Pool Cleaner does not move: 11 possible Causes & Solutions

Many pool owners resort to a robotic pool cleaner for the physical cleaning of the garden pool. Thereby, the numerous models not only offer the greatest possible comfort, but also form an effective supplement to prevent and reduce bacterial contamination in the swimming pool.

Due to the fact that a pool robot is one of the electrical devices, malfunctions can occur when its functions are impaired, which in many cases becomes evident in a timely manner. Often, the existing problems can be quickly eliminated, provided that the respective cause has been appropriately identified as well as eliminated.

In the following sections, the most common faults why your pool robot does not move away, their causes and the solution measures to be taken are mentioned.

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Pool robot does not drive? 8 causes and solutions

The malfunctions that occur are usually easy to make out, as they will manifest themselves in a work process that deviates from the norm, if it occurs at all. As soon as one has recognized from the observation of the pool robot that it is no longer operable that there is a need for action, the main focus should be on determining the cause so that it can be remedied.

In the following text sections, both the causes of the impaired drivability are defined and the corresponding solutions are presented.

Malfunction 1: The pool robot does not sink into the pool water

Possible causes and solutions

• There is still air in the pool robot, probably in the filter medium: To solve this problem, turn the corresponding device upside down under water so that the existing air can be removed from it. Afterwards, it is advisable to empty as well as clean the filter and after that likewise open the inlet flaps on the underside of the pool robot to make sure that there is no air left in the device.
• The included brushes are dry: In this case, it is recommended to soak them in water for a longer period of time, 24 hours can serve as a guideline, then squeeze them out and reinsert them.

Malfunction 2: The pool robot pumps water but does not run anymore

Possible causes and solutions

• There is a foreign object in one or more of the pool robot’s drive rollers: It is necessary to clean the corresponding roller to remove the blockage.
• There is a blocked drive: In this case, it is necessary to clean the wheels as well as the rails of the fully automatic pool vacuum cleaner in order to eliminate the cause of the problem.
• A malfunction of the electronics or a defect of the drive motor cause the inability to drive: If this is the case, it is recommended to contact the manufacturer of the pool robot. If the pool robot was not purchased directly from the manufacturer, the first point of contact is the individual dealer with whom a purchase contract exists.

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Trouble 3: The fully automatic pool vacuum cleaner does not climb the walls.

Possible causes and solutions

• The filter is filled with too much dirt: Emptying the filter medium in combination with a subsequent cleaning or rinsing of the filter bag or the corresponding filter cartridge should solve the problem.
• The walls of the pool are too slippery, for example, due to an infestation of algae: It is advisable to clean the respective areas, preventively it is also conceivable to clean the entire pool with the help of a brush.
• The temperature of the pool water is too low: Normally, the optimal water temperature for the use of a pool robot ranges between 6 degrees and 34 degrees, although it is worth taking a look at the operating instructions and measuring the pool temperature. Then, either take measures to increase the temperature or resort to another method of cleaning.
• There is a wear of the brushes of the pool robot: In this scenario, it is mandatory to replace the affected old components with new materials, for which it may be necessary to contact the dealer from which you purchased the fully automatic pool vacuum cleaner.
• The rollers that drive the pool robot are too dirty either at the edges or directly in the center: For ideal functioning of the fully automatic pool vacuum cleaner, only the affected drive rollers need to be carefully cleaned.
• The weight of the pool robot is too low, which can be caused, among other things, by a high level of trapped air: In order to give the latter the opportunity to escape from the pool vacuum, it is useful to turn it upside down under water.

Malfunction 4: The pool robot moves exclusively in circles

Possible causes and solutions

• The moving components are either blocked by dirt particles or the filter is clogged by a foreign object: After cleaning the respective components and cleaning the corresponding filter medium, this malfunction is eliminated.
• There is an incorrect positioning of the power supply: To eliminate that cause, it is useful to arrange the power supply in a way that allows the pool robot to reach all the walls of the pool without difficulty.
• Incorrect installation of the bottom cover is the cause of the malfunction: Check if the lock on the bottom of the pool robot is in the correct position and, if it is not, correct it.
• Either the water characteristics do not correspond to the ideal values, there is an increased occurrence of algae in the pool or the pool bottom does not offer enough support: On the basis of an individual measurement or by means of a manual inspection, the cause can be further narrowed down and subsequently remedied with the means provided for physical or chemical pool cleaning.

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Fault 5: Not all areas in the pool are reached completely.

