Pool maintenance isn’t the coolest way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon. You’d rather dive in and enjoy a health-bolstering swim. But if the water isn’t clean because of sediments, fine sand, leaves, grime, and slime, you won’t enjoy your pool as much. A good pool vacuum cleaner keeps your swimming pool spotless and the water crystal clear. But why choose a handheld pool vacuum that runs on battery power? It’s because the best rechargeable pool vacuum is light, portable, convenient, easy to maneuver, and often affordable.
In this post, you’ll learn why some pool owners favor battery-operated vacuums over traditional pump-dependent vacuums. You’ll also find 5 rechargeable pool cleaners that are worth the money.
5 Best Battery-powered Pool Vacuums
Let’s dive right in.
1. PAXCESS Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner With Rechargeable Battery (Robotic Option, Best Overall)
We own the AIPER SMART automatic cleaner. But it won’t last forever, so we have been looking around for a worthy replacement. But should we really buy the Paxcess Roomba for our above-ground inflatable pool?
I spent some time digging around the web and engaging pool people online. In this section, I detail what I learned.
The Paxcess entered the pool gear business in 2017. That doesn’t look like long enough to investigate user-reported complaints and fix everything that annoys users.
But if the 4.2-star rating on Amazon is anything to go by, this roomba is pretty popular. I guess those heaps of positive reviews are from satisfied users of the Paxcess, because it works.
Whether you have a small pool, a medium-sized pool, or a large pool, the Paxcess should serve you well. It comes with a 5000mAh lithium battery that takes about 4-5 hours to charge. From a full charge, expect roughly 1 hour to 1 ½ hour of cleaning power.
This robot comes with an internal filtration system, which means it prevents debris from stressing the pool’s filtration system. That internal filter tray features a screen that’s designed to capture fine particles.
If your pool filter screws ever come undone releasing DE powder into your pool, don’t worry. Instead, let the Paxcess roomba flex its cleaning muscle a bit. And if there are leaves and other debris in your pool, they’ll collect in this filter tray.
This filtration tray is easier to clean compared to the bag-like filter some similar models use. Just hose the filter off or rinse it under a faucet. Cleaning this unit is easy, too. Use your fingers to unclip the sides and remove the entire top of the vacuum.
This roomba cleans all kinds of pool shapes. Whether you have a square-shaped pool, a circular-shaped pool, or an odd shaped pool, this robot got you covered. Its intelligent pool navigation system ensures it scans the entire floor and attacks every dirty spot and sand pile.
Simply tweak the nozzle angle right and that’s it. A jet on the back of the robot and another on the front propels it. Changing the jet/nozzle angle is pretty easy.
If you have a round above-ground pool, set the nozzle angle to 20˚. And if the pool has a square shape, setting the nozzle angle to zero works fine. What if you have an odd-shaped pool? Get the unit to turn more often for greater pool floor coverage. To do that, set the nozzle angle to 90.˚
The AIPER SMART (below) struggles when scrubbing pool floors that aren’t perfectly flat, but the Paxcess doesn’t. I watched it clean a pool whose deeper end was 6 feet vs 3 feet for the shallow end. And its performance was impressive.
Important: read the user manual carefully so you can use the robotic cleaner right so you won’t void the warranty. Once you’re done vacuuming, dry the charging port completely to prevent rusting or corrosion.
What’s Not So Great About the Paxcess Robotic Pool Cleaner
The knob that powers the pool cleaning robot off works, but turning it off can be challenging. Also, the bot doesn’t clean walls and stairs at all. Plus, it’s the priciest deal in these reviews. But at that price, you’d be hard-pressed to find a comparable robot that cleans as well.
Overall, the battery-powered Paxcess cordless robotic cleaner is a decent hose-free, cord-free that cleans all pool sizes and shapes really well. Its battery offers a really long run time, and the unit eats up grime and debris like nothing you’ve ever seen.
While one or two reviewers saw their vacuum break down earlier than expected, the robot cleaner lasts for the most part. I recommend it for all kinds of pools. Whether you own a 3,000-gallon above-ground pool or a 10,000-gallon kidney-shaped in-ground pool, this unit will ensure the pool stays spotlessly clean.
2. Pool Blaster Centennial Handheld Rechargeable Pool Vacuum (Good for Sand, Leaves, and Small Rocks)
You can use a hose-style vacuum to clean your pool if you so choose. But you have to set up a pump, hose, and vacuum head. And that can be a pain. Plus, there’s no guarantee that the pump-vacuum-hose setup will pick up all the debris at the bottom of the pool.
That’s where the portable Pool Blaster Centennial from Water Tech comes into play. This vacuum is lightweight and compact, as are all battery-powered vacuums. Also, it’s pretty easy to set up and use.
The package comes with a quick vacuum assembly guide as well as an instructions manual. Both are pretty clear and easy to follow.
This unit’s charging port is easy to access, too. Simply open the cover and there sits the charging port. It takes between 3-4 hours to charge this unit. A full charge translates into 40-45minutes of debris clean-up power. You also get a charger that plugs right into a wall socket.
The battery compartment stays sealed tight. However, there have been cases of water getting in and damaging the lithium ion battery. Make sure to create a hermetic seal all around during setup to stave off such an eventuality.
A 4-Pieace 45″ Pool Pole Set — It Telescopes
With a pool pole that long, there’s no inch of your debris-covered pool bottom you won’t be able to reach and clean. Simply lock the pole adapter into place and slide each of the four pieces one over the other. The adapter also lets you use pretty much any standard pool pole that telescopes.
Vac Head Adapter and Vacuum Head
Insert the vacuum head adapter into the vacuum and then fit the included 10.5″ vacuum head in, and you’re all set. This hose-free pool cleaning system utilizes Water Tech’s powerful P20 motor that relies on battery-powered internal suction to pick up leaves and even algae.
Do you have sand, silt, small blossoms, or leaves at the bottom of the pool? Maybe there’s even some white powder that came from the salt chlorinator and now sits in a corner of the deep end of the pool? Whatever you throw at this Pool Blaster vacuum, the thing’s got that covered. It even sucks up small rocks so you can swim in crystal clear water.
Debris Chamber and Cone-shaped Filtration Media
The debris compartment is relatively big, but it could be bigger. It’s clear, too. What’s more, this clear debris chamber is easy to dump out. The unit’s quick-release dual-cam lever makes that possible.
Also, this unit comes with a cone-like washable filter that ensures no dirt gets into the vacuuming compartment. It seems better designed than other Pool Blaster vacuums I have seen. Giving this filter media am easy twist securely holds it in place. This filter catches small and bigger particles as well and is easy to remove and clean.
Once you’re done cleaning, drain this vacuum, empty the debris canister, and rinse the canister as well as the filter. Finally, dry the parts completely before reassembly. And if a little water somehow got into the battery compartment, drain it and dry up this compartment.
What’s Not So Great About the Pool Blaster Centennial
Some pool owners who bought this product reported not having gotten as much use as they’d hoped. But this hoseless pool vacuum costs under $140 as of this writing. That’s cheaper than pool care services in most places.
To be clear, most battery-powered vacuums don’t last forever. So, enjoy the quick fun cleans when they last.
Overall, the Pool Blaster Centennial is a worthy buy at that price point given how well it works and how thoroughly it cleans.
If you’re an unrepentant clean freak who doesn’t mind spending a little money, definitely pick this Pool Blaster vacuum. Whether you have an in-ground or above-ground pool, you’ll love this product, barring any little surprises post-purchase. The Centennial is suitable for small to medium sized pools and spas just like its sibling the Catfish Ultra LI below.
3. Pool Blaster Catfish Ultra LI Handheld Rechargeable Pool Cleaner (Good for Sand)
As far as product design and construction, the Pool Blaster Catfish Ultra LI is barely different than its sibling the Pool Blaster Centennial. The size of the dirt chamber is the same, and both offer a 45″ telescopic handle.
