We regularly hear from customers wanting us to compare
specific products to one another. Often it’s about variable-speed pump models
from two major manufacturers, or maybe someone just wants help making sense of
all the LED light options that we offer.
We’re happy to lend a hand whenever possible,
since we know the pure volume of available information can be overwhelming and
we have plenty of experience sifting through it, both for customers and for
maintaining our own pools and spas.
With swim season on the doorstep one product category people are
wanting us to discuss lately is cleaners, and as you may know we have a deep
selection featuring most any kind imaginable. From the hand-held,
battery-powered Pool Blaster Aqua Broom to the newest robotic cleaners like the
remote-controlled Hayward TigerShark, we have options for every budget to help
you take your spring cleaning outside.
Suction-side cleaners, which essentially act like a vacuum
cleaner for your pool, are a popular category for us, partly because they
provide great value but also because we carry a lot of excellent options. One
recent addition to our suction-side catalog is the Pentair Kreepy Krauly
Warrior, which grabs attention from customers due to the Pentair name
itself and from the fact that it has physical and functional similarities to Poolvergnuegen's two-wheel PoolCleaner.
Understandably, people are curious about the Warrior and how
it compares to the PoolCleaner, the No. 1 suction cleaner on the market, so we put together a look at how the two stack up.
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Poolvergnuegen "The PoolCleaner" 2-Wheel
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- Can use skimmer or dedicated suction port
- Very mechanically sound, efficiently converts water flow to movement and suction
- Consistently cleans entire pool, including walls and base of wall
- Top-loading cover makes regular maintenance easy
- Excellent parts durability
- Customers report very good dealings with Pentair for service
- Two-year warranty
- Currently priced at $379 and Pentair is offering a $50 rebate
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- Can use skimmer or dedicated suction port
- Efficient but more prone to getting stuck in deep end and on obstacles
- More likely to miss areas of pool surface and to have problems turning
- Top-loading cover makes regular maintenance easy
- Quality of parts has come into question for newer models
- Service reviews for Hayward have been mixed
- One-year warranty when purchased online
- Currently priced at $409
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Overall, at the very least we’d have to say that the Warrior
has made a great first impression. It’s very difficult to find someone
who will say something negative about this new model, and from our
experience we can see why – it’s a superb cleaner by any measure. The Warrior makes good use of the distinctive roller skirt featured on other Pentair cleaners, which greatly helps its ability to handle obstacles consistently. And maneuverability may be its best asset - customers are delighted at well it climbs walls and handles tile, and an automatic steering cycle assures that it covers all of the pool instead of literally running in circles.
Conversely, we have to wonder about the future of The PoolCleaner, particularly relative to the tremendous run it's had as one of our most popular items regardless of category. In talking to customers who have bought them since early 2014, we've found they've experienced problems sooner in the life cycle of The PoolCleaner than those who bought them several years earlier. In other words, durability has recently become an issue. This coincides with Poolvergnuegen being bought by Hayward in the same timeframe.
We can't say with certainty that's the reason for the rise in problems, and Hayward has provided quality products in other areas of the pool and spa industry for decades, but it's fair to note that these customer complaints were far less numerous in 2013 and earlier.
Still, there are customers who will argue just as emphatically for The PoolCleaner, saying they can't imagine using another product after building up such trust and comfort with it. We just want you to have complete information when you're considering your next cleaner purchase, and we hope that you'll contact us if we can help any further.