The 4 Best Suction Pool Cleaners of 2024 To Keep Your Pool Sparkling This Summer, According to Testing

The Bottom Line

Our pick for the best suction pool cleaner overall is the Hayward Poolvergnuegen Suction Pool Cleaner for its quick setup, effective cleaning, and ability to work on any pool surface and shape. 

Our Testing Process 

To determine the best suction pool cleaners, we thoroughly tested five suction pool cleaners at home and evaluated them based on criteria decided beforehand. We focused on five different factors, grading the suction cleaners on setup, design, ease of use, effectiveness, and overall value. 

Before usage, we evaluated the state of the pool, noting the style and quantity of the debris present, while also noting the surrounding landscaping and paying attention to the effect this would have on each pool’s cleanliness. 

When we began cleaning, we paid special attention to the cleaning pattern that the machines followed, helped them if they get stuck, and minded how good of a job they did cleaning the floors, walls, stairs, coves, and waterline. 

The devices were used for a minimum of three cleanings during the testing period. For subsequent cleanings, we were able to leave the devices unattended if we chose to. Following usage, we recorded how long the cleaners took to clean and the resulting overall cleanliness. We then cleaned the devices, emptied the collection bags, and sprayed the filters with garden hoses. 

Other factors that we paid attention to during testing included the noise level of the devices, how easy they are to put into and take out of the water, ease of storage, how well they handle different kinds of debris, and ease of maintenance. At the end of testing, we narrowed our five choices down to the four best suction pool cleaners.

What to Know About Suction Pool Cleaners Before Shopping

Weight

Because you will have to store, carry, and put your suction pool cleaner in and take it out of the pool, the unit’s weight is an important factor to consider. Incorporating the added hoses into the weight of the total product is also important. In testing, we found the Pentair Kreepy Krauly, which weighs 15 pounds, to be particularly light and easy to carry.

Cable Length

Making sure that you have a long enough hose to accommodate the size of your pool will be vital. Even the best cleaner won’t mean much if it cannot reach the entire length of the pool. Be sure to account for the distance from the pump to the furthest end of your pool, but do be aware that you can often purchase additional hose to accommodate further distances. 

If you are looking to cover a long distance, the Hayward Navigator Pro Pool Cleaner comes with 40 feet of hose, which is the longest on our list.

Pool Length 

Not all suction pool cleaners are designed to work in all sizes of pools. With this in mind, it is very important to ensure that the model you are purchasing is the proper size, or else you’ll risk investing in something that won’t adequately clean your pool. 

If you have a particularly large pool, we found the Zodiac Baracuda G3 Advanced Suction Side Pool Cleaner to be the best option for keeping it clean. Though a specific pool length isn’t listed by the brand, we were able to use it in a 40-foot pool with ease. 

Filter Style

When it comes to choosing the best suction pool cleaner for your needs, Wells tells us that considering filtration is very important. He notes that “All filters are compatible, but choosing a filter with a higher surface area for filtration can help reduce the strain on your pool pump.” 

He tells us that cartridge filters are a good choice as they provide “significant water savings in that they don’t require backwashing in order to clean the filter.”  

However, this will work best to keep the smaller debris at bay, but it won’t necessarily be enough for larger pieces of debris. “To help keep leaves and other large debris from clogging up your skimmer basket or pump strainer, we recommend adding a leaf canister to the suction hose,” says Wells. 

Suggested Pool Surface and Style 

According to Wells, it is important to be sure that the suction pool cleaner that you purchase is compatible with the type of pool that you have and that many of them, like the Hayward W3PVS20GST Poolvergnuegen Suction Pool Cleaner, will be compatible with every kind of pool surface. 

The points of contact, like footpads or treads, of the device will ultimately determine where it is best suited to be used, with Wells noting that “some have minor differences that make them ideal for vinyl, fiberglass, gunite, plaster, and other pool types.” 

According to Wells, these differences will factor into the performance of the cleaner as well as its maintenance, stating, “If you used a cleaner designed for vinyl lined pool surfaces for a plaster pool, this may lead to the cleaner wearing down more readily, or it may impact its ability to efficiently climb walls of the pool.”  

Not all of the options on our list are universally designed. For example, if you want something that is specifically designed for a gunite pool, you will want to look into the Hayward Navigator Pro Pool Cleaner.

In terms of style, you’ll also want to consider what type of pool you have. While in-ground, above-ground, and inflatable pools all need to be cleaned, these styles are slated for in-ground pools specifically. 

Other Suction Pool Cleaners We Tested 

Zodiac MX6 In-Ground Suction Side Pool Cleaner 

During testing, we noted that the Zodiac MX6 In-Ground Suction Side Pool Cleaner is an effective cleaner that’s also lightweight, quiet, and easy to set up. However, other factors left us a bit disappointed. We found that it doesn’t do a good job when climbing a wall and knowing when to stop, which results in it pulling air and the filter losing its priming. Because of this, we had to restart and prime the pool pump again. 

Your Questions, Answered

Can you leave a suction pool cleaner in the pool between uses?

While it is advisable to pay special attention to your particular pool cleaner and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, when it comes to leaving the cleaner in the pool, Dr. Duncan, says “They should be removed from the pool when not in use.” Fortunately, she adds that “Most will have a timer so you can set how long it will clean.” 

While they are designed to be used in the pool, and during testing we even left the Zodiac G3 in the pool for eight hours, leaving suction pool cleaners in for too long can potentially damage the machine as it will be exposed to chlorine which can erode it and shorten its lifespan dramatically. 

How do you install a suction pool cleaner?

Wells tells us that to install a suction side pool cleaner, “you simply need to connect it to the suction side of your pool’s plumbing lines, either through the dedicated suction line or by attaching the hose to the pool skimmer inlet.”

This differs from the other kinds of cleaners, as Wells tells us that with pressure side cleaners, you will typically attach it to the pool’s dedicated cleaner pressure line. However, he notes that “some low-pressure cleaners can attach to a regular pool return. In many cases, a pressure side cleaner will also require the installation of a booster pump, which increases the water pressure and powers the cleaner.” 

If you are in the market for something particularly easy to install, we recommend our pick for the best suction pool cleaner overall, the Hayward Poolvergnuegen Suction Pool Cleaner, which we were able to set up in nine minutes during testing.

How does a suction pool cleaner work?

According to Dr. Duncan, suction pool cleaners have vacuums with a cover and a vacuum hose that goes into the skimmer. “The pool pump is used as suction to suck the debris out. Instead of a bag or strainer, it uses the pool’s actual filter to collect debris. The skimmer basket may be used to collect large debris, and the filter collects smaller debris,” she says. 

Of course, it is important to realize that without a skimmer basket, models like the Pentair 360042 Kreepy Krauly will only handle the smaller debris in the pool.

Wells tells us that suction pool cleaners make for great cleaners and often use very few moving parts, which makes them require less maintenance and repairs during their lifetimes. He tells us that they are “straightforward cleaners that do a great job of removing dirt and debris from the pool.”

Who We Are

Jack Byram is a freelance writer who focuses on all things home related. For this article, he gathered expertise from Brian Wells, the category director of pool equipment and cleaners for Leslie’s Poolmart, and Dr. Claudia Duncan, the owner and CEO of Professional Pool Management. Jack used the insights of both Wells and Dr. Duncan, in tandem with the extensive testing that was done, to properly discuss the products that are featured on our list.

What Is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.