Additionally, both products feature a 10.5″ removable vacuum head that picks up sands, silt, dirt, leaves, pine needles, acorns, and whatnot amazingly well. The vacuum head has a connection part that swivels, and it’s this part that clicks into the clear nose cap. Because the head swivels, cleaning tight corners is a breeze.
To clean hard-to-reach areas in the pool, remove the vacuum head. There’s a crevice tool attached to the nose cap so you can clean out every nook in the pool.
Even the vacuum engine used in the Catfish Ultra model is the exact same Water Tech P20 motor that the Centennial uses. Run time stays the same at 40-45 minutes, and battery recharge time is more or less 3-4 hours. Both units give you a wide cleaning path.
Difference Between the Catfish Ultra LI and Centennial
So, what’s the difference between the Pool Blaster Catfish Ultra and Centennial? Not much difference in terms of looks and pool cleaning performance.
But the handle of the Catfish Ultra feels somewhat flimsy. And if you ever need to attach a regular aluminum pool pole, you’ll have to slide in 2 of the flimsy parts first. Result? A wobbly handle.
Also, the cleaning head measure’s 7.5″ in the Catfish LI compared to the 10.5″ head the Centennial boasts. Even though the motors pump out the same amount of power, the wider head of the Centennial makes it a marginally better timesaver.
Another difference is that the debris chamber isn’t clear. But the nozzle is, and that lets you see what the vacuum is picking up. The filter bag is similar in size as the filter cone in the Centennial, and it picks up even the smallest pool particles.
What’s Not So Great About the Catfish Ultra LI
As with the Centennial, you can insert a regular standard aluminum handle. However, you need to put in two pieces of the provided extension pieces which could be better quality. If you slide in an aluminum pole without sliding two pieces in first, the vacuum’s handle might break.
Another con which isn’t a dealbreaker is that the Catfish model has a narrower vacuum head compared to the Centennial. Expect the Catfish to take slightly longer to clean the same pond size.
Also, some reviewers reported not finding the promised free pole in the box.
Overall, the Catfish Ultra LI is an OK battery operated pool cleaner that picks up small leaves, pine needles, acorns, and sand reasonably well. However, it’s not great at pulling up small rocks. It’s affordable, too, and it does the job. It’s ideal for small and medium sized pools and spas.
4. AIPER SMART Rechargeable Automatic Cordless Pool Vacuum (Best for Flat Floors)
This lithium battery-run AIPER SMART automatic pool vacuum works. Setup is easy, too. You can do it in less than 10 minutes without help. The instruction manual could be more helpful, but nothing is too hard to figure out, and there aren’t too many components to assemble.
The thing needs about for 4 hours to draw a full charge. It’s rated for 538 sq. ft. pools. It cleans above-ground pools, but that’s not where it demonstrates its cleaning proficiency best. The smart vacuum works best for smooth, level, in-ground pool floors.
We have a 15-foot long 38-inch wide above ground Intex pool. With a pool like that, it’s hard to find a sweep that’s small enough. This intelligent vacuum is small and compact enough, and it cleans our pool reasonably well.
It struggles with navigating the folds that we didn’t stretch out completely. But when it comes to cleaning level sections of the pool floor, it works like a champ on steroids.
If there’s a few pine needles on the bottom or a few oak leaves, this automatic cleaner gets them all. But no, this intelligent pool vacuum may disappoint you if you use it to clean up ugly green algae.
We have to brush the stairs and walls because this vac doesn’t climb walls or steps, though. But that’s not its fault. The pattern it makes on the floor looks weird, but it works. I wish I could guide the thing, but it’s designed to work with little human intervention.
The unit is cordless, and there’s no hose to deal with the whole time. Its 2600mAh IPX8 waterproof lithium battery fully charges in 2-3.5 hours. One full charge lasts 45-50 minutes. And that’s enough time to clean most pool sizes.
