Dirt Devil?? Pool vacuums (OT)

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perc-o-prince

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OK, so it's a vacuum question, but with all the diverse knowledge on this forum, someone oughtta know about this!

We're thinking of getting a new automatic pool vac/cleaner. The last one was an Aquabot (about 10-12 yrs old) and it died a couple of years ago. We're hesitant to go w/ A'bot again because IF you can find someone to repair them, it's costly as it's usually a computer chip that needs replacing, so we're told. Basically, a disposable unit sold at big box 'wholesale' stores like BJ'S.

The pool place we generally go to, and usually trust, has advised a TigerShark (aprox $1200). Gulp! However, the same one they recommend is on eBay for $999 incl. shipping (#130224467835).

But, then I saw the Dirt Devil model on eBay (#200224806062). Looks a lot like the TigerShark, and a lot of the description is the same as the Tigershark (not just auction descriptions, but mfg descriptions). I'm wondering how well it works since it's about $700-$750 incl shipping on eBay. Both have a 3-year warranty. I think the only advantage the TShark may have is that the local pool place is an authorized repair shop for them.

Anyone have more recent experience with these types of units? I should mention that the pool is 20 x 40' inground.

Thanks in advance,
Chuck
 
My other half has owned his own pool cleaning business for 30+ years, and says the Polaris 280 is the best automatic pool vacuum on the market (and has been for many years).
 
~I say it's time to tuck yourself into your Speedos and use a manual pool vacuum.

or for $1,200 (over the season) hire a pool-boy between 21 and 25 years of age and enjoy the scenery.

5-31-2008-06-22-45--toggleswitch2.jpg
 
Polaris 280

Just looked up the above cleaner on a couple of pool supply sites, and there are way too many FAQ's with the answer being adjustment of the RPMs. I want something we can put in the pool, turn on, and forget for a while. The Polaris sounds like it can be needy, plus it uses the existing pool pump. I don't want to add any strain to that. It's been working greatfor about 15 years, and we don't want to replace it if we don't have to.

And, Toggle, I doubt $1000-$1200 would buy "Poolie" for the season! Plus, we get to keep the automatic cleaner for more than just one season!

Chuck
 
Toggle, I wanted you to put the Speedoes ON, not have someone with NO speedos!

Meanwhile, why not invite your high school water polo team over to stir up the dirt so that it will go into the filter? Would not cost so much and you could get free tickets to their games.

here's someone who did that:

 
pool cleaners

I have had almost every kind of pool cleaner except the robotic type. Creepy & Baracuda work the best for me. I repair & service pool cleaners as a hobby. Just my thing. mike
 
We've always had Creepy Crawlies. Almost no moving parts, easy to clean and maintain and we've usually gotten 10 odd years per unit before sun damage finally kills the plastic.

Growing up, it was left in the pool 24x7x365 and it just did what it had to do.

We had two skimmer boxes though, so 1 took care of the surface litter and the other powered the creepy. Other than adding chemicals, cleaning the filter and the occaisional skimming, it was ultra low maintenance pool care at its best.
 
I've been taking care of pools since I was 12 years old.

I'd have to 2nd the recommendations of the Polaris or Kreepy Krawly.
If you ask me, the pump powered stuff is better since it's less you have to worry about. I'm not too keen on throwing electrically powered robots in my pool.

Yeah the pump machines may make the pump work slightly harder and make you backwash a little more, but I think they're simpler to run.

As for the 15 year old pool pump.....that's amazing to me. Is the filter in an enclosure? If they're outside they almost never last that long.
I'm impressed.
While at the same time, if the 15 year old pump is not up to the task of running a polaris, i'd replace it for a new pump and not try to avoid the inevitable.
 
don't use ..........

Don't get the kind that works off the "return" line or off the water line coming back into the pool from the filter. It made the sand "back up" and clog the filter internally where the whole filter had to be taken apart. Get a kind that works off an intake/skimmer/suction line to the filter.
 
Hey all,

Thanks for the tips and quips. Yes, the pump's in a small enclosure and not exposed to all the elements.

As far as the pump being able to handle a Polaris, I don't know that it would or wouldn't, but why push it? The pump works well, starts up every year without a problem, and I barely do anything to it but drain it at the end of the season. I don't look at as living on borrowed time, but as being a good piece of machinery. I doubt any pump we'd buy today to replace it would give that service! And, since it works, there's no need to get rid of it.

We'll still be doing more research and looking into possibilities (The Kreepy Krawly looks intriguing), since Rich wants me not to have to vac the pool as often, but I'll keep vaccing until then.

Thanks again,
Chuck
 

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