Recently, we’ve observed a significant increase in the number of pool owners who are switching to robotic pool cleaners. This is primarily because they are both environmentally friendly and cost-effective to operate.
Since the increase in popularity, we’ve received a slew of queries about fundamental troubleshooting issues.
So we decided to put up a guide to offer you a few basic strategies that may be used if a problem surfaces when you’re using this type of pool cleaner. And the best part is – these tips don’t require any elaborate equipment or expensive tools! Let’s get going.
Polaris Pool Cleaner Troubleshooting Tips
Many things may go wrong with a pool cleaner, including damage caused by things like fallen tree branches, animals, and even sunlight. Of course, if you keep your Polaris pool cleaner out in the open rather than storing it in a shed or garage, you will be far more likely to encounter these issues.
Check the Quick Disconnect
The Quick Disconnect (QD) is the component that connects the hose of your Polaris cleaner to the return jet. There is a screen inside the QD that collects particles from your pool filter. This screen keeps particles from entering your pool cleaner.
An easy solution is to ensure that there is no dirt or deposits on the screen. If it’s clogged, the problem might be with the screen.
After you have cleaned the screen and spotted some damage or cracks, It’s time to replace it with a new one. This ensures that your Polaris reach the ideal pressure for the cleaner.
Check for Leaky Float Hose
A pool cleaner sucks out water and debris from the pool, traps the particles in a filter bag, and then returns the clean water to the pool. The water runs from the pool cleaner to the return jet through the float hose.
A leaky hose reduces the pressure in the cleaner, causing water to stop in its tracks. You may use waterproof tape to seal the leaks. It’s a good idea for a while, but sooner or later, you’ll be back to square one. You’d be better off just purchasing a new float hose.
Check for a Faulty Backup Valve
A backup valve is a good safety feature that allows the Polaris to turn itself off if it encounters an obstruction. This is extremely important if you’re using a robotic pool cleaner like the Polaris since there’s nothing worse than picking up a leaf while enjoying a good swim and finding your Polaris stopped in its tracks.
Should the backup valve malfunction, the cleaner will attempt to suck up the debris it encounters. But since there is no water flow, it can’t work. When this happens, your Polaris pool cleaner will attempt to restart itself. If it succeeds, you should be safe.
You can also notice a damaged backup valve if it’s sporting out water. If this is the situation, you’ll have to replace it with a new one.
Check for Broken Drive Belts
The cleaner’s drive belt works with an impeller that pushes the Polaris forward while it’s cleaning. If the belt breaks or snaps, then there may not be enough force to propel your pool cleaner around the pool.
A faulty drive belt can be replaced by removing one side of the Polaris shell. Alternatively, you may also attempt to fix this problem by tightening the screws on the wheels.
To determine if the drive belts are the issue, lift the Polaris cleaner from the pool’s bottom and check that all wheels are turning normally.
If the Backup Valve is operational and the tail is moving back and forth, but the wheels are not rotating, open the cleaner and examine the belts. You could discover that they are missing. If that’s the case, they’ve snapped. You may have to buy a new set of belts and change them yourself, which is a very simple DIY project.
Check the Polaris Cleaner Internal Tubing
The problem is often internal when it comes to pool cleaners. This is often due to a broken or busted component or a clogged line in the worst-case scenario. For example, the tubing going from the cleaner to the filter bag may have a crack in it. Or a pool cleaner’s filter bag may simply clog up and not be able to clean the water effectively anymore.
On the more positive side, you may only need to connect the internal tubing. You can check the inside of the cleaner and see if there are any detached hoses. From there, you can easily attach the tubes back where they belong. If it needs some tightening up, there are plastic hose clamps you can buy.
Check for Tangled Hoses and Cables
If your cleaner seems to be moving in circles, it’s probably due to tangled cables and hoses. Balling up the cables and hoses will help your Polaris move a little more freely.
As a quick tip, before you start cleaning, you should loop the cables out, so they don’t tangle with each other.
“When everything else fails… No matter what you do, the hose will tangle up from time to time. This is especially true if it has ever been knotted so badly that it has kinked. If this happens, you’ll need a new replacement hose. Just make sure it will suit your Polaris pool cleaner model.”
Matt Giovanisci, founder of Swim University®
Minimize the Length of the Hose
If your Polaris has issues climbing the walls or excessive suction, it might be because the hose has stretched out. When this happens, it’s quite possibly caused by removing the unit from the pool repeatedly.
One way around this problem is to minimize the length of your hose. This will reduce how often you need to remove your Polaris from the pool. And, if you want to get rid of stretching out problems with your hose, you can also try wrapping it around a small container when you’re done with your pool cleaning.
Measure the Pool Cleaner’s RPM
The wheels of your pool cleaner rotate at a certain number of revolutions per minute (RPM). If the wheels do not have enough resistance and the RPMs are too high, they may spin more quickly than they should, which tangles up the hose.
On top of that, when the cleaner’s wheels move too slowly, it will have difficulty maneuvering around the pool. Conversely, if they rotate rapidly, the cleaner will rise off the floor level, leaving it unable to vacuum properly. By adjusting the wheel’s revolutions per minute (RPM), you may resolve both issues while preventing tangling.
Here are some quick steps on measuring your pool cleaners RPM:
- You can check for the recommended RPMs listed on the pool cleaner owner’s manual.
- Make a mark on one of the tires using a marker.
- Where the mark is, is your starting point.
- Start the cleaner and place it slightly below the surface of the pool.
- Set a time for 60 seconds.
- Count your total tire rotation every time it crosses the starting point.
- When the minute is over, check the number of RPMs you counted to the manual’s guideline to confirm the total is within that range.
- If it’s not within the optimal range, make the required adjustments and repeat the test until you get the desired RPMs.
Conclusion
I hope this blog post helped you to figure out the source of your Polaris pool cleaner’s problems and that you enjoyed the upcoming summer with a clean, sparkling pool. We hope you’ve found a solution for your Polaris troubles!
Please let us know in the section below if there’s anything we can do to improve our content, so it’s more helpful to those who read it! We’re certain, as always, that free-pool-living tech nerds will have some great tips for us as well as other readers who might need help.
For great pool articles, check out our website. Swimming pools are not as difficult to maintain as you might think. Here are a few tips to help you keep your pool clean and safe!
my polarsis cleans/circles at the deep end of my kidney shaped pool. I can’t make it go to the shallow end where it is needed mostly. what can I do???
My polaris pool cleaner is not moving forward, it turns on moves maybe 12″ then it stops, sometimes it turns off and sometimes it just stays on and not move, the belts are on they just won’t rotate after its stops.