Robotic Pool Cleaner and Where to Buy Online?

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Jul 7th, 2020 11:29 am

smacd [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Oct 6, 2007; 9648 posts; 7318 upvotes; Kootenays

Jul 7th, 2020 11:29 am

Robotic Pool Cleaner and Where to Buy Online?

I'm thinking it might be time to bite the bullet and buy a robotic cleaner for our 16' x 32' inground pool. The consensus at troublefreepools seems to be the Maytronics made Dolphin S200 or Active 20, which are the same machine, just rebranded. It runs just over $700 USD. It does not come with a caddy and I'll just use it daily, then remove it. Unfortunately, it's not possible to ship to my box in Montana and go pick it up because of the border closure. The only place I found it locally, in Calgary, wanted $2800 for it! I've also looked at the Polaris 945, which does come with a caddy. It can be had for $1249 + shipping and tax, so around $1450 through Amazon.ca. Seems I've read here though that Polaris units are not nearly as well built. Any recommendations from those that have used a robotic cleaner of either a unit of choice or a supplier?
TIA

59 replies

Jul 7th, 2020 12:40 pm

marksmithy69: Sr. Member; Dec 25, 2006; 680 posts; 590 upvotes; Ottawa

Jul 7th, 2020 12:40 pm

Not sure if they have the models you are looking for, but I've used Pool Supplies Canada in the past, and they have been great. Their prices are lower than what I can find locally...

https://www.poolsuppliescanada.ca/equip ... -cleaners/

+3

Jul 7th, 2020 1:29 pm

smacd [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Oct 6, 2007; 9648 posts; 7318 upvotes; Kootenays

Jul 7th, 2020 1:29 pm

marksmithy69 wrote: ↑ Not sure if they have the models you are looking for, but I've used Pool Supplies Canada in the past, and they have been great. Their prices are lower than what I can find locally...

https://www.poolsuppliescanada.ca/equip ... -cleaners/

Thanks. I haven't had much luck with them:

"Due to COVID-19 we are experiencing extremely high email volumes. To ensure we are able to assist customers who have already placed an order we are only providing after care at the moment."

Jul 8th, 2020 7:54 pm

smacd [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Oct 6, 2007; 9648 posts; 7318 upvotes; Kootenays

Jul 8th, 2020 7:54 pm

So I pulled the trigger and bought the lower Maytronics model that is available in Canada, the Dolphin Encore https://maytronicsus.com/product/residential/encore/
$799 + tax & shipping = $915. https://www.poolsuppliescanada.ca/dolph ... eaner.html
Hopefully it's decent.

+1

Jul 8th, 2020 9:46 pm

barqers: Deal Addict; Jun 11, 2010; 1462 posts; 849 upvotes; ottawa

Jul 8th, 2020 9:46 pm

smacd wrote: ↑ So I pulled the trigger and bought the lower Maytronics model that is available in Canada, the Dolphin Encore https://maytronicsus.com/product/residential/encore/
$799 + tax & shipping = $915. https://www.poolsuppliescanada.ca/dolph ... eaner.html
Hopefully it's decent.

Are you able to reply here when you get it! I was eyeing this model, would be curious to hear your review after you receive it.

+1

Jul 8th, 2020 10:56 pm

smacd [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Oct 6, 2007; 9648 posts; 7318 upvotes; Kootenays

Jul 8th, 2020 10:56 pm

barqers wrote: ↑ Are you able to reply here when you get it! I was eyeing this model, would be curious to hear your review after you receive it.

Certainly. It does receive good reviews on the poolsuppliescanada website, including this one that is probably for a pool exactly like mine:
"Very satisfied! Not perfect, but for the price, I am very happy with the result. Light, easy to clean and to use. My pool is rectangular 16x32, 2 levels, and it worked great!

Review by xxxxx on July 8, 2020"

Funny though, she just gave it 4 stars

+1

Jul 16th, 2020 4:07 pm

smacd [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Oct 6, 2007; 9648 posts; 7318 upvotes; Kootenays

Jul 16th, 2020 4:07 pm

We got the robot on Tuesday, so this is the third day I've used it. It's a very easy set-up...plug and play, really. A full cycle is 2 hours. It does a reasonable job, getting 80% or so of the debris. If it was my kids vacuuming or our summer helper, I'd make them go back and get the bits they missed, but I think I can live with it. We're on 100+ acres on the edge of the forest, so we get lots of bugs in the pool and a very dirty birch tree that sheds its seeds in it, so even when the pool is 100% spotless, within an hour or so, there's a few bits and pieces in it. The Encore looks durable enough, but we'll see. It does come with a 2 year warranty, despite the warning stickers that state the warranty is void if bought online. A call to Pool Supplies Canada assured me that's for US sales only, as they're an authorized dealer.

