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Robot pool cleaners are invaluable in helping to reduce the amount of time pool owners must spend on keeping their pools clean. They scoot around the pool picking up debris and cleaning grime or dirt from the pool. Keeping your robot in working order is a fairly simple task as long as you are consistent. Read below to learn more about how your automatic cleaner works and some tips on keeping it working at peak performance.
If you’re interested, take a look at some of the best rated automatic pool cleaners currently available for in-ground pools.
How Robotic Pool Cleaners WorkA robotic pool cleaner scrubs the walls and floors around your pool with small brushes while cleaning up leaves, acorns, and other debris. Most robot cleaner types will clean all areas of your pool including walls, steps, and floors. Robot cleaners are autonomous machines that do not drain your pools suction, filtration system, or other resources. Depending on the model, the dirt bin can collect large amounts of debris that needs to be emptied periodically.
This little machine is very cool and useful. The robot pool cleaner doesn’t attach to the circulation system of your pool, meaning; it doesn’t rely on the filter on your pool. Therefore, it operates using standard electricity. You simply plug it in a nearby power outlet, put it in the water, and watch it start cleaning.
The robot pool cleaners run on a minimum voltage. It has an elongated power cable and, therefore, it can only be connected to a source of power using GFCI outlets (Grand-fault circuit interrupter) These outlets automatically shut off in case there is any detection of an electrical discrepancy, to protect you from getting shocked.
After purchasing the cleaner, it is always important to first familiarize yourself with it. This means that you should know the parts of the robot pool cleaner, its uses, and its effects on the pool cleaning process. Read the instruction manual thoroughly and/or watch any instructional videos offered by the manufacturer. Additionally, there are numerous videos available online for almost any model that can be helpful in learning the intricacies of your robot. By doing this, you will get to know where to check in case problems appear.
Remove from Water After Cleaning is CompleteAfter the cycle is over or after you are done with cleaning of your pool, ensure that the cleaner is removed from the pool. Even though the robot is built to operate in water, staying in water for longer than necessary may interfere with some of its internal operating systems. Therefore, the robot must be placed on a dry surface after its cycle is complete.
Immediately after the robot has completed its cleaning cycle and you have removed it from the pool, ensure you clean any accumulated dirt/grime. Rinse it off and wipe it down completely. This will ensure the reduction of chemicals or chlorine that may be on it that could cause damage over time. Moreover, you need to keep it away from rough surfaces. This is because uneven surfaces can scratch wings, tires, and skirts, leaving irregularities that can affect the pool’s cleaning or the cleaner’s operations.
Robot cleaners usually function even when worn. However, the real problem comes when owners ignore changing the tires because, after all, the robot is still functioning. Worn tires can lead to the scraping of the robot’s body against the pool’s surface, accelerating the wear of lower parts like skirts. Therefore, checking the tires is recommended at least once each pool season. The tires are a vital component to a robot, so tire inspections are an important component of regular maintenance.
Keeping your handy little robot cleaner in good condition can easily pay dividends in the long run. The above-mentioned robot pool cleaner maintenance tips can help you in ensuring that your robot is well taken care of and operating at peak efficiency (see How Long Do Robotic Pool Cleaners Last for more information). These machines commonly take approximately three hours to clean your pool, depending on the size of the pool and robot. However, if it isn’t kept in good working condition, you can expect the length of cleanings to gradually take longer and longer with more intervention required. Selecting a new pool cleaner and putting it to work is only part of what is needed to get the most out of your investment. Following the above tips will ensure your pool is taken care of for years to come.
