This Article Was Last Updated on March 23, 2023
You have chosen to convert your pool to a salt system or have a new salt water pool installed. After lots of time spent going through the pros and cons, researching how salt systems work, you decided to take the plunge. Now that you’ve figured out your disinfection process, you now can focus on the rest of your pool systems. One of the most important setups yet to choose is your vacuum or pool cleaner. You may ask what is the best pool vacuum for salt water pool?
In this article, we’ll explore three different types of pool cleaners. Each of these can be used in a salt water pool. However, you should consider the strengths of each relative to your pool and climate.
3 Best Salt Water Pool Vacuums






Suction: Best Pool Vacuum For Salt Water Pool
- SUPERIOR DEBRIS PICKUP: Designed for gunite surfaces, the unique wing design, wide vacuum inlet and constant suction power, make this cleaner more…
- PROGRAMMED CLEANING: Exclusive SmartDrive preprogrammed steering pattern offering intelligent, complete pool coverage, covering pool floor, walls and…
- SILENT OPERATION: Its advanced suction design cleans efficiently and quietly. And with no pulsating hoses or noisy parts, you’re left with a more…
First there’s the pool suction cleaner, or vacuum. These work on suction and are either plugged into your skimmer or into a dedicated vacuum port. Pool suction cleaners are common in areas where there is a high dust or dirt load, like Arizona and Nevada. Suction cleaners are less common in areas with a high leaf load, like New England or Florida. Common suction type cleaners are the Hayward Navigator and the Zodiac MX8.
Pressure Side: Best Pool Vacuum For Salt Water Pool
- CLEANS IN 3 HOURS: Powered by a separate Polaris booster pump, dual venturi jets create strong vacuum power to reliably clean any in ground pool in 3…
- FOR IN-GROUND POOLS: Safe for all pool shapes and surfaces including vinyl, fiberglass, gunite, pebble, & tile.
- Complete Coverage: The Vac Sweep 280 moves fluidly as it sweeps & scrubs the floor and walls of your pool- while its large 2.25″ inlet picks up large…
Next there’s the pressure side cleaner. These work using water pressure from a dedicated port in the side of the pool to spray water onto the floor of the pool and direct debris into a net. These are best for removing leaf litter from the pool, but will not remove dust or dirt. The leaf net on top of the cleaner needs to be removed and emptied on a regular basis depending on the time of the year. The most popular pressure side cleaner is the Polaris 280 and Polaris 380.
Robotic: Best Pool Vacuum For Salt Water Pool
- The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus robotic pool vacuum cleaner features powerful wall climbing capabilities to scrub the floor and walls of your pool no…
- 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 last type of pool cleaner is the robotic pool cleaner. These plug into an electrical outlet and power along the floor of the pool to clean the floor and walls. These are arguably the most effective at removing dirt, dust, and leaves from the pool. One of the big positives is you don’t leave them in the pool hooked up once they’re done cleaning. For those who like a clear pool to swim in, free of the vacuum hose and head, this is an excellent feature. Dolphin is the most commonly specified company for robotic cleaners, our favorite is the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus.

Salt Water Pool Vacuum Summary
Which of these is the best pool vacuum for salt water pool? They all are. There is no reason you need a special cleaner or anything unusual for a salt water pool. A salt water pool is just like any other pool. You need to remove the debris to maintain a clean swimming environment and to help keep your disinfection system operating. The best pool cleaner for a traditional tablet chlorine pool is the same cleaner you should use in a salt chlorinated pool. The best pool vacuum for salt water pool is the pool cleaner you would buy for any pool.