Pool Cleaning Robots

If you're brushing walls and netting leaves through summer, usually yes, as long as it's rated for your pool. Read three numbers before you buy: the rated pool size, what it cleans, and the Australian warranty. Our robotic pool cleaner comparison lists all three for twelve models.

The one that covers your whole pool in one charge, without features you won't use. A floor-only model suits a flat-floored pool, while a pool with a deep end, steps or a waterline ring needs one that climbs the walls. Our comparison sets out what each model cleans and the pool size it's rated for.

Makers differ, so follow the manual for your model. A cordless robot has to come out to charge, and several park themselves at the edge or near the waterline when they finish so they're easier to lift out. Charge it inside, out of direct sunlight, as the ACCC advises for lithium-ion products.

They clean the water surface, catching leaves before they sink, and nothing else. A skimmer doesn't replace a cleaner for the floor and walls. Our solar pool skimmer guide compares them, including how each one charges through a cloudy week.

Neither, across the board. Cordless means no cable in the pool and no powerpoint near the edge; corded means no recharge between cycles. With cordless robots now rated for pools up to 15m and 20m long, read the length rating for your pool first. Our cordless pool cleaner guide compares the types.

Yes. The pump filters and circulates the water, which is a separate job from picking debris off the floor. With a robot doing the cleaning, the pump runs for filtration alone, which usually means fewer hours.