endevour, but it’s necessary for the sanitation and enjoyment of your pool, and it’s cheaper to own the device yourself than to rely on a pool cleaning service. You can expect to pay anywhere from $320 to $600 on a pressure side or suction side pool cleaner.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Cai Cramer is a commerce writer at PEOPLE, covering the best and buzziest products across the beauty, fashion, health, and lifestyle spaces. For this story, Cai used testing insights provided by real world testers who tried out various suction and pressure-side pool cleaners in their own pools. The testers were each given a methodology to follow that was informed by an interview with Dr. Claudia Duncan, Owner and CEO of Professional Pool Management and member of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance. While writing this story, Cai also did extensive research on the differences and mechanisms of suction-side and pressure-side pool cleaners.
What Is People Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
Up Next: The 6 Best Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