+1

Jul 17th, 2020 10:46 am

Regin8r: Sr. Member; Apr 21, 2004; 895 posts; 98 upvotes; Pickering

Jul 17th, 2020 10:46 am

We have this one:

https://interpools.com/product/polaris- ... l-cleaner/

It was on sale for $900 and they had and $100 off promotion in June.

It's pretty similar with 2 hour run times. If the pool is really dirty or not to your standards, just run it twice. Polaris ones have a caddy.

Jul 21st, 2020 3:44 pm

smacd [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Oct 6, 2007; 9648 posts; 7318 upvotes; Kootenays

Jul 21st, 2020 3:44 pm

After a week of usage, I tried something new today that I read about in another forum. I ran the robot a full 2 hour cycle without turning the pool circulation on. This time, it worked very well, picking up almost everything. That's definitely the ticket for our pool. I'd highly recommend it now. I never saw it happen, but I wonder if it was blown over as it climbed the wall with the jets and that caused it to miss spots. With a savings of an hour per day over manual vacuuming, it'll pay for itself in one season.

+1

Apr 7th, 2021 12:34 pm

marksmithy69: Sr. Member; Dec 25, 2006; 680 posts; 590 upvotes; Ottawa

Apr 7th, 2021 12:34 pm

Regin8r wrote: ↑ We have this one:

https://interpools.com/product/polaris- ... l-cleaner/

It was on sale for $900 and they had and $100 off promotion in June.

It's pretty similar with 2 hour run times. If the pool is really dirty or not to your standards, just run it twice. Polaris ones have a caddy.

Sorry for digging up an old thread, but do you think the Polaris p825 is worth the extra $100 over the Dolphin Encore? It is currently out of stock, but the Polaris is $899 at PSC:

https://www.poolsuppliescanada.ca/polar ... eaner.html

The Dolphin is $799

https://www.poolsuppliescanada.ca/dolph ... eaner.html

Thanks a lot.

Apr 7th, 2021 1:52 pm

smacd [OP]: Deal Fanatic; Oct 6, 2007; 9648 posts; 7318 upvotes; Kootenays

Apr 7th, 2021 1:52 pm

marksmithy69 wrote: ↑ Sorry for digging up an old thread, but do you think the Polaris p825 is worth the extra $100 over the Dolphin Encore? It is currently out of stock, but the Polaris is $899 at PSC:

https://www.poolsuppliescanada.ca/polar ... eaner.html

The Dolphin is $799

https://www.poolsuppliescanada.ca/dolph ... eaner.html

Thanks a lot.

Two brushes vs one will probably mean it's more efficient. I store mine in a deck box when not in use, so a caddy doesn't really matter to me, but if I was wheeling it into a garage or pool shed, that would help. The research that I did last year steered me to Maytronics because of durability issues with Polaris, but I have no experience with them. My Dolphin looks brand new.

+1

Apr 7th, 2021 3:23 pm

Regin8r: Sr. Member; Apr 21, 2004; 895 posts; 98 upvotes; Pickering

Apr 7th, 2021 3:23 pm

I don't really have the Dolphin to compare efficiency, but some of the Polaris selling features include:

dual brushes (so it will clean forward and reverse)
ability to see how full the wastebasket is without removing it
cyclonic vacuum technology (buzz word most likely, but Dyson seems to make it a thing)
caddy

Debatable if those things are worth $100.

The problem with buying things online, is that it's hard to know the quality of something without touching and feeling it first. When I bought ours, I was able to touch the floor model, push buttons, see the quality of the snapping in of the basket and the lid. I was able to compare it to the more expensive Hayward model in person and determined the Polaris would be sufficient.

+3

Apr 7th, 2021 8:32 pm

barqers: Deal Addict; Jun 11, 2010; 1462 posts; 849 upvotes; ottawa

Apr 7th, 2021 8:32 pm

Regin8r wrote: ↑ I don't really have the Dolphin to compare efficiency, but some of the Polaris selling features include:

dual brushes (so it will clean forward and reverse)

ability to see how full the wastebasket is without removing it

cyclonic vacuum technology (buzz word most likely, but Dyson seems to make it a thing)

caddy

Debatable if those things are worth $100.

The problem with buying things online, is that it's hard to know the quality of something without touching and feeling it first. When I bought ours, I was able to touch the floor model, push buttons, see the quality of the snapping in of the basket and the lid. I was able to compare it to the more expensive Hayward model in person and determined the Polaris would be sufficient.

Out of curiosity what is your schedule with the pool cleaner? We swim probably every 2-3 days so not daily, but I can't imagine it would be very fast to use this pool cleaner if we spontaneously decide to swim? Or do you just make it a habit of plopping the cleaner in every couple days?