An LED battery charge indicator on the AC plug lets you know when charging completes. The LED indicator light turns red during charging and finally turns green when done. Some reviewers suggest leaving this automatic vacuum to charge overnight. But the manufacturer’s instructions recommend charging it 3-4 hours.
The smart vacuum’s micro mesh filter removes 2-mocron particles or larger so you can have a sediment-free experience. If you a windstorm blows tons of dust into your pool, put this little robot cleaner to work.
Remove any large leaves and rocks before dropping this cleaner in. The debris collection chamber seems to get full in about 5-7 minutes. In some instances, the vacuum may stop working until you empty and clean it.
Tip: retrieve the unit from the water using the provided hook. If you delay, the dirt and debris start exiting through the suction ports.
As you fish this little auto cleaner out of the pool, keep it straight and level. Otherwise, it’ll release some of the collected muck back into the water.
What I Didn’t Like About the AIPER SMART
The AIPER SMART may work for many pool shapes, but it struggles when navigating through vinyl pool folds. Also, it doesn’t work well for pool floors that aren’t flat. We brush the dirt off our pool’s walls and corners and get it into the middle of the pool so the thing can pick it. It handles about 80% of the pool cleaning work for us. Not bad.
Also, the AIPER Smart lacks wall-climbing abilities. Nor does it climb pool stairs. Plus, some reviewers watched their unit bump into the wall and stop abruptly.
This unit also gets stuck on corners. Retrieving the unit from where it’s stuck and moving it away from the corner helps, though.
Tip: Turnthe auto cleaner off just before lifting it out of the water. If you don’t do that, it’ll gush a nice little jet of dirty water on you!
And at almost $270 (as of this writing), I feel like the price point could be more attractive.
Overall, this roomba-like smart pool vacuum is a good deal. It works, but you still have to use a traditional hook-up vacuum or a regular battery-powered vacuum to clean the stairs and walls.
I recommend it for daily pool maintenance rather than it being the only pool cleaner you’ll use.
5. Intex 28620EP Handheld Rechargeable Pool Vacuum (Best Budget)
As far as design, the Intex 28620EP looks different than most. Its syringe-like design is simple, clean, lightweight, and compact.
And it’s really easy to set up. Insert the 94″ aluminum pole into the rear of the unit, attach one of the two vacuum heads, and that’s it. Finally, switch the unit on and dip it in the pool.
It may seem like the vacuum isn’t working, but that’s because it’s designed to work when fully submerged. The unit boasts IPX8 waterproof status, which means water stays out of the tight port seal.
I tested this little pool vacuum cleaning my parents’ small decorative pool. This circular pool is 18″ across, and this unit works like a charm.
But if you want to detest your handheld Intex 28620EP pool cleaner, use it in haste. This vacuum hates to be rushed. When you rush it, all you do is stir the dirt up. When that happens, the vacuum pretends to be working. But the silly sucker is actually releasing the filth back into the pool the whole friggin time!
For better cleaning results, move the vacuum on the floor, walls, and stairs slowly. When working at a slow pace, the Intex 28620EP picks up debris surprisingly well.
What if your neighbor does some yard work and unknowingly blows leaves and other debris into your pool? That’s when using this vacuum feels 100 percent like pain.
What if you need to clean up those clumps of debris the willow tree near your pool dropped into the water? The Intel sucks all kinds of debris including leaves, sand piles, dead bugs, and everything in between. Downside? It’ll take you forever to clean relatively large pools.
A friend’s pool measures 21 feet x 52 feet. And it takes quite a while to clean the pool. This unit should work very well for small pools (10 feet x 20 feet?) and spas, though.
I have yet to clean my parent’s hot tub with this vacuum. But some reviewers say it cleans hot tubs well. However, some reviewers reported the battery dying after the third use cleaning hot tubs!
What’s Not So Great About the Intex 28620EP
The battery takes longer to charge than most battery-powered options. The manufacturer’s website says to charge it for 7-8 hours (seriously?). But my folks’ unit’s never taken longer than 5.5 hours.
