Best Overall
Polaris Vac-Sweep Pressure Inground Pool Cleaner
- Setup5/5
- Design5/5
- Ease of Use5/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Value5/5
- This cleaner is small and lightweight but is still able to thoroughly and silently remove all kinds of debris.
This cleaner is small and lightweight but is still able to thoroughly and silently remove all kinds of debris.
- It doesn’t scrub surfaces.
It doesn’t scrub surfaces.
The Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Pressure Inground Pool Cleaner was the obvious winner for the best pressure side pool cleaner. During testing, it earned a 5/5 across all categories: setup, ease of use, design, effectiveness, and value. The entire setup took just 20 minutes, from unboxing to installation to testing. At 6.2 pounds and 20 x 23 x 10 inches, it’s lighter and smaller than many models, but we actually found it more effective than heftier models.
This model has a 31-foot hose and is designed for in-ground pools. It can handle any shape or surface type, such as fiberglass or tile. Over three cleans that took three hours each, it was able to thoroughly (and silently!) remove a variety of debris such as pollen and pine straw. This is due to the powerful dual venturi jets and 2.25-inch vacuum inlet.
Everything is captured in a filter bag, which can be easily checked for capacity and detached. While this pool cleaner is an all-star vacuum and sweeper, it doesn’t scrub, making it harder to tackle ultra-fine debris and stains. The necessary booster pump is sold separately.
How It Performed After Six Months
We used this pool cleaner on a schedule for six months and never noticed it getting stuck in the pool. It continued to perform just as well as when we first received it and our pool was always clean, even during pollen season.
This pick could be installed within minutes and was easy to clean when needed. Though the cord was a bit too long in our opinion, we still thought this pick was better than the pool cleaner we had been using previously.
Product Details: Weight: 6.2 pounds | Cable Length: 31 feet | Pool Length: Not listed | Filter Style: Single chamber filter bag | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JENNIFER ZYMAN
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JENNIFER ZYMAN
Best Splurge
Hayward TriVac Pressure Pool Cleaner
- This pool cleaner can vacuum around the pool and skim debris from the surface.
This pool cleaner can vacuum around the pool and skim debris from the surface.
- You have to manually adjust from cleaner to skimmer modes.
You have to manually adjust from cleaner to skimmer modes.
All of the best pressure side pool cleaners on this list can thoroughly vacuum the floors and walls of a pool, but only the Hayward TriVac Pressure Pool Cleaner can skim debris from the water’s service as well. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t automatic—a small dial at the top switches it from cleaner to skimmer.
Its low-friction wheels minimize wear and tear on in-ground pools, while the sweeping tail stirs up all the debris for the vacuum, no matter how hard to reach. Three jets and a wide inlet pull twigs, rocks, and more into the extra large debris bag with an impressive capacity of six quarts, which means less frequent emptying and maintenance.
With a hose length of 34 feet, this 23-pound pool cleaner can support a pool up to 20 x 40 feet. Just like with many in-ground cleaners, you’ll need to purchase a booster pump separately.
Product Details: Weight: 23 pounds | Cable Length: 34 feet | Pool Length: Up to 20 x 40 feet | Filter Style: Six quart debris bag | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground
Best for Small Debris
Pentair Pressure-Side Pool Cleaner
- It’s fast at cleaning and has a front brush to scrub even the smallest debris away.
It’s fast at cleaning and has a front brush to scrub even the smallest debris away.
- This is one of the more expensive pressure side pool cleaners on the market.
This is one of the more expensive pressure side pool cleaners on the market.
This Pentair Krauly Racer Pressure-Side Pool Cleaner is called the “Racer” for a reason—it’s specially designed with a need for speed that makes it run up to 30% faster than other cleaners without missing any debris. With the adjustable flow gauge, you can even control the Racer’s pace by controlling the water pressure.
In addition to having ⅓ more cleaning power than other Pentair models, it’s a pro at picking up the finest particles like dust and dirt thanks to a front rotating brush that scrubs away at the pool’s surfaces. With an extra large vacuum tube, it can catch all the big debris as well. The one downside of purchasing one of the best pressure side pool cleaners out there? The price. It’s the most expensive option on our list and one of the most expensive on the market.
More to know: The four wide tires help keep the equipment steady while it cleans in forward and reverse, while LED lights are there to help illuminate the pool during nighttime cleanings. Like many in-ground pressure side pool cleaners, the Racer requires a booster pump you can purchase separately. Though it’s fairly easy to assemble and install regardless, the instructions include detailed diagrams for those who need a little extra guidance.
Product Details: Weight: 22.4 pounds | Cable Length: Not listed | Pool Length: Not listed | Filter Style: Not listed | Suggested Pool Type: In-ground
Best for Above-Ground Pools
Polaris Vac-Sweep 65 Above Ground Pool Cleaner
- The simple device is easier to maintain than some of the more complicated gadgets.
The simple device is easier to maintain than some of the more complicated gadgets.
- Small debris isn’t cleaned up efficiently.
Small debris isn’t cleaned up efficiently.
Most of the best pressure side pool cleaners are for in-ground pools only, but this one is compatible with above-ground pools—specifically, vinyl or fiberglass pools up to five feet deep. It even works on pools with uneven bottoms.
It connects to your pool’s existing filtration system with a 1.5-inch threaded return line and a 24-foot float hose (which means it can support a pool up to 24 feet wide). A surface module helps recirculate clean water while the jets at the end of the house first loosen the debris and the detachable bag on the floor traps it. The pool cleaner should finish its job in three hours or less.
The pool cleaner is simply constructed, which is helpful from an installation and maintenance perspective, not to mention relatively lightweight at 13.94 pounds. The tradeoff you make is in picking up small debris, which it isn’t as equipped to handle.
Product Details: Weight: 13.94 pounds | Cable Length: 24 feet | Pool Length: Up to 24 feet-round | Filter Style: Not listed | Suggested Pool Type: Above-ground up to 5 feet deep