If you’ve ever been curious about how a pool skimmer vacuum works, you’re not the only one. This pool helper is a super-fast robot pool cleaner. They can do a lot of the functions of a typical pool skimmer, often with a little more automation and convenience. Whether you have a conventional pool or a hi-tech robotic cleaning tool, knowing how these tools work is just one way you can ensure you’re not only keeping your swimming area clean but also getting the most out of the equipment you use to do it. In this article, we’ll explain how a skimmer vacuum works and also compare how they work with robotic pool cleaners, like the Beatbot AquaSense Pro and the Beatbot iSkim Ultra.
What Is a Pool Skimmer Vacuum?
This type of pool skimmer vacuum works for vacuuming just like a pool vacuum robot but also combines the features of a traditional skimmer. Also known as a floating debris removal device, and in some cases pool floor cleaning device, The skimmer vacuum is designed primarily to vacuum leaves, dirt, and other debris that lies on the surface of the water in your pool before it settles to the pool bottom.
A pool skimmer vacuum is the only automatic device that is different from a traditional skimmer as it does not need to be stationary or manually manipulated. Some attach to the pool’s filtration system; others work autonomously, like robot pool cleaners.
How Pool Skimmer Vacuums Work
How a Pool Skimmer Vacuum Works. Here’s a quick overview of how that unfolds:
Feed: The vacuum draws water and debris into a filtration chamber through a suction process created by a pump. The robot pool vacuum or robotic pool cleaner will navigate around the entire pool, collecting dirt, leaves, and small debris as it goes.
Debris Collection The pool skimmer vacuum features a mesh bag or filter basket to collect the debris. This helps the cleaner suck floating particles from the layer of water of the pool. Like a conventional skimmer, the vacuuming mechanism works to capture debris before it reaches the bottom.
Movement and navigation: Movement and navigation: Most robot pool vacuums and pool cleaning robots are designed to navigate the pool by themselves. They glide along the water, equipped with advanced sensors to spot debris and dodge other obstacles. The robot pool cleaner will keep going until the robot picks up all the debris in the pool or until the filter bag is full.
Filtration System: The sucked water goes through a filtration system of the vacuum. It leaves clean water behind as the filter catches dirt, debris, and fine particles. Some models, including the Beatbot AquaSense, feature high-efficiency filters that capture the tiniest particles of debris, keeping your pool water sparkling clean.
Clean Water Return: Once the removal of debris is complete, the water is reciprocated in the pool via the filtration system. In a system, the water is returned to the pool via jets that help distribute it evenly.
Types of Pool Skimmer Vacuums
All pool skimmer vacuums perform the same basic operation, but there are various types of skimmer vacuums that are built for different needs and pool conditions. The two main types are:
Automatic Skimmer Vacuums: These are connected to the filtration system of your pool and work on their own. They operate like a robot pool vacuum, creating suction to draw debris into a filter bag. Autonomous pool robot cleaners travel around the pool to scrub the surface and sometimes the walls.
Robotic Skimmer Vacuums: Unlike traditional automatic vacuums, robotic pool cleaners operate free of the pool filtration system. They have their own power source, suction system, and filtration. Robotic vacuums, like the Beatbot iSkim Ultra and Beatbot AquaSense Pro, can clean the whole pool absolutely from floor to wall, without ever needing a connection to the filtration system.
Section 1: Pool Skimmer Vacuum vs. Robot Pool Cleaner
Both pool skimmer vacuum and robot pool cleaner help in eliminating debris, but there is a difference:
Filtration Efficiency:
Skimmer Vacuum: The majority of skimmer vacuums utilize basic filtration systems to remove larger debris like leaves and twigs. On the other hand, they can be less effective at capturing smaller particles, such as algae or fine dirt.
Robotic Pool Cleaner: Robotic pool cleaners such as the Beatbot AquaSense Pro may also feature advanced filtration systems that can trap both coarse and fine particles. This lets them be a more complete solution for keeping pool water clean.
Autonomy:
Skimmer Vacuum: Most skimmer vacuums connect to the pool’s filtration system and will need to be started and stopped by hand. They are typically passive, so they can’t clean the entire pool by themselves.
A robot Pool Cleaner is self-operating. It also senses where there are obstacles, debris, and the shape of the pool and adjusts its movements accordingly. These robots are fully autonomous and require very little supervision.
Coverage Area:
Skimmer Vacuum: A skimmer vacuum is designed for cleaning the surface of the pool, which means it only cleans floating debris. While some models do have the ability to clean the pool floor, this is usually not their main use.
Robot Pool Cleaner – A pool cleaner robot or pool vacuum robot is a robotic pool cleaner that can clean the whole pool including the bottom, walls, and waterline. They clean more completely than traditional skimmer vacuums.
Ease of Use:
Skimmer Vacuum: Usually manual set-up for the need to routinely empty filter baskets. Other models are more manual and require hookup to the pool’s filtration system.
Robot Pool Cleaner: These types of pool cleaners are easy to use and do not require much human intervention. They take care of cleaning the pool — just drop them in. They are low-maintenance and usually self-cleaning.
Advantages of Robot Pool Cleaner
While pool skimmer vacuums are great, there are several advantages to using a robot pool cleaner. These benefits include:
Full Coverage: A robot pool cleaner has the ability to scrub the walls, floor, and surface of the pool, providing a full clean.
Independence: Robotic pool cleaners such as the Beatbot AquaSense Pro do all the work, requiring zero input, thanks to autonomous operation.
It uses advanced filtration; with both large and small debris being filtered out with its high-efficiency filter, ensuring your pool stays much cleaner, clearer, and for longer.
Sustainability factor: Present-day pool cleaner robots are made to use less energy than older systems, conserving costs on energy bills.