And while a USB cable is included in the box, there’s plug for it. You can use your phone’s plug to charge your Intex, though. But that can be inconveniencing.
Also, the dirt particle bag is pretty small and fills up in no time. Plus, fitting this sock-like particle trapper can be tricky.
Note: Use the sock-like filter when removing smaller particles. But if you have the sock on and there’s leaves, bugs, and other larger debris to tackle, take the bag off first.
One user’s battery and unit died in about 6 months because a little water defied what should be a tight seal on the top cover.
Overall, this is one of the best battery-powered vacuum cleaners on the market today. It’s compact, features a metal pole that’s quite long, and has a solid build. It works for spas, above-ground pools, and in-ground pools.
Most importantly, the thing munches muck and debris surprisingly well. This is probably going to be the best $100 you’ll ever spend.
Guide to Choosing the Best Rechargeable Pool Vacuum
There’s a couple of considerations you need to keep top of mind while shopping around for a battery-run pool cleaner. Below, I list a number of things you should focus on before handing over the money.
But before we proceed, what are rechargeable pool cleaners?
What is a Rechargeable Pool Vacuum?
A rechargeable vacuum cleaner is a special kind of vacuum designed for sucking up debris from the floor and walls of pools. These vacuum run on a lithium ion battery and need to be plugged in every time the battery runs low. And when the battery dies, it needs to be replaced. Luckily, Replacement packs are available online. Note: not all batteries are replaceable.
Regular pool cleaners depend on the pump system of the pool or a garden hose to generate suction. As for rechargeable vacuums, they count on battery power to create powerful suction that lifts sand, silt, leaves, and dirt off pool floors and walls.
What to Consider When Shopping for a Battery-powered Pool Cleaner
When buying a handheld pool vacuum, pay attention to battery run time, recharge time, durability, ease of use, debris removed, handle, brand, and price.
1. Battery Run Time
Choose an option with a decent battery run time — the longer the run time, the better. Some vacuums have a run time of just 20 minutes while others have a 90-minute run time.
Be sure to learn the stated or advertised run time of the unit you’re assessing. Any option that will clean your pool for at least 30 minutes should be good enough.
Note that run time isn’t a fixed number. How long a battery-driven vacuum serves you depends on a number of factors. These factors include the setting you’re running the unit on, how good the battery is, and how efficiently you’re using the cleaner.
For example, a cleaner that should work for 40 minutes may run for only 10 minutes on the highest power setting.
So, to get the most run time out of each full charge, make sure to have the most optimized setup possible.
2. Time It Takes to Charge the Battery
Vacuum battery recharge time is another important consideration. The shorter the recharge duration, the sooner you can usher in the pool season. Some handheld pool cleaners need just 2 hours to draw a full charge. Others need as much as 6 hours to charge — these options suck (in a bad way).
3. Ease of Use
You never want a pool cleaner that’s too difficult to set up and use. Instead, you want something that won’t take more than 5 minutes to get working. Because you want to start sucking stuff off the pool floor, stairs, and walls soonest possible.
But how do you know if a particular pool purifier is easy to use? Well, watch a couple of Youtube videos and read user reviews.
4. Pool Vacuum Longevity
Let’s face it: most rechargeable pool cleaners don’t last more than two pool seasons. That said, some options are more durable than others. Good battery-operated cleaners cost upwards of $150. So, does investing in a rechargeable pool cleaner make sense? It depends on what pool cleaning services cost where you’re at versus each option’s expected longevity and cost.
Depending on where you are, pool maintenance costs between $110 and $349. Expect to part with $229 for this service because that’s the national average. Basic pool cleaning services including skimming, checking pool filters, and water testing cost significantly less, though.
If the product you’re eyeing can last at least 2 pool seasons and costs $150, cleaning the pool yourself might make sense. And being able to love your pool in the way only you can does feel good. Not to mention that you’ll build some muscle in the process.
