Above ground, pools can be a cost-effective solution for cooling down when it gets hot during the summer.
Instead of forking over $30,000 to get an in-ground pool installed, you only need to spend around $8,000 to get an above ground pool for your yard.
Of course, if you do decide to get an above ground pool, you also have to figure out how you’ll clean it regularly. For that, you will likely need an above ground pool vacuum.
In this article, we will discuss how you can find the best above ground pool vacuum by highlighting certain factors as well as some notable products.
Let’s dive in.
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Quick and Easy Comparison Table for Best Above Ground Pool Vacuum
# | Image | Product Name | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5 |  | Intex Auto Pool Cleaner | Dimensions (Inches): 13.4 x 12.2 x 23.4 | |
4 |  | XtremepowerUS 75037 Automatic Pool Cleaner | Dimensions (Inches): 41 x 18 x 6 | |
3 |  | Water Tech Pool Blaster Pool and Spa Cleaner | Dimensions (Inches): 15.5 x 6.5 x 7.5 | |
2 |  | Pentair K50600 Kreepy Krauly EZ Vac Pool Cleaner | Dimensions (Inches): 33.5 x 16.5 x 6.8 | |
1 |  | Aquabot APRVJR Pool Rover Junior | Dimensions (Inches): 21 x 18 x 19 |
In-depth Review of Top 5 Above Groung Pool Vacuum
After gaining a better grasp of what makes an effective above ground pool vacuum, let’s now turn our attention to specific products that can make cleaning up a breeze.
5. Intex Auto Pool Cleaner – Best Intex Above Ground Pool Vacuum
Getting stuck cleaning the swimming pool is no one’s idea of a great way to spend a summer day.
Many homeowners don’t have any other option though because their pool cleaners require them to stick around and keep watch.
The beauty of the Auto Pool Cleaner from Intex is that it will work with minimal supervision and do so thoroughly.
You don’t have to necessarily know how to vacuum an above ground pool to use it.
Before you can get it working, you will have to attach it to a filter pump.
Per the manufacturer’s instructions, the filter pump you’re using should have a flow rate somewhere between 1,600 to 3,500 GPH (gallons per hour).
Once it has been hooked up, you can count on this machine showing off its impressive power.
It’s also capable of covering plenty of ground thanks to its 24-foot hose.
It is worth noting that this pool cleaner can get stuck when it’s asked to work on uneven surfaces.
Those shouldn’t pop up a lot if you have a smaller above the ground swimming pool, but if you have a larger one in your yard, expect to encounter that problem a little more often than you’d prefer.
Additionally, I want to highlight the fact that this pool cleaner has a terrific filter. Even smaller particles like sand can be scooped up by this pool vacuum.
4. XtremepowerUS 75037 – Best Automatic Above Ground Pool Vacuum
Versatility is an important characteristic for a pool cleaner. Why use a pool cleaner that can only clean tiles when there are others that can work on other surfaces?
Why use a cleaner that only picks up dust and dirt particles when algae buildup is an issue in your pool as well?
The 75037 Automatic Pool Cleaner from XtremepowerUS stands out precisely because of how versatile it is.
This pool cleaner is capable of working on tiles, concrete, as well as vinyl and fiberglass surfaces.
That already accounts for a wide array of residential pools, so there’s a good chance that this cleaner will be able to function well inside your home.
It will also pick up a wide range of materials that have fallen into your pool. Smaller particles are the specialty of this particular pool vacuum.
If you’ve been unable to get rid of those pesky dirt and algae spots, this cleaner will finally address those.
Don’t expect it to properly handle the bigger pieces of debris such as leaves. You will have to pick those out yourself.
You can also adjust the way this item works. By tweaking the diverter, you can effectively direct this cleaner to work on the walls of your pool or any other elevated spots.
3. Pool Blaster & Spa Cleaner – Best Duo Lightweight above Ground Pool Vacuum
For homeowners on the market for a more lightweight pool vacuum that can still take care of different kinds of debris, the Water Tech Pool Blaster Pool and Spa Cleaner is worth a long look.
The design of this product is very user-friendly.
It has a run time of about an hour and throughout that span of time, you can hold on to it without tiring out your hand.
It’s very easy to grip and if there’s a particular spot in your pool that needs extra attention during the cleanup time, this product will help immensely.
You’ll be glad to know that this hand vacuum does come with its own debris bag, but the catch is that the bag itself is quite small.
Remember that expected 60-minute run time? Don’t expect this hand vacuum to work continuously for that length of time because you will likely have to replace the bag often.
On the plus side, the bag is capable of holding debris of varying sizes. Whether you’re focusing on cleaning up fallen leaves or just dirty tile lines, this hand vacuum will be able to help out.
Just save a big chunk of your day for cleaning if you’re going to use this vacuum. Because of its size, it simply won’t be able to cover as much ground as some of the other items featured in this article.
2. Pentair K50600 – Best Above Ground Swimming Pool Vacuum
You don’t often see automatic pool cleaners that feature high-end power. That’s why the K50600 Kreepy Krauly EZ Vac Pool Cleaner from Kentair stands out.