Possible causes and solutions

• In this case, too, the cause may be an incorrectly laid power supply: When laying the respective items again, make sure that the pool robot reaches every wall of the pool without any problems.
• The settings of the handle are not adjusted for the individual conditions of the pool: First, it is recommended to adjust the floating objects near the handle, then the pool robot will check if the required 90-degree angle to the bottom of the pool is reached by turning twice. If this is not the case, the condition can be corrected by moving the float, which is located opposite the cable entrance, centrally in the direction of the handle. If, on the other hand, an increased number of degrees occurs, change the position of the float, which is on the side of the cable entrance, in the same way.

Trouble 6: Pool robot gets stuck on ladder

Possible causes and solutions

• The pool robot moves against the ladder and gets stuck: The easiest way to prevent the pool robot from getting stuck on the ladder is to remove it from the pool before cleaning, if possible.
  If your cleaner gets stuck on or under your pool ladder, you may consider installing a ladder protection kit. This should make the robot behave as if it is on one of the walls when it touches it.
  Another option is to place a small boulder of the right size in the area or shorten the pool cleaner’s hose.
• The pool robot moves behind the ladder and the pool robot cable gets tangled with the pool ladder: Again, the best solution is to remove the ladder before starting the pool robot. The other methods mentioned above are also suitable here.

Malfunction 7: Pool robot tips over

• The pool robot tips over or lands on its back: The first thing you should do is check the suction flow coming through the hose from the cleaner. You must have your pump turned on to check the suction.
  If the suction is poor or non-existent, you will need to adjust the flow control valve in the skimmer box to increase the suction from the cleaner.
  Next, check the hose length. If the hose is too short or too long, it can cause problems with the cleaner. You must ensure that the correct length of hose is used. Add or remove additional lengths as needed.
  Make sure the hose weight is approximately 1 m from the cleaner head for the first length of hose. You may need to move the weight up or down in the hose to find the sweet spot required for your application.

Fault 8: Pool robot stops after a short time.

• The pool robot starts but stops after a short time: If the pool robot starts but stops after a short time, the first thing you should do is check the suction flow coming through the hose from the cleaner. You must have your pump turned on to check the suction.
  If the suction is poor or non-existent, you will need to adjust the flow control valve in the skimmer box to increase the cleaner’s suction.

Three other pool robot malfunctions

The number of possibilities malfunctions that a fully automatic pool vacuum cleaner can have also depends on the individual characteristics of each model. However, there are a few other impairments to the ability to operate that have similar causes in a large number of pool robots. An overview of the three most common faults, as well as their causes and remedial options, can be found in the following sections.

Malfunction 1: The indicator light on the power supply switch or power supply unit no longer lights up.

Possible causes and solutions

• The pool robot is either not properly connected to the mains or the respective socket is defective: In a first step, it is essential to check the power line for defects. After this has been done, the pool robot can receive power again with the help of a conductive socket.
• There is a fault in the electronics of the pool robot: In this case, it is usually not possible to find an adequate solution on one’s own initiative, which is why the corresponding manufacturer or the dealer from whom the pool robot was purchased should be made aware of the inoperability.

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Malfunction 2: The pool robot no longer picks up dirt particles while moving and also falls off the wall.

Possible causes and solutions

• There is a blockage of the impeller: To eliminate the cause, cleaning the impeller of dirt is already sufficient in many cases.
• The filter medium can no longer absorb dirt particles: Emptying the collected impurities in conjunction with subsequent cleaning of the filter bag or filter cartridge is the solution.
• An electronic error occurs or there is a defect in the pump motor: Assuming that you have ruled out the other two possibilities and the electronics of the pool robot are no longer working efficiently, you should contact the relevant dealer or the manufacturer of the device.

Fault 3: The respective cable gets twisted or rolled up

Possible causes and solutions

• There is a foreign object in the pool that is an obstacle: After removing the particular object from the pool, it is important to straighten the particular cable first and then place it in the sun for a certain period of time.
• Excess cable is still in the pool: First, you should remove the cable from the pool, after that align it appropriately as well as dry it with the help of the sun’s rays.
• There is a contamination of the filter medium: After the individual filter cartridge or filter bag is freed from the impurities, a correct alignment of the cable is carried out, which after this procedure is deposited in a sunny place before a certain time.

Conclusion

A fully automatic pool vacuum cleaner, which is often referred to as a pool robot, represents a convenient and effective form of physical cleaning of a swimming pool.

Assuming that this innovative addition to chemical pool care becomes inoperable, it is not always necessary to send the device to the manufacturer to find the cause of the particular malfunction, because it can usually be concluded based on the technical conditions.

Often there are some possible solutions how to solve the problem yourself, so that nothing stands in the way of a prompt restart of your pool robot and a relaxed bathing pleasure.