Last Updated: July 29, 2020
There is no question that Polaris is a leading name when it comes to pool cleaners. They have been around for many years and have solid reputations for both the quality of their products and the warranty and service that stands behind it. Polaris is not known for being a bargained priced manufacturer, although they offer pool cleaners for almost every budget.
If you are looking for a completely programable robotic unit or a traditional and straightforward automatic pool cleaner, Polaris will have an option for you. Choosing which Polaris pool cleaner is best can take a bit of research. We have tried to make that a bit easier for you highlighting the pros and cons of the best Polaris pool cleaners so that you can make a more informed decision.
Some differences between models seem subtle, but it is essential to know all features before pulling the trigger. There is nothing worse than finding out that $30 more could have given you a model that was a better fit for your individual needs.
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Best Overall |
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Polaris Pool Cleaner |
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Best Value |
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Polaris Vac-Sweep Pool Cleaner |
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CHECK PRICE |
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Polaris Vac-Sweep Pool Cleaner |
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CHECK PRICE | |
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Polaris Vac-Sweep Pool Vacuum |
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CHECK PRICE | |
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Polaris All-Season Pool Cleaner Kit |
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CHECK PRICE |
The Polaris F9550 Pool cleaner is a four-wheeled robotic cleaner that will make your pool cleaning responsibility a whole lot easier. The Polaris F9550 comes equipped with ActivMotion sensory technology that will attract it to the areas that need the most help.
One of the great things about the Polaris F9550 is how compact it is. Sometimes, dealing with pool cleaners is a job in and of itself; you won’t have that issue with this model.
This pool cleaner is undoubtedly not the cheapest on the market, but the quality of the job that it does on your pool is worth the extra money. This model is entirely programable, allowing you to set it up to focus on the dirtiest areas of the pools. In addition to the programming, this model comes with a remote that will allow you to direct it to specific areas that need attention.
Some robotic pool cleaners can struggle with irregular shaped pools, but you will not run into that with the Polaris F9550. Also, the Polaris does not struggle with larger particles like leave and twigs. Overall, this option is a bit more expensive than some others, but it will leave your pool looking clean and save you a ton of time.
Our best overall model from Polaris was not cheap, although it provided an excellent quality clean that helps to justify the price. The Polaris Vac-Sweep 360 Pool Cleaner is a budget-friendly model that comes with a few less bells and whistles but happens to do a great job on the overall cleaning process.
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a pool cleaner is durability. You want to make sure that you choose a model that will last for years to come. If your pool is under trees or tends to collect quite a bit of dirt, your pool filter may be running for hours each day. The Polaris Vac-Sweep is capable of being this pool cleaner for you.
The Polaris Vac-Sweep 360 can sweep, scrub and vacuum any size or shape pool. It is powered by triple jets that allow it to do all of this cleaning at a great pace. The only real downside of this product is that is can be a bit tricky to put together. There are videos available that can make it a bit easier. However, the time spent on proper setup will prove worth it when you have a stable and dependable pool cleaner for years to come.
The Polaris Vac-Sweep 380 is priced towards the top of the scale. It will be even more expensive when you factor in the cost of the necessary but not included Polaris booster pump. On the positive side, this pool cleaner moves very quickly, but the hose doesn’t knot or bind. You can expect it to live a long service life, keeping your pool clean for years.
Of course, not everything about the Vac-Sweep 380 is great. The hose leaked at the connections in our kit, reducing the overall suction. Also, the wheels got jammed up on ours, which were able to fix. When we looked into it though, we discovered that this is pretty common. Sometimes, the wheels even fall off, breaking at the axle. It’s not our favorite, though it is a solid machine overall.
If you have a darker pool floor you may not like the sharp contrast of a white pool cleaner. The Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Black Max takes care of that problem by providing a powerful pool cleaning machine in black to match your dark pool. One thing to be aware of, because it is black, it really shows white buildup from salt or chlorine. This means it may require some regular cleaning that won’t be necessary with other pool cleaners of a different color.
We found this pump to be very reliable, providing years of hassle-free service. It seems to rarely get stuck, though it also seems to have trouble staying on the pool floor. This isn’t the worst problem a pool cleaner could exhibit, but we didn’t experience this issue with our top picks.
Although it’s not cheap, the Polaris 280 All-Season pool cleaner is more affordable than many of the other ones available. We like the reliable all-season use of this machine, and our only real complaints aren’t with the machine itself which we thought was very adequate.
