If you're a swimming pool owner, whether you have an above ground or an in-ground pool, an automatic pool cleaner is a blessing.  Pool cleaners allow you to spend more time enjoying your pool with your family and less time maintaining it.  They also eliminate much of the strenuous physical effort that goes into keeping a swimming pool clean.  As an added bonus, many auto pool cleaners are cute!  If you have children or grandchildren, they'll love watching a pool cleaner shaped like a bug or a turtle gobble up the debris from your pool as much as you will.  If you have an above-ground pool and you're in the market for an automated pool cleaner, you may wonder which type is best for you and your pool.  Here's some information on the three types of above ground pool cleaners.

• Robotic Pool Cleaners: These are the newest and most technologically advanced automatic pool cleaners on the market.  Most robotic pool cleaners calculate the size of your swimming pool and can clean an entire above ground pool in a short period of time without revisiting previously cleaned areas.  Robotic pool cleaners are self-contained and operate independently from your filter system.  They carry a bag or cartridge to collect debris during cleaning.  The electric motors in robotic auto pool cleaners run on low voltage power and plug into ground fault protected outlets.  Features to look for include a user-friendly control panel that allows you to input information on the size and shape of and type of deep end in your above-ground pool, as well as customize the unit's climbing height, hours of operation, and speed; a wireless remote control; a sensor that tells you when the filter bag requires cleaning; and energy-saving cleaning cycles.
• Suction Pool Cleaners:  Suction automated pool cleaners have fewer bells and whistles than robotic cleaners and are correspondingly more affordable.  They are a very effective method of cleaning above ground swimming pools and are a popular choice for do-it-yourselfers who want to continue maintaining their own pools while reducing their workloads.  Suction pool cleaners plug into your swimming pool skimmer and work off of the suction of your pool's filter system; dirt and debris is sent directly to your filter.  Because suction automatic pool cleaners draw water through the filter system, the circulation of your pool improves with their use.  Features to watch for include easy installation and maintenance; removal of pebbles in addition to dirt, debris, and leaves; and quiet operation.  If you want an above ground suction pool cleaner your kids will like, look for a bug or whale shape. 
• Pressure-Side Pool Cleaners: Pressure-side cleaners plug into your return jet or use a separate booster pump.  These pool cleaners use pressure from the return side of your swimming pool's filter system to move the cleaner around the pool.  Pressure-side automated pool cleaners work extremely well in areas with a lot of foliage.  All debris is collected into the cleaner's bag, not your filter, keeping your filtration system nice and clean.  Features to look for in a pressure-side cleaner for your above ground pool include: Quick, easy installation; cleaning the pool, including vacuuming the bottom and sweeping the sides, in three hours or less; the ability to clean uneven-bottom pools up to five feet deep; a detachable bag that trails behind to pick up large debris like leaves and pebbles before they clog your filter; and a cute shape such as a turtle.