pool cleaners

[Auld Bassoon]

Hi Farm Boy!

When I lived in South Africa, I had a pool in a Sandton house; basically the plan view of the pool was of two circles, one about 6m, and the other about 4m in diameter - with the smaller of the two intersecting the larger one at around one third of its radius.

Anyway, I had a Kreepy Krauly, and it worked really very well - in the larger 'circle', but would rarely venture into the smaller one; if it did, it would remain stuck there until given a helping hand.

This wasn't an issue as the gardener would look after things

The house that I later had in Durban was another matter.

Overhanging the pool was a very old and very large avacado tree. When the fruit ripened, there would be the occasional huge 'plop' as an avacado fell ('bombed' would be a better term) into the pool. Poor old KK really got his skirt in a flap over that :eek:

By and large, though, these beasts, though horribly expensive for a cheap-as-chips set of injection-moulded pieces plus a couple of flexible items, are well worth it, unless you enjoy daily pool scooping, plus weekly pool scrubbing. And if you can get HI to do it, you're a better man than I, gunga-din!

Cheers!

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Ours is, fortunately, a big oval thing. We had a 'couta which worked brilliantly for near 10 years until the rubber "reed" in the head perished due to operator error.

We replaced it with a KK, which again performed brilliantly until the dog chewed the hoses' swivel assembly. Now it needs constant intervention, locking itself either into closed circuits or just tying itself in knots. [shrug]

I'm looking forward to the next replacement: manual cleaning's for those with teenagers in need of quick pocket-money.

[ivanavitch]

Craigb
Do you have any more info on the extra skimmer. I have a poinciana (sp) that hangs over the pool. Brilliant shade but the sticks get caught in KKs throat which stops it working. Also the tiny leaves go straight through the both leaf baskets and clog the filter. I use socks in the first basket but a decent breath of wind dumps enough to clog the sock quick smart.

I don't mind the weekly vacuum. It's usually on Saturday morning when everyone wants me to work off the list of honey doos. It's an hour of mind in neutral.

[seanr]

My old man has a pool shop which i do a lot of work at . Now they all work and if yours stays in one corner or the hose tangles there is a reason . People always coming in complaining about their cleaners , we go around fix their problem and have many happy customers. Now they will stop if you have a leak in your pipe between the pump and skimmer box , but you will also be loseing water too . So fix the leak. At the moment we sell a cleaner all ready to go for $650 minus $100 cash back from supplier , so at $550 compared to about $850 for a Kreppy (over priced) compares well . Beware of buying over the net as overseas models are differant and there are no parts available. A few years ago Pilots were bringing them in from STH Africa and selling them in the QUOKKA , when people were coming in after parts they were leaving disappointed . As far as maintenance goes , always wash them in fresh water if you are going to put them in the shed . Also over chlorinated water will destroy the skirts . Believe me they do work if set up right . It is also important which way you point the jets .

[silentC]

It is also important which way you point the jets

This is an important point. My pool was a rectangular shape but it had a wider section at one end where the steps were. Bazza often got stuck there, so I went to the pool shop and bought a couple of push-in jet directors to install in the water returns (one at each end of the pool). Using these, I directed the jet so that it was blowing sideways and it changed the pattern of the cleaner.

After mucking with it and the hose weight for a bit, I got it so that it would clean the whole pool. There was one tiny section that it never got to, so I'd just give that a scrub with the brush from time to time.

[craigb]

Craigb
Do you have any more info on the extra skimmer. I have a poinciana (sp) that hangs over the pool. Brilliant shade but the sticks get caught in KKs throat which stops it working. Also the tiny leaves go straight through the both leaf baskets and clog the filter. I use socks in the first basket but a decent breath of wind dumps enough to clog the sock quick smart.

I don't mind the weekly vacuum. It's usually on Saturday morning when everyone wants me to work off the list of honey doos. It's an hour of mind in neutral.

Unfortunately I chucked out the packaging long ago.

If I get a chance roday I'll do a google and see if I can find it (the skimmer not the packaging ).

[Bodgy]

Certainly true about leaks in the plumbing effecting performance. I have several unknown leaks, which preclude using the cleaner correctly and stuffs up the filter.

I need to fix it, but am time challenged. Quotes from the local pool guys approximate a minor princelings ransom. I do loose water, but very little when the barracuda's not in action.

GOd! I hate pools, hardly ever gets used, chemicals cost the earth and an ongoing time thieving and maintenance nightmare. Rather have a putting green.

[Harry72]

I've come to cleanz Zee pool!

Sorry couldnt help myself... now where'd I put that fake moustache and hairy chest

[bitingmidge]

We had three Kreepy Krawlies, and they all worked quite effectively even though the pool was under a poinciana tree, if one ignored the occasional complaint.

When the last one left school, we sold the house and don't have a pool now.

P

[silentC]

You sent your Kreepy Krawlies to school? :confused:

[craigb]

GOd! I hate pools, hardly ever gets used, chemicals cost the earth and an ongoing time thieving and maintenance nightmare. Rather have a putting green.

Aint that the truth!

Except for the putting green. That'd be even more work :eek:

[craigb]

Unfortunately I chucked out the packaging long ago.

If I get a chance roday I'll do a google and see if I can find it (the skimmer not the packaging ).

This is the closest I could find.

It's not the same as mine but the principle is the same.

I don't see why it wouldn't work just as well.

[bitingmidge]

You sent your Kreepy Krawlies to school? :confused:

Pool cleaning isn't for dummies!

P

[Farm boy]

guys
i bit the bullet and ordered a g4 pool cleaner on special for $640 plus a $100 cash back.
we get a technician to set up a demo classic model for a week to see if we like it then return it to the shop and get the g4 to look after the pool
thanks for your help
greg

[craigb]

guys
i bit the bullet and ordered a g4 pool cleaner on special for $640 plus a $100 cash back.
we get a technician to set up a demo classic model for a week to see if we like it then return it to the shop and get the g4 to look after the pool
thanks for your help
greg

Good for you. I'm sure you'll become on first name terms with Barry too

I dont get this $100 cashback thing though.

, why not just take a hundred bucks off the price? :confused: