The market has a wide selection of Kreepy Krauly pool cleaners to choose from, but none are as cute as the Pentair Lil’ Shark. This is a suction-side pool cleaner that comes with an affordable price tag, requires hardly any assembly, and is specialized for above-pool cleaning. Let’s see if the adorable Lil’ Shark has what it takes to handle its demanding job.
Above-Ground Pools with Vinyl Liners
First things first, you need to know in what settings the Lil’ Shark will work in. This suction pool cleaner is designed specifically for vinyl above-ground pools. Any other material may prove to be too abrasive or too sleek for the Lil’ Shark to get around. If your pool does not fit this description, you should start searching for an automatic pool cleaner elsewhere.
Double-Band Scrub Brushes
Perhaps the most unique feature of Lil’ Shark is its double-band scrub brushes. On the belly of the pool cleaner are two rings of stiff bristles that enhances debris-loosening performance compared to single-band or brush-style suction pool cleaner. This system will also help in cleaning pools with uneven floor liners or deep cracks in tile as long as your pool’s main pump can deliver enough suction power.
10-inch Cleaning Path
It may not look like it, but the Lil’ Shark isn’t so little. It has a wide 10-inch cleaning path that reduces the number of passes needed to make your pool swim-ready. For those with large pools, the Lil’ Shark will be able to leave your pools thoroughly cleaned after just about 1.5 to 2 hours of cleaning (roughly). Its suction hose measures only 30 feet so you may need to purchase additional hose kits depending on the size of your pool.
Durable
Despite having a cute little Shark face, this suction pool cleaner is no joke. There’s only one moving component—the central agitator for loosening debris in uneven surfaces—so there’s very little risk of any parts of the Lil’ Shark failing within its one-year warranty. As long as the device is set up properly and your pool’s pump is delivering enough suction power, users shouldn’t have any issues with the Lil’ Shark.
Smart Randomized Navigation
Like all suction-side pool cleaners, the Lil’ Shark is not equipped with high-tech sensors or navigation software, but it still does a beautiful job maneuvering underwater. As it creeps slowly along the floors of your pool, it will turn every so often to randomize its cleaning trajectory. This ultimately allows the tool to touch more floor surface area while also avoiding getting trapped in ladders and steps.
Simple Installation
Out of the box, the Lil’ Shark unit is ready to roll. All that’s left to do is snap in the swivel piece, connect the hose kit to the appropriate length (up to 30 feet), connect the regular, connect the hose to your pool’s skimmer, turn the pump on, and you’re done! This installation process is common in most suction-side pool cleaners so if you have prior experience setting one up, the Lil’ Shark shouldn’t pose any new problems.
Ideal for Small Debris
The Lil’ Shark is great for removing small-sized debris such as insects, sand, dirt, and loosened algae. Larger debris like piles of dead leaves, acorns, and other similarly sized objects can clog the throat and require manual unclogging on your part. If your pool is situated under a large oak tree, we’d suggest finding another pool cleaner.
Unable to Climb Walls
As is typical of most suction-side pool cleaners, the Lil’ Shark is ill-equipped to handle wall and waterline cleaning. Without any wheels or tracks, the best you can hope to get out of the Lil’ Shark is a randomized route on your pool’s floor liner, leaving the laborious task of manual wall scrubbing to the user or other automatic pool cleaner.
Does Not Become Waterlogged
Whether submerged in your pool or not, the Lil’ Shark is completely lightweight. The belly of the Shark is basically an empty upside bowl except for its suction inlet and dual-band bristles so there’s nowhere water can seep into the device to bog it down. When it comes time to pull the Lil’ Shark out of your pool, a simple tug on the hose will bring the unit right up without the added weight of water.
Related Suction Pool Cleaner Articles
Best Suction Side Pool Cleaners
Best Suction Above-Ground Pool Cleaners
Info Articles
How do Suction Pool Cleaners Work?
Pressure vs. Suction vs. Robotic Pool Cleaners
Verdict: Should I Get the Pentair Lil’ Shark?
If you have an above-ground pool with vinyl liners and don’t mind manually scrubbing walls and the waterline, then yes, the Pentair Lil’ Shark is an excellent pool cleaner to have. Leaving the Lil’ Shark in your pool will make it swim-ready in just under a couple of hours. If the 30-foot hose kit is too short, you’ll need to pick up additional hose kits from Pentair.
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: 2023-06-08 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
