Baracuda automatic pool cleaners have been around since most of us can remember. When it comes to efficient and hassle-free pool vacuums, most will agree that this is one of the premier brands in the business. Recently, robotic pool cleaners have taken the world by storm, leading some to believe that the old suction side pool cleaner has become obsolete. Though there are many reasons why suction side automatic pool cleaners are still popular.
Is a Suction Side Pool Cleaner Any Good?
Probably the number one reason why these pool vacuums remain so popular is their price. A suction side automatic pool cleaner is far cheaper than a robotic machine. Even though suction side pool cleaners use old technology, they have moved with the times in order to compete with the sophisticated modern automatic pool vacuums. The Baracuda G3 is light years ahead of the noisy and cumbersome suction side pool cleaners of years gone by.
The problems that we once found so frustrating with the old suction side pool vacuums have been done away with. This a low maintenance pool cleaner and a pleasure to use.
If a quality robotic pool cleaner is out of your price range, this review is just the thing for you. Before you decide to buy a cheap robotic vacuum, think twice. You could find one for around $300-400, but I’d be weary – most of the decent machines cost closer to a thousand bucks. Whereas you’ll be able to get Baracuda G3 for a lot less and it’s going work well for a long time. With an average rating well above 4-stars and mainly positive customer reviews, I’d say that popular opinion agrees with this statement.
Before reviewing this incredible automatic pool cleaner, I feel it’s only fair to address some of the criticisms that I’ve read. We have to remember that although this is an advanced suction side pool cleaner, it is not a robotic machine. Many of the old issues that we associate with these pool vacuums have been eliminated or, at least reduced. You might still have to help it along from time to time – though this is nothing like the continuous and irritating intervention that was needed in days gone by. Depending on the design of your pool and, very importantly, how you set the Baracuda up, it may get stuck. This may happen occasionally and is certainly not a common problem. It seems that some people don’t t take the time to read their instruction manual carefully and install the Baracuda correctly for the pool that you’re cleaning. When in doubt, contact the guys at Baracuda, they’re friendly, helpful, and always willing to assist you in getting the most from their product.
Now let’s move on to see why I say this is a truly fantastic automatic pool cleaner – at an even more fantastic price.
What We Like About the Baracuda G3
Remember when we used to hear the automatic pool cleaner clicking around the pool. Those old machines were really loud and this irritated a lot of people. Well, Baracuda have done away with the old noisy flapper and hammer design and have come up with a silent pool vacuum that’s also way more effective than the suction side pool cleaners that we’ve become accustomed to.
The finned disc clings amazingly well to any type of pool surface. It climbs walls with remarkable agility whether the pool finish is vinyl, fiberglass, tile, or gunite. The anti-stick design with a wheel deflector goes a long way in reducing the number of times the Baracuda might get stuck. It’s very unlikely that it’s going to stop when it encounters steps, ladders, or corners. So the Baracuda G3 really does a thorough job of cleaning your pool without the hassles of downtime.
What's Not So Great?
The thing that has always caused a great deal of aggravation when dealing with an automatic suction side cleaner is the diaphragm. They always seemed to get blocked with debris, tear easily and were a hassle to open and clean or replace. Thankfully, Baracuda have done an amazing job of improving on this. The new design diaphragm is not only designed to last longer but gobbles up all that heavy debris that earlier models struggled with. So regular debris, bugs, leaves, twigs, and pebbles are no match for the Baracuda G3, it sucks up everything in its path. When you do need to access the diaphragm, this is made perfectly easy with their quick release cassette design.
Another issue that I had with old-fashioned automatic pool cleaners was the fact that your pool’s skimming action doesn’t work with the pool vacuum plugged into the suction inlet. Again, the guys at Baracuda have addressed this and come up with a fantastic solution. They’ve introduced the Flowkeeper valve which includes an Insta-Skim function. This means that the G3 will skim the pool by simply turning a switch. The Flowkeeper valve also regulates the water flow, ensuring that the pool cleaner functions optimally at all times, even if the pool pump doesn’t quite have the horsepower to provide the required suction.
Can it Do The Work of a Robotic Pool Cleaner?
I wouldn’t say that the Baracuda G3 can fully compete with a robotic pool cleaner, it’s a suction side automatic pool cleaner. Though when they decided to call this an advanced suction side automatic pool cleaner, they certainly weren’t exaggerating. The G3 has just about removed all the negative aspects to owning a suction side automatic pool vacuum. So you need not spend a fortune in order to own a hassle-free, low-maintenance automatic pool cleaner. It comes with general 1-year warranty and a 2-year warranty on the hoses.