Our Pool Cleaner Review Panel says:
The Kreepy-Krauly Classic pool cleaner comes in last place and earns a 2-star rating based on a combination of performance, reliability, durability and innovation. The cleaner is made by a company called Pentair which has many years in the pool cleaning industry. Some of their other pool cleaning models would include the Prowler, Jet-Vac, Legend, E-Z Vac and more. The Kreepy-Krauly retails around $400 and we found many places offering rebates. When we searched the cleaner online, it took quite a bit of time and effor to find the manufacturer, which doesn’t always speak well for a product or the manufacturer. The main reason that we choose this cleaner as our top 5 pick is due to the price point and longevity of the product.
At first glance, it strikingly resembles the looks of a high-tech swifter mop leaving questions in your head about how this machine can do its job like other traditional pool cleaners. This is a suction-side cleaner like the Polaris model (our 2nd place choice) we reviewed, though it doesn’t require its own booster pump but instead runs solely off of your skimmer. Like other suction-side units, you will find yourself emptying the skimmer basket frequently which becomes an on-going process, especially. The cleaner is fairly simple with only one operational “motor-like” unit inside designed for dividing water and helping propel the unit around the pool. This may be appealing to consumers looking for a unit that promises very few parts to replace. There is an automatic regulator valve located near the bottom wings which sets the ideal travel speed for more thorough cleaning.
The Kreepy-Krauly has a component called a dive float which is designed to help the cleaner climb the walls. It attaches to the body and looks similar to a spoiler. When we tested the unit on specific areas of the pool, we noticed it had a hard time climbing steps and ladders, especially in the hard corners. Also, the thruster attachment has a tendency to turn sideways or upside down which could become a problem if the cleaner reaches the waterline while tipped. The upside of the cleaner is the fact that you can leave the cleaner in the pool 24/7 and it will run continuously. That is a plus if you want a cleaner with no timer function and something you can just throw in the pool and go. Also, since the unit filter and collects in your filtration skimmer, you will not have to pull the unit out of the pool to empty the bag, but just empty your skimmer more frequently.
Conclusion: All in all, if you are on a tight budget and want an average cleaner, than the Kreepy-Krauly might be a cleaner to consider. Unfortunately, the disadvantages weigh down the advantages of using this cleaner after we had a chance to not only test the cleaner in our pools, but compare them to other pool cleaners on the market. The old saying, “You get what you pay for” applies with this cleaner and we would highly suggest looking elsewhere if you want a more independent machine that requires very little maintenance. If you want something simple and basic and have the patience for future upkeep, than the Kreepy-Krauly will work fine.
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