Advice about pool vacuums? haywood? barracuda?

Question

recently bought a home w/ a pool and am looking at vacuums for my pool....which one works best or what has your experience been w/ different pool vacuums?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

A lot will depend on the type of pool you have and if you want to go with a suction based cleaner or a return pressure type one. A pressure return cleaner usually has it's own debris collection system whereas a suction based one, dumps large debris into your pump basket and the finer stuff directly into your filter. As you can see, a return based cleaner won't plug up your pump basket or filter like a suction based one possibly can.
If it's concrete, then hands down, a Polaris return based one is best, but also the most expensive. It's also helpful if there's a dedicated line for it already built into the pool wall and it's plumbing runs to your equipment area as well but it's possible to rig an over the deck feed for it. You'll also be installing it's associated booster pump ( one of the primary reasons these are the most expensive). They are generally run on a timer, such that they can be set up in the pool and clean on a schedule. The drawbacks to them, besides expense,is that they do require electricity to run their booster pumps and their initial set up can be a little difficult, but not impossible for an average home owner.
Polaris DOES make a suction based model, that plugs into an in wall suction or skimmer, but these units that I've actually seen installed, are prone to problems and need frequent supervision.
You can use most vinyl pool cleaners in a concrete pool, just be ware that their contact surfaces will wear a little quicker is all, requiring replacement parts more often.

If this is a vinyl pool, then my vote goes with the Kreepy Karauly. They're pretty indestructible and do a very good job at keeping the bottom clean. They're also pretty easy to initially set up.
I don't like the Barracuda simply because it has a diaphragm in it that requires replacing at least once a season. The company claims that there are "no moving parts", but that diaphragm is moving in and out with each pulse and they simply aren't tough enough to swallow a large twig without ripping. A Kreepy would at worst, simply stop working until you pulled the twig out. A Barracuda in the same situation would likely need a repair.
The Hayward Navigator is a nifty little unit and does work well. It's drawback, however is that it has a small suction grate on the unit that draws in some pool water to turn a turbine, that turns the unit when it's moving. It works fine in most circumstances, but if you have fine debris in the water, that intake plugs up, stopping the turbine. The Hayward then goes in a straight line and doesn't randomly clean anymore. It will also get itself stuck in a corner or against the wall until you take the unit out of the pool and clean that grate off, which could be a daily occurrence, depending on what is dropping into your pool.
Regarding replacement parts for the above cleaners. Polaris can be difficult to find a dealer. These are high end units. It's like trying to find a Lotus car dealer. They're rare but most major cities will have one. Most average pool shops will be able to get one in for you if they don't have one in stock. They're pricey, so they don't like to have an expensive item sitting on a shelf.
Kreepy , Barracuda and Hayward dealers are everywhere on the other hand.
There are other types of cleaners out there that run on electric current and look like little tanks. I've no experience with them as they aren't very popular so I can't offer any advice on them.

Source(s):

former pool tech

Answer 2

I just got a new pool with a Polaris, I think the Polaris are the best, and easiest to find replacement parts for as well.