This Article Was Last Updated on June 28, 2023
Initially, when you first buy your above ground pool and have it installed, you probably thought, hey what’s the big deal, I can clean this thing by hand. At first it’s fun to use the tools attached to the aluminum pole, the leaf skimmer, the brush, etcetera. But after a while, you will find yourself looking into alternatives to cleaning your pool by hand. You may ask yourself what is the best above ground pool vacuum? In this article we will review the best above ground pool cleaning methods, and our recommended products within each category.
Our #1 Pick: Aiper Seagull SE Cordless Cleaner
- CORDLESS & EASY TO USE: No more messy hoses and no more tangled cords. The Seagull SE is completely cordless and hassle-free! Simply power your…
- INCREASED BATTERY LIFE: The newly designed battery only takes 2.5 hours to fully charge and provides over 90 minutes of cleaning capabilities. Ideal…
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: Equipped with powerful dual-drive motors, the Seagull SE tracks down and collects the most types of dirt and debris with ease….
What To Look For In An Above Ground Pool Vacuum
What to look for in an above ground pool vacuum: First and foremost you need to be aware of the price ranges of pool cleaners. For example, if your budget is firmly below $500, that puts you in a specific family of inexpensive pool cleaner options. If you’re willing to pay a bit more, there are some other options available. Next, you need to consider the size of your pool. This will dictate which cleaners will clean your pool, and which will clean some of your pool.
There is nothing more frustrating than buying a cleaner incapable of reaching the far end of your swimming pool. Also you MUST consider the floor slope of your pool. While most above ground pools are flat bottomed pools, there are more and more creative pool builders out there putting in floor slopes and these floor slopes necessitate using a robotic pool cleaner designed for an inground vinyl pool like the Dolphin Nautilus CC.
Manual vs Robot
A manual vacuum will always be essential to pool cleaning of any kind. There really is no replacement for the manual vacuum after a tropical storm or massive dust storm. However, the robotic cleaners will change the way you live your life. You will no longer be okay with the floor being covered with a little debris.
It’s surprising what we’ll put up with when we don’t want to go through the effort of hooking up the manual vacuum and doing the work. Once you get into the habit of dropping in the robotic cleaner, you’ll get used to keeping a cleaner pool. Robot cleaners will impact the amount of chlorine you need and reduce the peaks and valleys of water chemistry measurably.
Maximum Run Time
The run time of a robotic vacuum will vary depending on the model. Most of them are in the 90 to 150 minute range. Some will shut off automatically, while others will keep going indefinitely. Cordless robotic cleaners have a defined run time, and most will have a shut down feature when they sense the battery level getting low, and will drive themselves over near the wall. The corded units will either run for as long as you have them plugged in for (set a timer!), or until their programmed run time is over for the more expensive models.
Pool Size
All robotic pool vacuums will have a limitation on the size of the pool they can effectively cover. This is more related to their run time capability and cord length than anything else. Most cleaners developed for above ground pools will work in all round above ground pools. If you have an above ground pool with an extreme floor slope however, you may want to consider a robotic cleaner for in-ground pool which may have better luck climbing the floor slope like the Dolphin Nautilus CC. Always check the size of your pool against the maximum size listed for the robotic cleaners.
Corded vs Cordless
Corded cleaners are great for those of us who forget to charge things. If you know you’ll forget to plug in or charge your cordless cleaner, just buy a corded version. However, the cordless cleaners are gaining in popularity for a couple of basic reasons. First, there’s the implied safety of a cordless vacuum versus their corded cousins. I say implied safety because you really should not be swimming with either cleaner in the pool. Second, there’s the safety of the pool deck.
A corded cleaner will create a trip hazard on the pool deck as it moves around the pool. These cords are almost always a bright color, and easy to see. However, if anyone not paying attention is traveling through the pool area, there is a risk of tripping and falling which can be very dangerous around a swimming pool. Another reason the cordless cleaners are gaining in popularity is they’re easier to manage. There’s no cord to coil up and untangle, you just pick it up and drop it in.
Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum 2023 Reviews
How Much Does An Above Ground Pool Vacuum Cost?
An above ground pool vacuum can mean different things to different people. In fact, above ground pool vacuums are a lot like discussing home vacuums. You have your robotic models like a Roomba. This will cost you hundreds of dollars and save you a lot of time. You also have your typical handheld vacuums that will cost closer to $50.
With above ground pool vacuums you also have manual and robotic models. Therefore, the price range of an above ground pool vacuum is $25 – $600. However, that cost analysis probably isn’t that helpful. Instead, you ask how much does a manual or robotic above ground pool vacuum cost? A manual pool vacuum will cost between $25 – $200.
We fully recommend investing in a robotic above ground pool vacuum. These will save you countless hours maintaining your pool. Luckily, the technology is not much more expensive than the most advanced manual vacuum. A robotic above ground pool vacuum will cost between $300 – $600. You can certainly find less expensive models, but they lack quality and we don’t recommend them.
Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum – Manual
First, there is the the good old manual vacuum head. These are an essential component to just about every pool tool set. You plug a hose into the skimmer, and the other end onto the vacuum head. Connect the vacuum head to your aluminum pole, and you’re in business.
This does require you to manually move the vacuum around the pool, and clean it, but it’s certainly better than trying to sweep everything into a pile and scoop it out. We recommend the Milliard swimming pool vacuum. These are shaped in such a way to be safe for vinyl liners, so you won’t risk a tear by moving it improperly.
- Easy Cleaning – Milliard’s pool vacuum head is weighted so it sinks right to the bottom of your pool and stays there. The air-relief valve…
- Soft Brushes – the brushes that run along the entire edge of this 13” wide pool brush are made from polypropylene bristles that are firmer than…
- Universal Fit – the vacuum port fits standard 1.25” and 1.5” vacuum hoses and the handle has spring loaded locking clips making it easy to…
Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum – Rechargeable & Manual
Next, there’s the rechargeable manual vacuum. These are a great invention. A relatively new product, these allow you to vacuum your pool manually without fiddling around with the hose and skimmer. Our favorite is the Pool Blaster Max.
- INCREASED POWER: The Max offers increased vacuum suction with the Water Tech P30 Motor design engineered for quick & efficient debris pick-up.
- WHOLE POOL CLEANER: Clean entire pool or Spot-Clean in seconds. Includes a removeable 10.5” vacuum head for general cleaning or simple remove to…
- CAPTURE MORE DIRT: The Max features a large debris capture chamber and strong suction for a variety of cleaning; acorns, twigs, leaves dirt and sand.
One of the major benefits here, is you don’t have to clean your pool filter when you’re done vacuuming, as all the debris is collected in the vacuum itself. You still need to manually push the vacuum head around the pool to clean, but there is not a hose or a cord to worry about as you vacuum the pool, so the process is much smoother and less cumbersome.
Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum – Cordless & Automated
When searching for the best above ground pool vacuum, you may be wondering, is there an alternative to pushing the vacuum around the pool. Isn’t there something you can just drop into the pool, forget about for a couple hours and then pull out of the pool when it’s done vacuuming? Yes, there is and it’s called the cordless vacuum. These operate on a battery charge, and automatically cover the entire floor surface while they vacuum your above ground pool. We recommend the Aiper Seagull SE for above ground pools.
- CORDLESS & EASY TO USE: No more messy hoses and no more tangled cords. The Seagull SE is completely cordless and hassle-free! Simply power your…
- INCREASED BATTERY LIFE: The newly designed battery only takes 2.5 hours to fully charge and provides over 90 minutes of cleaning capabilities. Ideal…
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE: Equipped with powerful dual-drive motors, the Seagull SE tracks down and collects the most types of dirt and debris with ease….
The Aiper SE will automatically park near the wall of the pool when its batter charge is low, or the cleaning cycle is done. They include a hook which makes retrieval easy. There is no need to jump in the pool to collect it.
Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum – Corded & Automated
What if you are looking for the best above ground pool vacuum but you don’t trust the idea of a battery powered cleaner? Maybe you want a plug in vacuum with a high powered head. If so, you may be a candidate for a plug in pool vacuum. These have been around for far longer than their cordless cousins, and are known to the industry as reliable workhorses. We recommend the Dolphin E10.
- The Dolphin E10 robotic pool vacuum cleaner does the work so you don’t have to. The active scrubbing brush provides exceptional pool cleaning every…
- Get your pool exceptionally clean with the easy-access, top load fine filter basket. The fine filters remove debris from your pool for crystal-clear…
- Cleaning your pool has never been easier. With the Dolphin’s plug-and-play system, just plug your robot in, drop it into the pool, and turn on the…
The Dolphin E10 is one of the best value pool cleaners you can buy for above ground pools. Dolphin has been in the pool cleaning business for 35 years and is known to be one of the most hassle free providers of pool cleaners in the business.
Pro Tip: Invest In A Pool Vacuum Caddy
Once you’ve figured out what the best above ground pool vacuum is for you, you can move on to accessories. If you have a robotic pool cleaner you may want to consider a pool cleaner caddy. These make it easy to move your cleaner from the garage or shed to the side of the pool where you drop it in. They also make wrapping up the cord a cinch.
- Maytronics Dolphin manufacturer part number 9996084-ASSY
- For all Dolphin robotic cleaners (except 2×2 units or the Wave 300)
- Convenient transport and storage
Differences Between Inground And Above Ground Pool Vacuums
Unlike other pool types, above ground pools are typically flat bottomed. This means, for above ground pools you do not need a vacuum which can go up and down slopes or angled floors. Yes, you could spend more for a pool vacuum meant for in ground vinyl pools. However, an above ground specialty vacuum is the cost effective ideal. For inground pool owners, scaling walls, adjusting to different floor slopes and scrubbing tile is very important.
Above Ground Pool Vacuum FAQs
Finding the best above ground pool vacuum and beginning to use it can be simple. However, there are oftentimes questions that come up. We looked at some of the most common above ground pool questions. We’ve offered some answers below and hope that they help you navigate cleaning your above ground pool.
How To Vacuum Above Ground Pool With Sand Filter?
When vacuuming with an above ground pool with sand filter, you want to make sure you are keeping an eye on the pressure gauge. Unlike a cartridge filter, a sand will become clogged, and if you don’t watch the pressure gauge, it can damage the pump prematurely when it needs a backwash.
It’s never a bad idea to consider using a robotic cleaner for the lion’s share of your vacuuming needs for this reason alone as backwashing multiple times during a vacuum session can be time consuming and frustrating.
How To Connect Vacuum To Above Ground Pool?
In most cases you will be able to plug the vacuum into the skimmer throat. However, go ahead and read your manual for your specific pool to be sure. Whatever you do, the first step is to attach the vacuum head to the pole, and the vacuum hose to the vacuum head.
Do not plug in the vacuum hose to the skimmer throat just yet. You want to completely submerge the vacuum hose and head to get all the air you can out of the system. This will prevent your pump from cavitation and sucking air which can hurt the pump if you make a habit of doing it.
How To Vacuum Above Ground Pool To Waste?
To vacuum directly to waste, you’ll want to use a Pool Blaster external type pool vacuum instead of vacuuming through your pool circulation system. Sometimes the pool is really dirty, and this is where the Pool Blaster comes in handy.
You attach the Pool Blaster to your pole, and flip it on. The battery will give you about 30 minutes of working time which is more than enough for most above ground pools. Just make sure you plug it back in to charge when you’re done!
Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum Summary
As you can see, there are many types of pool vacuums for you to consider. Some of these options are more expensive but reduce your effort. Other pool vacuums are quite affordable but require you to manually assist. Either way, we hope you feel confident in finding a good above ground pool vacuum regardless of type.