Apr 9th, 2021 9:36 am

golden: Deal Fanatic; Jan 15, 2004; 7130 posts; 1621 upvotes

Apr 9th, 2021 9:36 am

barqers wrote: ↑ Out of curiosity what is your schedule with the pool cleaner? We swim probably every 2-3 days so not daily, but I can't imagine it would be very fast to use this pool cleaner if we spontaneously decide to swim? Or do you just make it a habit of plopping the cleaner in every couple days?

I just put my robot in twice a week or so, depending on how dirty it is. It takes almost 2 hours for one complete cycle. I mostly swim in the later part of the afternoon, so no problem running the robot earlier to get it ready.

+1

Apr 9th, 2021 10:43 am

Regin8r: Sr. Member; Apr 21, 2004; 895 posts; 98 upvotes; Pickering

Apr 9th, 2021 10:43 am

barqers wrote: ↑ Out of curiosity what is your schedule with the pool cleaner? We swim probably every 2-3 days so not daily, but I can't imagine it would be very fast to use this pool cleaner if we spontaneously decide to swim? Or do you just make it a habit of plopping the cleaner in every couple days?

These units don't have schedulers, so I don't really have a set schedule. It varies with the weather since the pool is outdoors and we have a lot of trees surrounding the yard. Windy days reak havoc.

Last year and likely this year with WFH, this was my system:

run it in the morning on good weather days when I think the kids will use it
only remove only if kids actually use it
if not used, leave in pool (hence the clear basket cover is useful so I know how full it is) so I can run it again the next good weather days
remove it if kids use it and leave it out until morning of next good weather day
if bad weather, it won't run and robot will either be in the pool from day before or sitting on the caddy from when pool was last used

+1

Apr 9th, 2021 3:42 pm

barqers: Deal Addict; Jun 11, 2010; 1462 posts; 849 upvotes; ottawa

Apr 9th, 2021 3:42 pm

golden wrote: ↑ I just put my robot in twice a week or so, depending on how dirty it is. It takes almost 2 hours for one complete cycle. I mostly swim in the later part of the afternoon, so no problem running the robot earlier to get it ready.

Regin8r wrote: ↑ These units don't have schedulers, so I don't really have a set schedule. It varies with the weather since the pool is outdoors and we have a lot of trees surrounding the yard. Windy days reak havoc.

Last year and likely this year with WFH, this was my system:

run it in the morning on good weather days when I think the kids will use it

only remove only if kids actually use it

if not used, leave in pool (hence the clear basket cover is useful so I know how full it is) so I can run it again the next good weather days

remove it if kids use it and leave it out until morning of next good weather day

if bad weather, it won't run and robot will either be in the pool from day before or sitting on the caddy from when pool was last used

Thank you both! I think I'll be taking the plunge into a robotic pool cleaner this year. I'm convinced.

Apr 9th, 2021 4:57 pm

golden: Deal Fanatic; Jan 15, 2004; 7130 posts; 1621 upvotes

Apr 9th, 2021 4:57 pm

FYI, I never leave the robot in the pool. Just don't feel like have the cable lying around and the long term salt chlorine water exposure. That's why I don't use the scheduler.

Apr 11th, 2021 11:05 am

Stravic: Newbie; Sep 29, 2014; 47 posts; 15 upvotes; Toronto, ON

Apr 11th, 2021 11:05 am

Just bought a dolphin encore (799 + tax). Was the cheapest inground cleaner at pioneer. Works great for my 15x30 IG. Actually works way better than I thought it would. I had some buyer’s regret not getting a more premium model initially but after some use in more than satisfied. The other version I was contemplating was the Polaris 8050, or Pentair warrior Se. both similar price points. Look at the power cord length as will be dependent on where your power outlet is and length of your pool

+2

Jun 7th, 2021 11:09 pm

Crispers: Jr. Member; Sep 24, 2012; 143 posts; 54 upvotes; Ontario

Jun 7th, 2021 11:09 pm

thanks for creating this thread– I was on the fence about buying the Dolphin Encore but this thread may have convinced me to do it.

how's the robot treating you in its second season? does it climb walls well?

Jun 8th, 2021 10:53 am

marksmithy69: Sr. Member; Dec 25, 2006; 680 posts; 590 upvotes; Ottawa

Jun 8th, 2021 10:53 am

Crispers wrote: ↑ thanks for creating this thread– I was on the fence about buying the Dolphin Encore but this thread may have convinced me to do it.

how's the robot treating you in its second season? does it climb walls well?

I ordered the Dolphin Encore from Pool Supplies Canada, and received it last week. I am relatively happy with it. It gets most of the dirt out of the pool, but it certainly misses spots. It definitely isn't as clean as when I clean the pool manually, but it saves me a ton of time, so I can't complain too much. I like it. Takes at least 2 hours (I sometimes run it twice in a row). Mine only sometimes climbs the walls, but rarely. Mine does a lot of 'wheelies' in the pool, so it tends to miss spots. Does anyone else have this issue? Thanks.

+1

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