Good news: decent battery-operated pool cleaning vacuums aren’t prohibitively expensive. Plus, they save you time while gobbling up the green algae and debris in your pool, leaving it in perfectly pristine condition.
But there are two situations where hiring the pool guy would make more sense:
- If you’re a busy who’d rather spend their weekends honing their craft so they can make even more money
- If you swim a lot as do your kids and significant other and don’t want to break your back cleaning up the muck-ridden pool.
5. What Kind of Debris Do You Have in Your Pool?
Another factor to pay attention to is what kind of debris the vacuum actually removes. Some options tackle sand and silt pretty well while they struggle sucking up leaves. And that’s where having a leaf eater helps. Others are great at cleaning up algae from the walls and elsewhere in the pool but don’t suck up sand and silt very well.
There’s also the question of attachments. Most cleaners come with basic attachments, some of which you may not even use. Know what attachments you’ll get and what they’re designed to do.
6. What’s a Reasonable Price Point for a Battery Powered Pool Cleaner?
Some battery-powered pool cleaners cost as little as $20, but others can be quite costly. With $100-$250, you should be able to find a decent option for a small, medium, or large pool. The best rechargeable pool vacuum for the money is one that does the job without falling apart every time.
7. Understand What Kind of Pool Vacuum You Want
There are manual pool cleaners/hand-powered cleaners, automatic cleaners, and roombas. The differences aren’t always clear. The section that follows highlights the differences between rechargeable and hand-powered options.
Rechargeable vs. Manual Suction Cleaners
It’s easy to confuse battery-powered pool vacuums with manually operated pool cleaners. While you must manually push each type inside the pool during the cleaning process, the former isn’t manual in the strictest sense of the word.
Rechargeable cleaners rely on battery power to create suction while manual operated vacuums count on your muscle power to build up suction. That’s the main difference between these two vacuum types.
Since rechargeable options have battery power generating the suction, all you have to do is push and guide the vacuum to silty and sandy spots. As for purely manual options, they need you to power both the suction as well as guide the vacuum head around the pool.
As you might expect, cleaning a pool manually can be a time-consuming process which tires your arms and hands out. If the pool is large, you’ll hate manual-cleaning it. And that’s where battery powered or electric powered vacuums come into play.
Note that not all battery-driven vacs are handheld. Some automatic pool cleaners and roombas run on battery power, too.
Automatic Pool Cleaners vs. Roombas
Automatic pool cleaners are like robotic cleaners in the sense that they don’t need you to do the job. But there’s one difference between robotic vacuum cleaners vs. automatic pool vacuum cleaners.
While robotic cleaners come with an internally built water filtration system, automatic vacuums lack such a system. Instead, you have to hook an auto cleaner to your pool’s filtration system. And that piles a bit of strain on that external filtration system.
Also, a robotic vacuum enters the pool without help while an automatic option typically needs to be dropped in.
In my reviews, I included one robotic pool vacuum and one automatic vacuum that operate on battery power.
8. What Are the Best Pool Vacuum Brands
There aren’t very many pool vacuum brands, but there’s a bunch of brands that many pool owners like.
The best pool vacuum cleaners include Polaris, Aquaproducts, Zodiac, Hayward, Dolphin, Pentair, XtremePowerUS, and Pool Blaster.
To be clear, these aren’t the only good brands. So, if you find a battery-powered pool cleaner with great reviews, definitely buy it.
Why Buy a Rechargeable Pool Vacuum?
Rechargeable pool vacuums aren’t exactly popular these days. But the situation could be totally different if batteries behaved. Still, some pool owners love these manual pool cleaners for a number of reasons.
They’re Highly Portable
First off, battery-powered manual pool vacuums are typically lightweight and compact. They’re usually highly portable vacuums that work well for a variety of cleaning situations. The lightweight and compact design also helps when it comes to storage.
They’re Great for Spot-cleaning Pools
The best ones work pretty fast, but they’re not meant for cleaning large pools. These hand-powered pool vacuums are best suited for small to medium-sized pools. If you put them to remove sand, silt, leaves, pine needles, and acorns in small or not-so-small pools, most do a good job.