The first problem we faced was with the collection bags which are just too small. They need to be emptied far too often to the point of becoming an annoyance. This is a simple oversight to fix, but it’s a problem that persists. Beyond that, this is just not a very powerful unit. It moves slower and did a less thorough job overall than the units that outranked it on this list. It’s still a sufficient performer, just not strong enough for our top recommendation.
When we hooked it up, the first thing we thought about the Polaris Vac-Sweep 3900 Sport side pool cleaner is that it’s fast. It moves around the pool very quickly, thanks to the improved torque and power present in the sport model. Of course, you’re paying a premium for that extra power.
Everything evens out in the end though, and that power has a drawback. It’s constantly pulling the hose off and spraying water out. We noticed this happening nearly every day. While it’s a pretty effective pool cleaner overall, this was a major inconvenience. We also noticed that this model seemed to get stuck more often than most of the others. For such a high-end model, this was quite disappointing and has stopped the 3900 sport from reaching a higher position on this list.
If you’re looking for a budget-priced pressure pool cleaner, then the Polaris Vac-Sweep 165 is one of the only choices available. It’s less than half the price of most floor-rolling models, and one-third the price of the higher-end rollers. In our experience, it did a decent job of keeping the pool clean overall, though it’s not effective for removing dirt.
As far as problems go, the Vac-Sweep 165 is mostly held back by two things. To begin with, the hose is too stiff for this unit, so it prevents proper movement. This results in the machine repeatedly spinning in circles. Eventually, it gets tangled in the hose and tips over. The jets on the bottom continue to shoot, but now the water is just being ejected from the pool and wasted. Although this machine may save you some money, it might also add to your frustration.
Although it’s only usable in above ground pools, the Polaris Vac-Sweep 65 is the most affordable pool cleaner that we reviewed. Since it’s only good in pools up to five feet deep, this isn’t going to apply to every situation. We found it to be a rather effective pool cleaner all together, but it exhibited many of the same problems we saw from the Vac-Sweep 165 in the seventh position of this list.
This unit kept spinning in a circle which caused it to get tangled in the hose. It required untangling and resetting at least every day. For us, the extra headache doesn’t seem to be worth the money you save.
Before taking the plunge (quite literally) and buying your dream Polaris pool cleaner, you have to think of all possible outcomes that could happen because of your purchase. You may of thinking of buying a pool cleaner due to many problems in the past with the dirt in your pool, and in this case, then a pool cleaner is ideal. However, you have to assess your situation before you invest your hard-earned cash into a pool cleaner that might not be worth it. We’ve compiled a list of things you may want to consider before buying a pool cleaner.
Buying a pool cleaner isn’t easy and there are some top tips you have to think about before buying your pool cleaner that is essential. If you consider these tips you’re sure to find the perfect pool cleaner that will suit everything you need.
It is clear from everything recollected in this guide (in particular the reviews of the Polaris pool cleaners) that the Polaris F9550 is the best model to choose if you’re wanting a robotic pool cleaner for your household. However, the Polaris Vac-Sweep 360 is the best value for money as you’re getting the quality product for a lot less of a high price point. In terms of concluding, we would say that despite the price range and various models to choose from, the Polaris brand is still a good name that is trustworthy and if you go for a model by Polaris you can almost be sure that it will be the right thing for you. Just ensure you read the reviews (even the brutally honest ones!) to find out what could possibly go wrong with the model before you buy it.
Hopefully, we have made the process of buying your Polaris pool cleaner a lot easy and that now you can finally decide on the model you like the best!
There’s simply no better feeling than watching your Dolphin cleaner do all the work, while you drink an ice-cold beer, hehe. I, by the way, recently stumbled upon this cool little gadget: a nICE Mug! It’s basically a mug made out of ICE! Haha, I love the idea.
Related pages:
How To Winterize Your Above-Ground Pool
How to Heat Your Pool Without a Heater
What Size Pool Heater Do I Need? An Easy Guide to Sizing
How To Quickly Get Rid of Water Bugs In Your Pool
What’s The Ideal Temperature For a Swimming Pool?
Coleman vs Intex Above-Ground Pools: Which Brand is Better?
Saltwater vs Freshwater Pools: Pros & Cons
Sand vs Cartridge Pool Filters: What’s the Difference?