There’s no feeling worse than having to scrub and clean your pool’s water after your party guests have left, but with an automatic pool cleaner by your side, there’s absolutely no need to concern yourself tedious maintenance tasks.
We’ve seen all sorts of automatic pool cleaners, including Aquabot’s fine line of robots, but if you’re looking for a user-friendly, ultra-inexpensive pool cleaner, check out our picks of the best suction-side pool cleaners you can get today.
Our Recommended Suction-Side Pool Cleaners in 2023
5) Zodiac MX6
The Zodiac MX6 is a compact side-suction pool cleaning device that’s made specifically for smaller pools of up to 20 to 25 feet max. A myriad of features built into the MX6 make it a powerful, time-efficient cleaning machine while also producing very little noise in the process.
This suction-side pool cleaner does the job by blowing dirt and debris from the floor and walls of your pool, and the suction inlet handles the rest. It travels in only one direction and can tend to get caught in corners.
- BEST IN CLASS VACUUM POWER: The MX6 delivers powerful suction while aggressively climbing...
- IN-GROUND & ABOVE GROUND POOLS: Compact size is great for smaller pools and is safe for...
4) Zodiac MX8
The MX8 has 360° directional coverage for getting out of corners without needing to be fished out. One of the more impressive features is the adjustable intake which users manually configure to allow the unit to consume debris of all sizes.
It is 15 inches wide, has two suction intakes for twice the cleaning power, and twist-lock hoses that support movement in pools of up to 35 feet. Users should keep a close eye on the MX8 since it does tend to get clogged with debris quite often.
- Dual Cyclonic Suction: Cleans faster and more aggressively than other pool cleaners with...
- Durable X-Trax: Allows for the MX8 Suction Pool Cleaner to operate with excellent traction...
3) Pentair GW9500 Kreepy Krauly
The Pentair GW9500 isn’t like most Creepy Crawlies you’ll find out there. It uses stiff bristles that actively scrub the lining of your pool to loosen and remove dirt, algae, and other contaminants.
Programmed into the GW9500 is Smarttrac navigation software that sends the brush head traveling in all directions, even vertically, to touch and clean every square inch of your pool’s walls and floor.
- Automatic in-ground pool cleaner. SmartTrac Programmed Steering easily navigates around...
- Vacuum port door fitting has a spring-loaded cover for safety
2) Zodiac Baracuda G3
The Zodiac Baracuda G3 has a more traditional Creepy Crawly appearance. It swallows up small and large debris without question while also working well with low-speed pumps.
The Baracuda comes with 10 4-foot hoses, giving it far travel distance without kinking and scuffing. Plus, the large disc comes with 36 fin points that work exceptionally well in corners and walls. The Baracuda G3 is mainly designed for wide, flat surfaces, so don’t expect a lot of cleaning on pool steps or sloped walls.
- Quiet, powerful suction cleaner; works with low-speed pumps for maximum efficiency.
- Devours small and medium-sized debris and cleans floor, walls and steps of your entire...
1) Hayward Poolvergnuegen Suction-Side Cleaner
The final item on our list is the Hayward Poolvergnuegen, a pool cleaner that’s as fun to use as it is to say its name. This unit is designed to handle up to 33-foot pools of all shapes, although it does struggle to suction dead leaves and acorns.
The Poolvergnuegen also comes with interchangeable throats to suit whatever pump you have at home. This also allows for more effective cleaning with low-pressure pumps while allowing larger contaminants to float through freely.
- EFFORTLESS DEBRIS MANAGEMENT: The patented self-adjusting turbine vanes eliminates clogs...
- COMPLETE POOL OVERAGE: The PoolCleaner has multiple pre-programmed internal steering...
How to Find the Best Suction-Side Pool Cleaner
Pool Size
The first thing you’ll want to check is the longest distance in your pool from edge to edge. This should be your main consideration when choosing a pool cleaner since it needs to travel across the entire surface of pool’s floors. Some manufacturers also have additional hose kits for sale to increase reach.
Maneuverability
Check to see how the suction-side pool cleaner gets around. Wheels or tracks are ideal since they allow it to scale walls more easily, but if it’s a simple disc-shape model like the Pentair GW9500 Kreepy Krauly, you can expect reasonable climbing abilities, just not waterline cleaning.
Pool Shape
Does your pool have sloped walls or not? Does it have corners are is it kidney-shaped? Certain suction-side pool cleaners are made to deal with corners while others can’t scale 90° vertical walls. Additionally, some models aren’t equipped to get into clean or blow enough pressure to remove debris from corners.
Pool Liner Material
The model you get should be able to tread safely across your pool’s floors and walls without leaving scratches in their wake. The models mentioned above are rated safe for use on vinyl and fiberglass. Concrete pools will wear them down more quickly.
Types of Pool Debris
if your pool’s greatest enemy is large-sized debris (dead leaves and/or acorns), you should get a pool cleaner with a wide throat/inlet to allow said debris to flow through the unit and into the filter basket. If you mainly deal with pebbles, dirt, and algae, any of the pool cleaners on our list will do.
Filter Pump
Even though some of these suction-side pool cleaners can work with low-pressure pumps, higher pressure will produce better results. If you’ve put off buying a filter pump, now might be the time to upgrade it to suit a power-hungry pool cleaner.
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FAQ
The one advantage suction-side pool cleaners have over robotic pool cleaners is their affordable price tag, but when it comes to robots, you definitely get what you pay for. If you’re on a budget, the best thing you can get to maintain a clean pool is by getting a suction-side pool cleaner.
Most users have trouble figuring out how to get their suction-side pool cleaner move around freely. If your pool cleaner gets stuck, check the waterflow rate of the filter pump. A flowkeeper valve in your filter pump plumbing should help regulate waterflow more easily to increase mobility and cleaning performance.
The biggest difference between suction-side and pressure-side pool cleaners is that the latter requires a booster pump to operate. This means making an entirely separate purchase in order to get the pressure-side cleaner operable, whereas a suction-side unit connects to the main filtration pump. In terms of cleaning performance, pressure-side models are considered slightly more effective.
The maximum lifespan varies from model to model, but in general, you can expect to get at least 3 years of use out of it. With proper care, the suction-side pool cleaner can last for an additional 2 to 5 years.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an inexpensive tool to keep your pool’s lining thoroughly cleaned, a suction-side pool cleaner is the option for you. In this guide, we’ve shown you our picks of the top 5 best suction-side pool cleaners you can get your hands on today. We’ve also provided you with a brief buying guide on how to find which of these models will work best for your pool.
Our Recommended Suction Pool Cleaners
If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!
Last Update: 2024-04-16 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
