If you’re looking for an in-depth review of the Polaris F9450 and F9550 you’ve come to the right place. These models are both 4×4 models which give them a significant edge over the inferior 2 wheel drive F9350 design. You can see a full comparison of every model later in the article.
We’ve packed a ton of images, videos and information into this article so you can decide which automatic pool cleaner is best for you. We hope you find the information useful. I must say, these Polaris pool cleaners are stunning from a design perspective. These are some of the best robotic pool cleaners currently on the market.
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The Art of Pool Cleaning | Polaris 9450
Being a first time pool owner can be a hassling experience. Initially having a pool in your backyard sounds like a lot of fun but once you get around to installing it, you soon begin to realize that there are a lot of things that need to be done to maintain it.
One of the most important elements that a pool owner needs to focus on is keeping the pool clean. Why? A pool which is not clean can get cloudy and is unpleasant to swim in. Even if the pool does not look murky, improper cleaning can result in a slew of infections for the users. Pools that have not been kept clean have been known to turn green. This is especially true if you live in an area that experiences a lot of rainfall.
There is however a saving grace. With the advent of the automatic pool cleaners, life has gotten so much easier. I still remember watching people clean the pool manually. They had a kind of suction device which they would struggle to use. The whole process usually took almost six hours. If the pool was large then much more time was required to complete the whole procedure.
AquaNaut 400 | Read full review
Let us look at the automatic pool cleaners to get a better understanding of how they function. The automatic pool cleaners can be broadly divided into three main categories :
- The Suction side pool cleaners
- The Pressure side pool cleaners
- The Robotic pool cleaners
Let’s briefly glance through how each of these three function. Knowing how they function will give us a better understanding of their advantages and disadvantages.
Suction Side Pool Cleaner
The name itself gives us a hint. The Suction side pool cleaner uses suction as its basic cleaning mechanism. This device uses a pump to generate an underwater vacuum. How does this help? The Suction side pool cleaner is designed and programmed to move about the pool in a set pattern. Since they attach to your dedicated suction port, these devices pick up all the dust and debris from the pool and deposits it in the pool filtration system. In fact, you could call it a vacuum cleaner for your pool!
Zodiac MX8 | Suction Side Pool Cleaner
These cleaners are extremely useful as they can be used when the pool is running. That means that you don’t have to shut down your pool just for cleaning.
Pressure Side Pool Cleaners
Like its name suggests, the Pressure side pool cleaner uses pressure to aid in cleaning. The way these devices function is really quite simple. A pipe from the cleaner is attached to the return line of the pool. (The return line is the pipe which carries the water after it passes through the filtration. This pipe takes the water back to the pool). The water passing through the pipe generates a pressure. This pressure is harnessed by this device and is used to do two things.
Polaris 280 | Read our Review
Firstly it is used to move the device. The second use for the pressure generated is to cause a vacuum. This vacuum is used to pick up dirt and debris in the pool.
The Pressure Side Pool Cleaners help in distributing the pool water evenly throughout the pool. Since they have their own filtration bag, they do not put undue load on the filtration system.
Robotic Pool Cleaners
The Robotic pool cleaners are considered to be the ‘Creme de la Creme’ as far as pool cleaners go. Why? For many reasons. One of the main reasons is because these devices can be programmed. Hence you can set various settings including when you want them to be active. Another important factor that Robotic pool cleaners bring to the table is the fact that they have their own filtration system. This means that not only do they not attach to your current filtration system, they also act as a secondary source of filtration. This means that the pool has much better quality water.
Dolphin Triton Plus | Robotic Pool Cleaner
Some of these Robotic pool cleaners can even be operated by using a remote control! The whole device requires electricity to function and it is essential to have a power connection nearby. Some people find that the initial investment for such devices is high in comparison to the others. Robotic pool cleaners however make up for that with the amount of time and energy that they save!
Advantages | Automatic Pool Cleaners
When choosing an automatic pool cleaner it is important to know what are the advantages that each pool cleaner has over the other! Now that we know how each of the automatic pool cleaners function, it will be easier to understand their advantages.
The Suction Side pool cleaner has two main advantages. It is extremely easy to install and operate. Since it is not very expensive, it has gained a lot of popularity. Another important point to note about the Suction side pool cleaner is the fact that it has a proven track record. This just goes to show that all its clients are happy with the way it functions!
