Choosing a cleaner
Do this first
Start with your pool, not the robot: how many leaves fall in, its size, and whether you want cordless decide which cleaner fits.
What does your pool deal with most?
Leaves choke small baskets and filters. You want a big debris bag or basket, and a cleaner that climbs out of a leaf pile rather than stalling in it.
Fix it yourself
- Count the trees over the water: a yard with oaks or pecans wants a large-capacity robot or a pressure-side cleaner with a bag.
- A leaf net on a pole still earns its keep in October — empty the worst before the cleaner runs.
- Read our four picks for leafy pools, then come and lift the baskets in the store.
What you’ll need
In the store and online.
Scuba X1 Pro Max Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner$1699.97
POLARIS Vac-Sweep® 3900 Sport$1199.00
Deluxe Series Aluminum Frame Leaf Skimmer with Poly Net$21.99
Or come and see us
Bring the question, a photo, or a water sample — we’ll sort it out at the counter.
Visit the storeThe right one empties into the bag, not your skimmer basket, and you empty it once a run.
Floor-only cleaners leave the scum line to you. For an inground pool you want a robot that climbs, scrubs the waterline and maps the pool rather than bouncing.
Fix it yourself
- Check your pool’s longest side against the cleaner’s rated size, and whether it climbs steps and slopes.
- Decide how much you will lift: a cordless robot lifts out light; a corded one needs a caddy and a plug.
- Read our side-by-side of every cleaner we sell, then see them run in the store.
What you’ll need
In the store and online.
- Scuba X1 Pro Max Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner$1699.97
Beatbot P300 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner$999.00
Or come and see us
Bring the question, a photo, or a water sample — we’ll sort it out at the counter.
Visit the storeThe right one does floor, walls and waterline on one charge and parks itself.
Cordless means no cable to tangle and nothing to plumb, in exchange for a battery with a run time and a lifetime. For most backyard pools that trade is worth it.
Fix it yourself
- Match the run time to your pool: a large pool needs a battery that covers it in one run.
- Look at how it is retrieved and charged — a dock or a hook decides how much you handle it.
- Read the cordless vs corded comparison for the figures side by side.
What you’ll need
In the store and online.
- Scuba X1 Pro Max Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner$1699.97
- Beatbot P300 Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner$999.00
Or come and see us
Bring the question, a photo, or a water sample — we’ll sort it out at the counter.
Visit the storeThe right one finishes your pool on one charge and you never touch a cable.
A suction-side cleaner runs off your existing pump and skimmer with no battery and no plumbing — the least to go wrong, for a pool without heavy debris.
Fix it yourself
- Check your pump has the flow for it — a variable-speed pump on a low setting may need a higher speed while it runs.
- Plan for the hose: it stays in the pool, so it needs to reach the far corner.
- Read the suction-side guide, then ask us which fits your pump.
What you’ll need
In the store and online.
Or come and see us
Bring the question, a photo, or a water sample — we’ll sort it out at the counter.
Visit the storeThe right one keeps a light-debris pool clean between weekly visits without a second thought.
Go deeper
- Our pool cleaner guideEvery cleaner we sell, ranked by what it’s best at
- Best for heavy leavesOaks and fall debris — the cleaners that don’t choke
- Cordless or corded?Battery life, power and lifetime, side by side
The full guides
- Best Robotic Pool Cleaners for 2026: Reviews, Comparisons & Buying GuideCompare top robotic pool cleaners: Dolphin, Polaris, Hayward. Features, price ranges, best for large pools, small pools, and Texas-specific considerations.
- Fall Leaf Cleanup Guide: Choosing the Right Pool Vacuum for Heavy DebrisFall leaves challenge DFW pool owners. Discover which pool vacuum types work best for leaf cleanup and how to choose one suited to your pool's seasonal needs.
- Suction-Side Pool Cleaners: Budget-Friendly Automatic Cleaning for Your PoolComplete guide to suction-side pool cleaners: how they work, top brands (Hayward Navigator, Zodiac, Pentair Kreepy Krauly), cost comparison vs robotic and press
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