TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
Frigid winters full of snow and icy sleet leave you readier than ever for the summer heat, and when it gets to be too much, cooling off in the backyard pool feels like the ultimate treat. Not only can the perfect pool setup create a backyard oasis that sometimes exceeds any vacation experience you could have, but it’s a great way to stay active, stay refreshed when a heatwave blows, and act as a central hub to enjoy time with friends and family sans screens. The only downside? They require quite a bit of work to keep them running properly.
While you should never invest in a pool if you aren’t prepared to take proper care of it, sometimes it gets to be a bit too much. Fun time is easily postponed when you have to worry about skimming dirt and debris out of the water, or wait till the vacuum has cleaned the bottom before jumping in. It’s not even that it might prevent others from enjoying the pool. All that work can keep you from having fun, too, and summer already offers only a limited time to enjoy the swimming time we so happily looked forward to during the colder months.
Proper pool maintenance, whether in-ground or above-ground, is essential to keeping your setup clean and well-maintained, but there are helpful products that can make upkeep far easier to handle — and maybe even save you some money in the process.
Cordless vacuums
Skimmers clean the top of your pool, but vacuums get the nitty gritty that’s stuck at the bottom. Great at targeting settled dirt, organic matter, and physical debris that accumulates in the water, they’re certainly not a new invention, but the cordless options are far easier to use. Without the inconvenience of an attached cord, you can more easily maneuver the vacuum as you use it, sucking up leaves, twigs, acorns, seeds, dirt, sand, silt, pebbles, dust, pollen, and dead bugs with ease without concerning yourself about access to an electrical outlet and being able to reach each area of the pool properly.
Cordless vacuums are also more lightweight than their corded counterparts because they are designed to be compact. Without the heavy transformers and long tethers, they are more portable and easier to move when you adjust your positioning. There’s also the elimination of the risk of tripping because there are no cables or cords to get tangled up in as well as the electrical risk of cords potentially dragging through the water. They come in a few styles. There are handheld options where you control it yourself, as well as robotic options that run along the pool floor with no pushing necessary. Although typically more expensive than a corded mode, the convenience, ease-of-use, and portability of the cordless model can make it seem like a small price to pay.
Enhulk Handheld Rechargeable Pool Vacuum
Wybot Cordless Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
Variable-speed pumps
Pool supplies can sound complicated, but they are simpler when you realize what each one does. Variable-speed pumps help your pool motor operate more efficiently. They function like a “dimmer switch” for your motor and help you save money with your electricity bill over time. Although it’s not the industry standard anymore, many older pools still use traditional single-speed motors which are cheaper price-wise than a variable-speed pump but run constantly and consume tons of electricity, costing you thousands of dollars a year to operate. Homes with swimming pools already use 40 to 50% more electricity than homes without one, and if you add those additional costs on top of it, you’ll be bleeding money on a yearly basis. While single-speed motors operate 24/7, variable speed pumps utilize permanent magnet motors, instead of traditional induction motors, integrated digital drives to adjust flow rates. Without the intense heat and friction, it dramatically reduces the wear and tear and energy output of the pump. They can adjust automatically or be programmed with different speeds or RPMs.
A variable speed pump can cost you more at first, but you typically make that money back with what you save by using it. It can cut your pool’s electricity usage by 80%, offering increased energy efficiency, lower electric bills, and all at a quieter volume. It’s also said that while single-speed pumps typically last around seven to 10 years, variable-speed pumps, because they are better at conserving energy, can last between eight to 15 years.
Varminpool Variable-Speed Pool Pump
XtremepowerUS 3HP Variable-Speed Pool Pump
Automatic skimmers
Pool skimmers aren’t new by any means, but automatic skimmers certainly are. While you used to have to skim gunk off the top of your pool yourself using an extended pole, automatic skimmers do it for you. It’s a bit like the robotic vacuums that operate on the pool floor, but instead, these float and move on the top. Leaves, flowers, and other plants, along with insects and other contaminants are sucked up with the use of water pressure and collected in a debris bag that will then need to be manually emptied. There are also wall-mounted units that hang on the side of your pool and connect to your pump. They use suction power to pull debris into a filter basket before it’s able to sink.
Intex 2800E Deluxe Wall-Mounted Automatic Skimmer
Super EcoSurfer W2 Cordless Robotic Pool Skimmer
Solar pool lights
You can’t beat night swimming, but proper lighting is important so that everyone stays safely accounted for at any one time. Even in-ground pools that have built-in lights can seem lacking, and a few extra lights are the perfect way to brighten up the area. Solar pool lights soak up sunlight during the day and convert it to electrical energy, which make them perfect for outdoor use since you don’t have to worry about remembering to bring them in charge. That electrical energy is then stored in batteries to power LED lights, eliminating the hassles of wires or grid electricity. Solar pool lights come in a variety of styles and often produce a wide array of colors. Many solar lights have built-in light sensors which detect when the sun goes down and they will automatically turn on the lights — no switch or work necessary on your part. Others have floating capabilities so they can sit on the top of the pool when they’re on.
Poolhacker Solar Pool Lights
Linkind Smart Solar Pool Lights
Are these products worth it?
From our perspective, absolutely! Not only do they make everyday upkeep easier, giving you more time back to yourself to actually enjoy your pool, but many of these gadgets save you time and money on maintenance and utility costs. Variable-speed pumps can add to your pool’s longevity by almost double what a single-speed pump would, and by investing in high-quality cleaning machines, you eliminate the risk of damage from dirt and debris for things like staining, keeping your pool looking like it just got installed even when it’s years old. Sometimes, a product simply makes things safer, just like the solar lights do, and in that case, it’s well worth the extra precaution to ensure that everyone has a fun, safe experience when they go swimming in your pool.
TheStreet Shopping is your guide for shopping insights and advice. We look beyond the price tag to find the best value in home, tech, and wellness gear based on product features and real-world use.