Video | Polaris | Features & Technology
The Pressure Side pool cleaner has been a favored choice among many because it distributes the filtered water evenly around the pool. Since it has its own filtration bag, you will find that it will not clog your pool’s filtration system with debris that it siphons off. Most reviews state that the Pressure side pool cleaner is both fast and efficient.
The Robotic pool cleaner does not put much load on your pool filtration system as it has its own filtration system. This ensures that the pool water undergoes the filtration process via two separate filtration cycles. So far, the Robotic pool cleaners have been found to be the fastest way to clean a pool. You will find that the Robotic pool cleaners come with various settings. These can be adjusted as per your requirement and convenience.
Watch the 9550 in this Video
Robotic Pool Cleaners
There are numerous Robotic pool cleaners in the market. This is basically because there are a number of companies out there that manufacture different kinds of Robotic devices. The Robotic pool cleaners have revolutionized the way people clean their pools. It has made the entire activity so much easier, faster and has even added the fun quotient to it.
You may be wondering if you read right. Probably even glanced at the previous sentence just to read it again. How can ‘fun quotient’ and ‘pool cleaning’ ever be occur in the same trend of thought? I understand your surprise and I can assure you that pool cleaning can be fun. You probably haven’t seen the latest Robotic pool cleaners. They will remind you of the drones that everyone is flying today. The only difference is that they move underwater.
A set of controls is placed above on solid ground while the Robotic pool cleaner obeys the instructions that you set for it. It is pretty cool to watch it!
Let us look at two of the popular Robotic pool cleaners in the market. That is the Polaris 9550 and the Polaris 9450.
Polaris Model Comparisons
Before we get into the specifics of each model, I recommend that you view the comparison chart of all three models so you can see exactly which features they have. Obviously, the Polaris 9550 is superior. It has a remote control and dirty canister indicator informing you of when it’s time to empty your filter, and the 9550 has a Waterline Only Cleaning Cycle — for isolated tile line scrubbing.
Also, I always advise buyers to browse the instruction manual before buying a product. It gives you an idea of what it takes to setup the pool cleaner. Thankfully, Polaris does an excellent job with their manuals. They’re clear, concise and easy to follow. You can view or download the manual, brochure and quick-start guide.
- Manual — Polaris 9350/9450/9550
- Brochure — Polaris 9350/9450/9550
- Quick-Start Guide — Polaris 9350/9450/9550
✓Make sure you view the additional videos at the end of the article. The more you know, the more you’re empowered to make the right buying decision. Let’s be honest, robot pool cleaners are not cheap. We just want you to have all the information you need so you can decide which model is right for you.
Polaris 9450 | Robotic Pool Cleaner
Features:
- The four wheeled drive and its ability to conquer all kinds of pool terrain
- The Vortex Vacuum technology gives it heavy duty suction power and enables it to suck up debris faster.
- The filter canister is easy to clean.
- It comes with a seven day programmable timer so you don’t have to keep adjusting the program.
- The Easy lift system enables you to lift the Polaris 9450 as soon as it surfaces.
- It can clean a pool of up to 50 feet in length.
- ActivMotion Sensor : Automatically controls the position of the pool cleaner. Complete cleaning coverage, reducing the chance of it getting stuck.
Overview | 9450 Model
The first thing that any person who loves their gadgets will notice is that the Polaris 9450 has a four wheel drive. It is a pretty cool device which essentially looks like a remote control car. The Polaris 9450 also has Aqua Trac tires, which combined with the four wheeled drive enables it to conquer any kind of pool terrain. In fact, in some instances it can even climb up pool walls! All these things together make it a pretty cool gadget to have.
The Polaris 9450 is based on the energy saving concept. It reduces the energy consumption by almost 90 percent! Not only is this device eco friendly, it also reduces its operating costs. Another interesting point about the Polaris 9450 is the way it removes dirt from stairs and tight places. The Polaris 9450 is designed with a rear water clearing stream. This stream blows out the debris from the tight corners and stairs.
How does the Polaris 9450 remove the debris? It has an inbuilt suction. The suction is said to be over-sized and this enables it to suck out the debris easily. The Polaris 9450 is designed to clean and scrub the pool floors while it pulls out all the debris in its vicinity.
Comes with a full caddy — all three models do.
