Automatic cleaners: The ultimate choice in pool cleaning

by arslan_ahmed | March 27, 2023 6:00 am

[1]

 By Guy Erlich

With so many new pools in the market, the demand for service has grown as homeowners seek to keep their new investment clean. As a result, service technicians are stretched for time and need to use all the technology available to them between service visits. This is where automatic and battery-powered pool cleaners can really help. Pool professionals are turning to robotic or battery-operated pool cleaners because they are easy-to-use, both for pool professionals and their clients. Many retail and service managers agree, today’s technologically advanced pool cleaners keep pool owners happy with their investment but also provide an excellent source of additional revenue for service professionals—a win-win for all.

Automatic pool cleaners for businesses

Keeping customers happy is one of the main reasons why pool professionals promote robotic cleaners. Alan Kideckel, the CEO and president of International Pool and Spa Centers, a franchise with nine retail locations in Ontario, agrees. They sell every type of robotic pool cleaner in their stores.

“Selling an automatic robotic pool cleaner is easy,” says Kideckel. “We simply explain it is going to last a minimum of five years and if you spend $1000 to $2000 on a cleaner, it is far more economical than paying a cleaning service. It is simple math. Just divide the price by the number of years of use and the pool owner pays $200 to $400 per year. They are going to find it nearly impossible to find a pool service company to clean their pool for this price. This makes robotic cleaners a no brainer.”

In fact, Kideckel is excited about some of the latest innovations in robotic pool cleaners, especially the new completely wireless and cordless robotic cleaners.

[2]

“We are testing a new wireless robotic pool cleaner and so far, we like what we see,” he says. “Since the unit is cordless and operates wirelessly, you do not need to worry about the cords getting stiff in cold weather, which can lead to tangling. It goes up pool walls with ease, is lightweight, and makes cleaning a breeze for any pool owner. Just drop it in, let it run, pull it out, recharge it, and repeat again the next day.”

Kideckel says he is also selling robotic units to commercial aquatic facilities because it allows the staff to focus on other tasks, rather than cleaning the pool, as it is time consuming. For these facilities, automatic cleaners save them many hours of labour daily, weekly, and yearly—further making it easy to justify the $2000 price point.

Backyard Vacations Pool & Equipment in Medicine Hat, Alta., is a construction company that also offers pool maintenance service to its customers and benefits from using automatic pool cleaners.

[3]

“We are so busy with construction projects, we need all the extra time we can get,” says the company’s Russell Koch. “Using an automatic pool cleaner on maintenance calls is especially important when I am working on several pools in the same geographic area. I put the vacuum into the pool and return four hours later. It only takes 20 minutes to drop it in the pool and take it out, but I still get my full base rate for an hour of work.

“Normally, it would take at least an hour of work if I had to remain on-site to vacuum the pool and clean it manually, not to mention the need to backwash and clean the cartridge filters,” says Koch, who also incorporates the use of hand-held, battery-powered vacuums when opening and closing pools—especially to remove large debris and leaves.

At Aqua-Tech Pool Spa & Bath in Winnipeg,  manager Kathi Belcourt says robotic pool cleaners are one of their top-selling products, as it keeps their customers happy and builds strong loyalty between them.

“We so strongly believe in automatic and robotic cleaners that we tell all our clients to name their pool cleaners. This is no joke, our customers give their cleaners a nickname,” says Belcourt. “We like to start a relationship between our clients and their pool cleaner. I always ask clients to send me a photo of them with their newly named robot in the pool while they sit poolside enjoying the day, rather than cleaning.”

[4]

Robotic cleaners will clean 95 to 97 per cent of the pool surface in 60 to 90 minutes, compared to manual cleaning, which can take 45 to 60 minutes three times a week, says Belcourt.

“You can use a pool service company to do this, but not everyone likes having someone come into their backyard that often,” she says. “As we say, you do not have to get dressed for the robotic pool cleaner.”

Automatic pool cleaners for technicians

Service professionals are hired to make sure the customer finds their pool and/or spa easy to maintain, without any stress or hassles. Savvy technicians realize how providing an automated cleaning solution between visits to the pool ensures customer satisfaction and builds customer loyalty.

[5]

For this reason, service technicians have started selling robotic and battery-operated cleaners, so clients can use them between service calls. In fact, some service technicians even use the strategy of “loaning out” a pool cleaner to a client to see if they like it or not. For example, if a service technician goes on a service call and finds the customer’s pump is not operating properly, and they cannot immediately install a new one, they leave a robotic or battery-powered cleaner with the client to keep for the weekend. In most cases, the client loves the cleaner so much they end up buying one.