Battery-powered Pool Vacuums Offer Convenience
Regular pool vacuums need to be plugged in the whole time you’re cleaning your pool. But you can use a battery-powered pool cleaner without needing to connect to a power source during cleaning.
If there’s a power outage in your location for some time, that’s no reason to put off cleaning your pool. Simply retrieve your mothballed battery-powered vacuum and get down to work.
I know a guy who provides pool maintenance services. This provider and their team mostly use professional-grade battery-powered pool vacuums. Because these gadgets work — as long as you choose one that actually does.
They’re Highly Maneuverable
Also, these units are highly maneuverable. You can use them to reach nooks and crannies that robotic pool vacuum cleaners can’t reach. They’re your best bet for when you want to clean up pool stuff accumulated on a particular spot.
Thanks to the internal suction these gadgets pump out, you can vacuum pool floors, walls, and stairs. You can also suck up debris such as leaves and pine needles that float on the surface of the water.
They’re Faster Compared to Manual Pool Cleaners
Manual pool cleaners are the cheapest pool cleaners in the market. They’re significantly cheaper than their battery-dependent counterparts.
But hand-operated pool cleaning vacuums are slower compared to rechargeable options besides not being particularly good at the job. Pool owners who are huge fans of battery-reliant vacuums prefer them over other types because they’re venerable timesavers.
Hand-powered pool cleaners are designed for tidying small pools. And it takes tons of energy and time to get even small pools up to snuff using a manual pool cleaning system. The upside is you’ll wind up with a leaner, better-sculptured body at the end of the pool cleaning session.
How Does a Rechargeable Pool Cleaner Work?
Rechargeable pool vacuums work pretty much like regular vacuums or shop vacs. They generate suction, just like normal vacuums. But instead of remaining connected to a power supply during a cleaning session, they rely on a charged battery for suction. These handheld battery-powered pool cleaners work ONLY when fully submerged.
Many options come with a pool pole that attaches to the vacuum, and the other end of the pole is the handle.
Most have a telescopic handle, one that extends giving you greater reach. If an option doesn’t come with a handle, you have an opportunity to buy a handle that fits your personal preference.
Parts of a Battery-powered Pool Cleaner
A rechargeable pool cleaning vacuum boasts the following components:
- Nozzle
- Canister
- Filtration bag
- Attachments
- Handle
Think of the nozzle as the entry port of the vacuum. Debris in the water gets sucked into the unit through the nozzle. And this part is located on the bottom of the machine because that’s the most suitable location for it.
The canister is typically removable and easy to clean. It’s found right above the inlet/nozzle, and it holds removed debris.
Also, the vast majority of options come with a bag-like filtration media that stays over the debris collection canister. This filter is a crucial component because it drastically reduces the chances of dirt and debris passing on into the vacuum.
Some models come with tiny bags that fill up in no time. In some cases, the bag gets coated by sediments on the inside and that can cause the unit to stop working. That happens with some models even when the bag isn’t anywhere near full. So, read battery-powered rechargeable pool vacuum reviews before pressingthepay now button.
If your pool has stubborn stuff that won’t loosen from normal vacuum, get a vacuum with a good agitation brush. The right brush helps you scrub the problem spots for easier removal. Choose a brush that boasts stiff bristles that scrubs off dirt and muck like a pro.
Finally, there’s the handle. Whether you have an in-ground concrete pool or a fancy above-ground pool, consider an option that features a telescopic handle. A telescopic handle shortens or lengthens, and that allows you to reach crevices near and relatively farther away around the pool.
Check the product’s description to learn whether the deal will include a handle or not. If it doesn’t, you’ll have to buy a suitable handle for your unit, preferably one that telescopes.
How to Clean a Rechargeable Pool Vacuum
Your battery-powered vacuum cleaner is done sucking up pebbles, sand, silt, dirt, and leaves from the bottom of your pool. Now what? Clean the pool vacuum, of course. If you want your machine to remain in great condition for reasonably long, always clean it after use.
