Pressure Side vs. Suction Cleaners for Your Pool
If you’re looking at the best options for a new pool cleaner, you’ll have plenty of choices to consider, among them pressure side and suction side cleaners.
A pressure cleaner uses the return water from a booster pump dedicated for this purpose to push the cleaner all around the pool. It features a bag on its top, inside of which the debris from the pool gets collected during the cleaning process.
A suction cleaner, meanwhile, uses the pool’s primary filtration pump to suck up debris in the area, which then gets returned to the pump basket.
Which of these two options is better for your needs with your pool? Let’s take a more in-depth look at each option so you can determine the pros and cons for yourself as you weigh your options of pressure side vs. suction cleaners in Los Angeles, CA.
Pressure side cleaners
First, it’s important to know that not every pool is going to be equipped with a dedicated booster pump or have the space to be able to add one. This means a pressure cleaner might not necessarily be an option for you in your search, as most pressure cleaners are going to require you to have a dedicated booster pump capable of operating the cleaner. If your system does not have the plumbing for a pressure side cleaner, you can eliminate this option right off the bat.
A pressure cleaner does not power blast the surface of the pool—that’s not what the “pressure” in the name applies (you’re probably thinking of pressure washers). Instead, it uses the return water of the pool, which creates a suction vortex that pulls debris up and out from the pool into the cleaner’s attached bag. The jet stream and suction are created in part by that booster pump.
This type of cleaner is ideal for larger, heavier debris, because it has a wider throat design. This allows for larger clumps of debris, such as twigs, acorns and leaves, to be sucked into the bag without you having to worry about the potential for clogging.
Suction cleaners
A suction cleaner is going to be an option for a wider variety of pool owners, because it uses the main filtration pump to suck up debris rather than a dedicated booster pump. After sucking up the debris, it gets returned to the pump basket for disposal.
Suction cleaners can be susceptible to low flow issues, so if you have a smaller horsepower filter (below three quarters) you may need to contact your manufacturer to determine if using a suction cleaner is a possibility.
Suction cleaners essentially work like vacuum cleaners that run off the main pool pump’s suction ability. The hose for the cleaner gets connected to a dedicated suction line, or directly to the pool skimmer. The cleaner is powered by a turbine spun by the suction force from the pump. This is an ideal cleaner for a screened-in pool or a pool that gets a lot of sand and dirt in it.
If you’re trying to choose between pressure side vs. suction cleaners in Los Angeles, CA or would like more information about these types of cleaners, contact Avanti Pools, Inc. today.