When pool professionals talk to their clients about keeping the pool clean, they have an excellent opportunity to sell a robotic cleaner. In fact, several people in the industry say they compare having a robotic pool cleaner to owning a dishwasher. They simply explain how running the dishwasher daily keeps dishes continuously clean rather than piling them up in the sink to wash manually. Similarly, pool owners should keep a robotic cleaner in their pool to run daily, so the pool is always clean between service visits. This allows service technicians to focus on the maintenance which requires specialized skills.

Many service professionals are now also carrying a battery-powered cleaner in their truck to spot clean pool areas that are regularly dirty; areas such as steps and cuddle coves which accumulate and show dirt. Technicians report the clients often inquire about these hand-held cleaners; therefore, it is important to be ready to sell it to them right away. Savvy technicians are keeping extra units in their trucks to leave behind and simply add to their monthly bill, while others direct customers to the store’s website where they can purchase and have a unit shipped to them instead. It is important to remember, homeowners want to ensure their pool is always ready for impromptu guests and want to be able to quickly clean it. Battery-operated pool cleaners are the best option for spot cleaning steps and corners in a hurry.

As a pool owner himself, Dan Lenz of All Seasons Pools in Orland Park, Ill., understands the desire to ensure the pool is always ready for swimming and the burden of having to rush to clean it before it can be used.

[6]

“Battery-operated pool cleaners are also a convenient option for spot cleaning steps and corners in a hurry,” says Lenz, who has two display pools at his store—one equipped with a robotic cleaner and the other with a battery-operated cleaner, so customers can test them out and learn more about the benefits of each.

Just like Lenz, Chris Morelli of South Strand Pool Maintenance in Surfside Beach, S.C., also uses robotic and battery-powered pool cleaners to ensure pools are always clean. His crews carry battery-powered, hoseless, and cordless cleaners in their trucks to spot clean pool areas that are regularly dirty.

[7]

“Most of the pools we service are right on the beach and are always filled with sand,” says Morelli. “We have a staff of six, and five of them use commercial-grade, battery-powered pool vacuums, as they are terrific for getting the sand out of pools.

“Using this type of vacuum saves us time, so we can cover more pools. This is especially important to our business since most of the pools we clean are in rental homes in the summer and we clean them between renters. This means we can sometimes hit one pool three or four times in a week,” says Morelli. “Once we started using this type of vacuum, we found we had much more time to pursue other business. We spend at least 20 per cent less time using this vacuum, unlike a traditional vacuum with a hose, which takes too long to set up and put away.”

According to Morelli, he sells a lot of these hoseless and cordless battery-operated cleaners because clients see his crews using them.

“We have sold a lot of hand-held, battery-powered vacuums in our store because the pool owners saw our service technician using one to clean their pool steps,” he says. “Stairs always have junk on them, and pool owners need or want to do spot cleaning on their pool between weekly maintenance trips.”

Morelli carries commercial-grade, battery-powered vacuums in his store and they have become very popular.

“Many of the pools we service for renters at the beach also have pools at home,” says Morelli. “They see us using it and want one for their own pools. When the renter inquires, we direct them to our website, where they can purchase the unit and have it shipped directly to their home.”

Capitalizing on new pool ownership

Technological advances in battery-operated and robotic pool cleaners are an easy solution for service professionals and retailers alike. With so many new pool and spa owners now in the market, it is important to make sure the customer finds their pool easy to maintain, without any stress or hassles. When it comes to robotic and battery-operated pool cleaners, the technology built into these products is designed to make cleaning easier. By incorporating these products into service routines and retail offerings, pool professionals will find it easy to profit from automatic pool cleaners. Savvy service professionals are embracing robotic and hand-held, battery-powered cleaners to help clean more pools in less time, while building customer loyalty by keeping pools clean between service visits. This season, businesses should consider keeping extra battery-operated and robotic cleaners in their truck to sell to clients right away; or put them on sale on the company website. Everyone can benefit from some extra revenue while homeowners can rave about having the cleanest pool in the neighbourhood.

Author

Guy Erlich is the founder and president of Water Tech Corp., a manufacturer of an award- winning line of battery-powered cleaners, as well as a popular robotic pool cleaner. Erlich has focused his business on patented, innovative pool cleaners for more than 20 years and his company was recently voted best place to work in 2022 by NJ Business Journal. He can be reached via email at guy@watertechcorp.com.

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/features/automatic-cleaners-the-ultimate-choice-in-pool-cleaning/

---