To clean a pool vacuum that packs tons of grungy stuff in the grime canister, turn the device off. Then, drain it and remove the dirt compartment and then empty it. You may want to use a small bucket to hold the filth before you dump it out. Alternatively, drain the dirty stuff out and rake it afterward.
Then, give the empty canister a quick rinse with clean cold water and do the same for the vacuum filter. Next, dry out the canister and filter before putting them back into the vacuum. Let every part of the unit to dry completely reassembling it ready for storage. Moisture easily corrodes metal, and vacuums have some metal components.
Store the cleaned pool vacuum in room temperature. Avoid storing the unit in very cold temperatures in places such as the garage or dedicated storage area.
So, where do you store a battery-powered pool vacuum? A closet is an ideal place. So is a walk-in pantry if you have one.
Pool Vacuum Battery Care
Below is how to preserve the battery life of a pool vacuum or any vacuum type that depends on battery power:
- Avoid storing a pool vacuum that runs on battery power in cold conditions. Why? If you recharge a frozen vacuum battery, the battery casing my crack or wind up with leaks.
- Check the vacuum manufacturer’s instructions to learn whether you should drain the battery fully before storage. Unless otherwise stated, store the vacuum with the battery at 30-50% charge.
- If the vacuum batter dies, find the right replacement pack online and dispose of the dead pack. Vacuum replacement batteries cost between $30 and $50, but some can be pretty pricey.
- Avoid turning the pool vacuum on and off all the time.
- Unless you really have to, avoid running the vacuum on its most powerful setting/maximum setting.
Rechargeable Pool Vacuum FAQs
What Kind of Battery Do Rechargeable Pool Cleaners Use?
Most rechargeable pool vacuums run on lithium-ion batteries. These aren’t perfect batteries, and science might lead engineers to much better versions in the future.
How Long Do Battery-powered Pool Vacuums Run on a Single Charge?
Run time varies from model to model, but most vacuums see a run time of between 30-90 minutes on a single full charge. Another factor that determines run time is how you’re using the unit. The more efficiently you use the vacuum, the longer the run time.
Do Rechargeable Pool Vacuums Really Work?
Yes, they do. However, many have battery issues. Be sure to read reliable pool vacuum reviews before purchasing so you can choose an option with a decent run time.
Do Battery-driven Pool Vacuums Clean Better Than Regular Pool Vacuums?
Dedicated pool vacuums can be expected to clean pools better than other vacuums. They’re specialized-designed pool cleaning systems that are optimized to perform reasonably well while submerged in water. However, some options suck (in a bad way), and you should definitely stay away from such.
Do Battery-powered Pool Vacuums Last Long?
Some do, some don’t. Battery-powered pool vacs aren’t the most durable vacs out there, though. Some won’t last more than one pool season. Read reviews before buying to avoid picking up a terrible loser.
Can You Use a Shop Vac to Clean a Pool?
Yes, you can use a powerful wet dry shop vac such as the Ridgid WD1450 to clean a pool. The good thing about a regular shop vac is that it’s versatile.
But there’s one downside to using a shop vac to suck up debris, dirt, and small rocks off the bottom of a pool. You have to turn off the shop vac every time the canister fills up and pour out the water. Alternatively, you can use a pump to siphon the water out.
There’s one advantage of using a regular shop vacuum to clean a pool. The sucked-up debris ends up on the yard grass as opposed to clogging your pool’s filtration system.
Wrapping Up
It’s hard to find really good pool vacuums that rely on battery power. Fortunately, there’s a few tried and proven models in the market.
While none of the recommendations above is a perfect handheld pool vacuum, each of them works. And the battery-fed Paxcess Robotic easily emerged as the overall winner in the contest.
Have you used any of the battery-powered vacuums reviewed above? Please share your personal experience with your vacuum model. Let me and the community here at Tidyingmama.com know what you liked or hated about the vac.