Worried about storage and transportation? Don’t be! The Polaris 9450 comes with a compact transport caddy. It doesn’t take long to assemble the caddy and with some practice you will get the assembly down to a few minutes. Load the Polaris 9450 onto the caddy and move it about with ease.
Polaris 9550 | Robotic Pool Cleaner
The Polaris 9550 is the only model to come with a motion activated remote to give you full control over your pool cleaning robot. It’s a great feature that will make your life just a little easier.
Features:
- It has a motion sensing remote which helps to clean the pool more efficiently
- An easy lift system is used to help you remove it from the pool. It functions in a similar way to the Polaris 9450
- The Dirty canister indicator makes life easier and is available only in this model.
- The Easy clean filter is also a part of the Polaris 9550.
- Like the Polaris 9450, the Polaris 9550 also uses a Vortex vacuum technology.
- Cleans a pool of up to 60 feet long.
- ActivMotion Sensor : Automatically controls the position of the pool cleaner. Complete cleaning coverage, reducing the chance of it getting stuck.
- Waterline Only Cleaning Cycle — for isolated tile line scrubbing.
Overview | 9550 Model
The Polaris 9550 shares some similarities with its brother the Polaris 9450. In fact, you can consider the Polaris 9550 as the new and advanced version of the Polaris 9450.
The Polaris 9550 has a four wheel drive. Like the Polaris 9450, the Polaris 9550 can climb any pool terrain. This includes its ability to climb stairs, and walls. The Polaris 9550 also comes with a solid blade scrubbing brush which it uses for scrubbing the tile line of the pool. This helps remove debris from the pesky corners and the joints between the tiles.
It comes with a seven day programmable cycle. This means that the user can program the Polaris 9550 for a week and forget about it. The Polaris will continue to function as per the instructions that the user has set. These cleaning cycles can be customized as per the users preference. To explain this, it would be wise to use an example. Imagine that you like your pool floor to be cleaned twice a day. You can set the Polaris 9550 to do just that. If you prefer it to be cleaned only once a day, you can set its program to clean the floor only once a day!
Everything can be customized to the users liking. That is what makes the Polaris 9550 so special.
Includes a Caddy and Control Panel
Another new feature that the Polaris 9550 has is the intuitive motion sensing remote. This means that all the controls of the Polaris 9550 have now been placed in the palm of your hand. All you need to do is point the Polaris 9550 in the correct direction. This way you can ensure that there is not a spot of dirt left in your pool.
The Polaris 9550 is also the only model to have a dirty canister indicator. What does this mean? It means that you no longer have to keep checking to see if its canister is full. The moment the dirty canister indicator lights up, you know that it is time to get it cleaned or replaced.
Like the Polaris 9450, the Polaris 9550 also comes with a transport caddy which is easy to assemble. This makes it easier to transport the Polaris 9550.
Polaris 9350 | 2-Wheel Drive
The Polaris 9350 is only 2 wheel drive and it isn’t programmable. Stick with either the 9450 or the 9550 Polaris.
Features:
- Easy Lift System – With the touch of a button the 9350 surfaces to a desired location and waits for you to grab it, then automatically evacuates water for effortless removal from the pool.
- Vortex Vacuum Technology – 25% more vacuum power and 4x more debris capacity than other cleaners.
- Easy Clean Filter Canister – debris can easily be emptied with a simple shake and spray convenience.
- ActivMotion Sensor – automatically controls robot’s position at all times, allowing complete cleaning coverage without any hang ups.
- Dual Cleaning Cycles – Select from floor only or floor & wall cleaning mode.
- Comprehensive Cleaning – Cleans all pool surfaces – floor, walls, & tile line.
Which Pool Cleaner is Right for You?
At the end of the day understanding pool cleaning devices is simple if you know how they function. Their functions in turn tell you the advantages of each type. In the past few years the Robotic pool cleaning devices have been becoming more and more popular even though they are more expensive that the the Suction side pool cleaners and the Pressure side pool cleaners.
This is essentially because they are far easier to maintain. They are also easier to operate and get the job done much faster. Robotic pool cleaners like the Polaris 9450 and the Polaris 9550 go a step ahead and make it more cost effective as they have a reduced energy requirement to operate the device.
At the end of the day choosing a automatic pool cleaner depends on your budget and your comfort. Weigh the pros and cons with the advantages of each device and your decision will be far easier.
Learn more on the Polaris web site.
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