Brush, vacuum, or robot
A brush knocks dirt loose, a vacuum head sends it to the filter through the pool pump, and a robot is its own machine. Match a metal brush to plaster or tile. Use nylon on a vinyl liner.
· 5 min read
A metal brush on a vinyl liner can scar the liner. Use the brush material the tool is sold for.
Brush the surface you have
Brushing is what gets dirt off the floor and the waterline so the filter can catch it. Match the bristle to the surface. A metal brush is for plaster, concrete, and tile. On a vinyl liner it can cut the material. Use a nylon brush, or another brush sold for vinyl, on a liner. If the listing does not name your surface, do not guess a metal brush.
The pole has to fit the clip on the brush, the vacuum head, or the net. Match the new tool to the pole you already own, or buy the pole with it. Poles, brushes, and nets are in cleaning.
Vacuum head or robot
A manual vacuum head rides on a pole and a hose. The hose connects to the skimmer, or to a dedicated vacuum line, and the pool pump pulls the dirt to the filter. If the pump is full of air, the vacuum will not pick up. Fix that first with why a pool pump loses prime.
A robotic cleaner has its own pump and its own filter. It does not use the pool pump, and it does not replace brushing the waterline. Read the cord length and the surface it is rated for on the product page. A robot sold for a flat floor is a poor match for a hopper.
When the dirt comes back
Dust that returns the day after you vacuum is often a filter that is not catching what you sent it, or water that is out of range. Clean the filter, then test. Those steps are in how to clean a pool filter and how to balance pool water.
If the floor is slick and green, brush it. Vacuuming algae without brushing leaves it stuck. The difference between haze and algae is in why pool water turns cloudy.
Questions
What brush should I use on a vinyl pool?
A nylon brush, or another brush sold for vinyl. A metal brush can scar a liner. Match the pole to the clip on the brush you buy.
Does a pool robot use the pool pump?
No. A robot has its own pump and filter. A vacuum head on a pole uses the pool pump, through a hose to the skimmer or a vacuum line.
Why does dirt come back after I vacuum the pool?
The filter may be loaded, or the pump may not be moving a full stream. Clean the filter and confirm the pump is primed before you vacuum the same dirt again.