The Aquabot Pool Rover Plus cleans better than Polaris
Written: Aug 28 '08 (Updated Aug 28 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cleans very well in 2-4 hours.
Cons: Is not automatic like a Polaris, requires manual supervision.
The Bottom Line: After 2 months of use, I agree the Aquabot is not convenient to use, but it cleans better and uses less energy than a Polaris.
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| mjlee22's Full Review: Aquabot Pool Rover Plus Automatic Pool In - Ground... |
Like the previous reviewer, I bought the Aquabot Pool Rover Plus from costco.com. It cost about $400. Only homeowners who do their own pool maintenance should consider using this pool sweep. Unlike the Polaris, you cannot leave this cleaner in the pool all week.
I bought the Aquabot because I have a pool cover, and under it, my Polaris often failed to work--got stuck under the cover, or the bag fell off, or the hose popped out or tangled. I wouldn't find out until I opened the pool cover. Also, my Polaris was 3 years old and about ready to fall apart, and the booster pool pump was very noisy and also close to the end of its life. So it was time to look at alternatives.
I have had the Aquabot about 2 months. I run it once a week, as my pool is seldom used (kids are grown). I do my maintenance and use the Aquabot to help mix the water after adding a modest amount of dry chemicals, even though phone support said to wait 1-2 days after adding chemicals.
Here are the benefits of using the Pool Rover:
1. There are 2 bags provided, and I use the finer one. This picks up lots more sand (I have a DE filter) than a Polaris.
2. As a result, the pool looks cleaner.
3. Because the bag is so large, I believe it will hold alot more debris than the Polaris, which will be great when the leaves fall.
4. I usually run it twice, or 4 hours. That uses much less electricity than the 18 hours I was running the Polaris booster pump, and there is no noise.
5. Because it doesn't sit in water 24x7, I believe this device and its bags should last longer than the Polaris, whose bags I had to replace every few months, and whose plastic and rubber parts break down within 3 years.
6. The suction can pick up heavy items. I had a 2"x3" piece of pool tile that broke off and sat in the deep end of the pool for a year. The Aquabot sucked it up!
7. Mobility. I can pick this up and stick it in my rectangular spa, or take it to a friend's house if they get a debris problem.
Here are the disadvantages of using the Pool Rover:
1. As the other reviewer noted, there is more manual labor involved. You can't just leave it in the water and forget it.
2. Yes, the bag is not easy to wash, but it takes only a little more time than cleaning out a Polaris bag. And there's no velcro to fail.
3. Will not go up 90-degree angles = most steps
4. I have a 20'x40' rectangular pool, and the Aquabot does not cover it in 2 hours, so I have to run it twice, untwisting the power cord inbetween.
Here are some more tips in using the Pool Rover:
1. Water turbulence tangles the floating power cord. So you can't add water to the pool or have the filter running while the Aquabot is doing its thing.
2. Sweep your steps and push any dirt to where it is at least 1 foot away from the walls or steps so that it is easier to suck up.
3. Place the control unit at the middle of the length of the pool. If you place it at one end of the pool, then when the cord tangles, it will not be able to reach the whole pool.
4. Untwist the blue floating power cord and lay it out straight between each 2 hour run.
5. When putting it away, coil up the blue cord like coiling a lasso so as to get the twists out of it.
6. To rinse out the bag, it is best to agitate it up and down in a sink full of water, changing the rinse water as it gets brown. It takes about 4-5 rinses to get it pretty clean. The manual says you can also put it in the washing machine, but I haven't done that yet.
7. Allow everything to air dry before putting the unit away.
A final note: Because of its disadvantages, the Aquabot is not a be-all and end-all solution for pool cleaning. I plan to use my Polaris when on vacation or when I need to apply heavy chemicals.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mjlee22
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Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA
Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Retired HP Software Development Manager and soccer mom. Demands quality in products.
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