This pool cleaner features a hydraulic design that has been optimized specifically for the purpose of exhibiting as much suction power as possible.
If your above ground pool is surrounded by trees, you can expect this cleaner to handle all that foliage floating in the water.
In terms of coverage, you will also see that this pool cleaner does a good job of working through different segments of your pool.
The skimming valve is supposed to keep this pool cleaner from getting stuck, but it doesn’t really work that well.
Unlike some of the automatic pool cleaners already mentioned, you can’t really leave this item on its own.
If you do, there’s a non-zero chance that you’ll be greeted by a cleaner that’s stuck and a pool that’s not completely cleaned.
To be clear though, you don’t have to keep watch over this cleaner all the time. Checking up on it after every 20 or minutes or so should be enough.
The 32-foot hose also makes it easier for this cleaner to reach all points of your swimming pool.
1. Aquabot APRVJR Rover Junior – Above Ground Pool Vacuum
You don’t necessarily have to know how to vacuum a pool to have a clean one. That’s especially true if you have a ;.
Of the ones on the market right now, the Pool Rover Junior from Aquabot has a pretty solid case for being the best option.
The Pool Rover Junior is fully automatic. You don’t need to hook it up to an external filter or even make additional preparations beforehand aside from emptying out its filter if you used it previously.
Once you turn this robo-vacuum on, it will do all the work for you. It will navigate pools of all shapes and sizes.
Because of wide non-marring wheels found on this robot cleaner, you can also count on it being able to conquer the vast majority of pool surfaces.
The only time it will really encounter any trouble is if it reaches a particularly deep spot of a pool. Even then, a quick nudge from you should get it working in the right direction again.
As for what it will clean, you can count on it picking up the smallest dust particles and even the bigger leaves that fall from nearby trees.
Even if you’re not at home, you don’t have to worry about this pool cleaner. After two hours of working, it will power down thanks to its shut off timer.
The Factors to Consider When Shopping for an Above Ground Swimming Pool Vacuum
Above ground, pool vacuums can be surprisingly diverse. If you put in the time, you can probably find a pool vacuum that lines up with your needs in terms of convenience and functionality.
To help with that search, we have included some factors worth considering below.
What Type of Pool Vacuum Cleaner Do You Need?
There are three basic types of above ground pool vacuums. You have the pressure-side pool cleaners, the suction-side cleaners, and the robotic pool cleaners.
Starting with the pressure-side cleaners, these make use of the pressure side return fitting and then they draw some power from the circulation pump as well.
Usually, you’ll have to attach a booster pump to this type of cleaner to get it going, but some will do just fine living solely off of the pool’s pumps.
The main selling point of pressure-side pool cleaners is that they are remarkably powerful. Be ready to spend quite a bit if you want one of these cleaners though.
Suction-side pool vacuums have to be attached to either the pool’s skimmer or vacuum line.
Once in operation, these vacuums will move through your pool and haul in the debris present.
The debris collected by the vacuum will remain in the pool filter.
If you’re looking for a user-friendly cleaner that’s also kind to your wallet, the suction-side cleaner may be exactly what you’re looking for.
You have to be diligent with cleaning out your pool filter if you decide to get this cleaner, however. Otherwise, clogging could be an issue you frequently encounter.
You can think of a robotic pool cleaner as an automatic pool vacuum.
They can learn the layout of your pool to clean it more efficiently, and if the model you have has a scheduling feature, you may not even have to turn the cleaner on yourself.
A robotic pool cleaner can also work pretty well as an inground pool vacuum.
Robotic cleaners can be expensive, but they are well worth the money.
Which Filtration System Is Best?
Suction-side cleaners usually make use of the pool filters while the pressure-side and robotic pool vacuums have filters and debris collection bags of their own. So, which filtration system is better?
The downside to the suction-side cleaner relying on your pool filter is that clogging can happen, especially when the vacuum is trying to pick up a larger piece of debris.
Clogs aren’t just annoying; they can also undo the cleaning that has taken place earlier.
To put it simply, cleaners that come with their own debris bags and filters are preferable to the ones that rely on the pool filters.
Is Weight Important?
When it comes to the robotic pool vacuum, weight is not that important. Weight matters more when looking at the suction-side and pressure-side cleaners.
You want to be able to move the vacuum around if necessary, so a lightweight vacuum would be preferred.
If you are planning to use your vacuum for business, acquiring a portable pool vacuum would also be a wise move.
Final Word …
Picking out only one favorite from the items listed above really was difficult.
At the end of the day though, I just can’t overlook how well the Pool Rover Junior from Aquabot performed, which is why it gets my vote as the best above ground pool vacuum.
It can run into some trouble when it has to clean a deep part of the pool, but since you’re limiting it to above ground pools, that problem should not arise often.
This truly is an automatic cleaner because you hardly have to do anything to ensure it starts and finishes the job.
It can also handle different kinds of debris as well as varied pool surfaces with ease.
For homeowners looking for an item that will make pool cleaning easier than ever, this is the product to purchase.
