In this Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 pressure side pool cleaner review, we’ll look at the pros and cons of this pool cleaner model. What are the pros and cons of this pool cleaner?
Pros of the Polaris Vac-Sweep, Model 280
The Polaris 280 picks up everything from fine dust to large leaves that have sunk to the bottom of the pool. It even gets the large leaves that many other pool cleaners will ride right over.
It has significant capacity in the trash bag. The Velcro of the bag can catch debris like twigs and leaves when you’re emptying it out.
This unit rarely gets stuck. However, it really won’t climb the walls of your pool, either, unless they gently curve upward. Steep drop offs this unit will not climb.
This pool sweeper has a market-competitive price, and you can often get it on sale for up to a third off, making it one of the more affordable pool cleaners on the market.
This pool cleaner can run independently of a pool skimmer.
It is easy to get replacement parts at most pool stores for this pool skimmer. If it breaks, it will rarely be out of service very long.
Cons of the Polaris 280
The pool sweeper’s off the shelf design results in a tail that periodically sprays chlorinated water on the house’s windows or plants around the pool.
This model doesn’t clean steps and shelf areas very well.
The small screen in the water line is prone to getting clogged if your pool has a lot of fine dirt or mud in it.
The wheels on this unit may scratch up your pool liner.
This pool sweeper has trouble navigating over the large protective drain covers that prevent kids from accidentally being pulled down by the suction and drowning.
Observations of the Polaris Vac-Sweep 280
This Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 pressure side pool cleaner review wouldn’t be complete without observations that might affect a consumer’s decision to buy this model, though this information is not a clear point for or against the model.
The tail that is supposed to drift back and forth starts to whip around if it reaches the surface of the water. The setting knob that controls the water flow through the tail is a fine balancing act. There is a diffusing accessory that replaces the tail that eliminates this problem, avoiding the risk of spraying people on the surface, but that is separate from the main unit.
The feed hose rarely gets tied up in a knot, as long as you use the proper size of hose. If you use too long a hose, it is more likely to get tangled. However, you need a longer hose for it to reach the far end of a large pool.
It has a high degree of effectiveness cleaning the bottom of the pool, but you still have to scrub the sides of the pool. And you still have to clean around the tile line.
The unit’s path tends to follow a circuit that may leave a section of debris in the middle of the pool untouched. You can reduce this problem by altering the thrust jet’s position, but now there is the added task to keep the pool cleaner doing its job right.
Adding a wall mounted pressure restrictor improves the unit’s power but shortens its operational life.
The pool sweep has a twelve year warranty for external parts, but the warranty doesn’t cover labor. Nor does the warranty cover internal parts like belts unless the unit is practically new.
This pool cleaner requires a booster pump to work. Make sure the pool has a booster pump before you buy this pool cleaner.
Leave a Reply