1. Troubleshooting Your Automatic Pool
Cleaner
Automatic pool cleaners are an integral part of pool maintenance and cleaning regime; disaster
strikes and time comes to a standstill if your pool cleaner stops working. Symptoms include
jitters, sweaty palms, and trembling hands, accompanied by a feeling of injustice and loss. But
really, help is out there and by following just a few simple steps, you can actually troubleshoot
your automatic pool cleaner and get it running again.
Though pool cleaners are available in a wide variety and various types, there are some basic
guidelines that we can follow to troubleshoot if your pool cleaner decides to call it quits or gets
sluggish. First of all we will walk you through some of the most common reasons why a pool
cleaner may quit working on you and then we will tell you how to fix those problems yourself-
absolutely without the need to call the National Guard.
Cleaner Does Not Move
For a pool cleaner that is not working at all, the first step is to check the cleaner hose to make
sure that it is firmly attached to the suction line in the skimmer or to the dedicated cleaner line, if
your pool is equipped with one. This step alone will, most often, fix the problem.
The automatic pool cleaners work off your pool's water flow when the pump is operating; they
cover the whole pool in a random pattern while the pool circulation system is on. If your cleaner
is not moving at all, you will need to make sure that there is enough water flow past the turbine.
You can use a vacuum gauge to measure the vacuum in the cleaner hose. Ideally speaking,
you should have 1" vacuum per section of hose.
Cleaner Is Slow
Usually the main reason for this kind of dysfunction is a congested pool filter or the intake hole
at the bottom of your pool cleaner. To clean the intake hole, just disconnect the cleaner from the

2. hose and check the filter screen for any trapped debris. You will also want to make sure that
there are no obstructions in the hose, and that all connections are tight and secure.
Next step is to clean your pool’s skimmer basket, pump basket, and pool filter; if there are
leaves or rocks trapped in there, it would affect your pool’s water flow which in turn will slow
down your pool cleaner.
Cleaner Is Too Fast
As we told you above, pool cleaners work based on your pool’s water flow. If you have an
especially powerful pool pump or your pool’s water flow is exceptionally fast, your pool cleaners
may move faster than usual. An easy fix is to check your pool’s water flow and adjust it to make
it a little slower.
Cleaner Does Not Cover Whole Pool
Seems like a big issue but the solution may be as simple as checking the hose length. In order
for the pool cleaner to be able to reach all areas of your pool, the hose should be long enough
to reach from the skimmer or dedicated line to the farthest point in the pool with at least 3 feet to
spare. If the hose is not long enough, consider adding extra lengths of hose.
Air Bubbles Enter Pool at Return Line
This may be caused by air leaks in the hose or the connections. If the vacuum connections are
not fitted together tightly or the hose is punctured, air will leak causing bubbles to appear at the
return line.
Check the hose and vacuum connections for any leaks; the vacuum connections can be
tightened and secured with O-rings and hose leaks can be easily fixed with rubber cement.
Cleaner Turns in Only One Direction
For this problem, all you need to do is adjust the thrust jet, and make sure that the feed hose is
floating.
Feed Hose Becomes Tangled
Measure the hose to ensure that it is adjusted to the proper length for the pool shape. You will
also need to make sure that feed hose is floating and the connector swivels in hose and rotates

3. freely. Also rotate the wheels when the cleaner is in OFF mode and make sure that all wheels
turn together.
Cleaner Gets Stuck on Steps/Ladders
To fix this problem, you will need to check the wheel RPM (rotations per minute) as well as
adjust the thrust jet. You will also need to ensure that the back-up valve is cycling. If your
cleaner is getting stuck on/under your pool ladder, you may consider installing a Ladder Guard
Kit.
Mayday Mayday Mayday
If everything has failed and your pool cleaner is being stubborn and is refusing to cooperate, it is
time to call one of our pool specialists/advisors who can assist with you further or help you buy a
new pool cleaner if need be. Just in case you are the proactive type, you may want to check out
a wide variety of automatic pool cleaners we have available at www.intheswim.com