Discussing customizable options
Once there is an established idea of what the cleaner will be doing, it is easier to suggest a suitable option for an individual customer’s pool. It is preferable to present several options with a range of price points, as this will help further tailor the product to suit the client’s needs.
Depending on the type of debris noted in the water, retailers might suggest a suction-side, pressure-side, or robotic pool cleaner.
Suction cleaners
Offering a lower price point compared to other automatic cleaners, suction-side devices are among the most commonly installed systems. They are simple to install, user-friendly, and often included in new-
build packages as an affordable introduction to automatic cleaning.
Adept at catching smaller debris, these installations are particularly popular in the Sunbelt region in the southern U.S. where many pools are screened-in and protected from large falling items, such as branches or leaves. The debris is collected and then transported to and stored within a skimmer basket, which must be emptied. While an ideal option for hands-on or ‘do-it-yourself’ homeowners, these installations are not for everyone, as many clients are not willing to manually clean out a skimmer basket.
Pressure cleaners
Carrying a ‘middle of the road’ price tag, pressure-side cleaners are a popular option for homeowners who have bigger pools and/or live in areas with large pieces of falling debris (e.g. leaves, acorns, twigs, etc.). Most of these devices operate off of a separate booster pump, which gives them more power to move throughout the pool. They also have an adjustable head, which further controls how they are able to move through the water. The collected debris is contained in a bag at the cleaner head. This detachment from the filtration system prevents the risk of a clogged skimmer, which sometimes occurs in suction-side installations.
Robotic cleaners
Falling at the higher end of the pricing structure, a robotic pool cleaner is just as it sounds: a low-voltage, electric-powered device that runs through a pool and sucks up debris into a self-enclosed compartment. Unlike suction- and pressure-side cleaners, robotic devices operate independent of the pool system and can run while the pump is completely shut off. Since its conception, many ‘bells and whistles’ have evolved within this category, including remotes for controlled steering abilities, multiple clean cycle settings, and hand-carts for transportation and storage.
This category of cleaners is popular among Canadian consumers, especially as these devices have experienced a decrease in price in recent years. Some stores, including Winnipeg-based aquatics retailer Aqua-Tech Pool Spa and Bath, have seen such a significant surge in sales they have stopped carrying other types of automatic pool cleaners.
“We only stock robotic pool cleaners in our store,” says store manager Kathi Belcourt. “We find they provide the best performance and return on investment (ROI).”
Tom Landi of New Jersey-based Landi Pools and Games agrees pool owners are wise to consider a robotic cleaner. He makes an effort to educate his customers whilst upselling, adding these devices are among the easiest and most profitable products he sells.
“Many consumers are looking for ‘green’ pool products,” says Landi. “My staff members explain that robotic systems keep the filter cleaner, so they won’t have the backwash the filter as often, which reduces water and energy consumption, as well as their overall costs.”
Russell Koch of Backyard Vacations Pool and Equipment in Medicine Hat, Alta., says more than 50 per cent of his clients who watch him service their pool using an automatic cleaner opt to purchase a unit from him. He says he is happy to sell them the system, as he is able to maintain a relationship with the client for other services.
“To prevent them from going to the Internet to buy a cleaner, we service any unit we sell,” says Koch.
Add-ons
Often sold in conjunction with automatic cleaners, hand-held battery-powered devices offer a convenient option for customers interested in cleaning specific areas of their pools—especially in areas where there is a lot of sand or dust in the air that settles in the water.
“We have sold a lot of hand-held vacuums in our store because owners saw our service technicians using one to clean their steps,” said Chris Morelli of South Strand Pools in South Carolina. “Stairs always have junk on them and homeowners want to do spot cleaning.”
