Best Pool Vacuum For Sand Reviews And Buyers Guide Of 2022

Pools are a lot of fun, especially during the scorching summer, but they can also be a lot of maintenance. Vacuuming is one of the best ways of ensuring that your pool is in pristine condition, but even for the best vacuums, sand can be heavy and tricky to deal with, especially if they are in large amounts. 

However, not all vacuums are like that; some vacuums are excellent at sucking sand quickly and efficiently. If you’re looking for the best pool vacuum for sand, your search ends right here.

We’ve round up the best pool vacuums available in the market precisely for dealing with sand and other tiny objects of your pool.

Our Top Picks:

Why Is There Sand At The Bottom Of My Pool?

There are various reasons for your pool to have sand.

• If your pool has a broken sand filter, it's most likely that the sand is from there. 

• It could also be that the sand simply fell into the water. It's a common occurrence if your pool is built near the sand. 

• However, even if there isn't any sand nearby, the wind could still pick it up and drop it into your pool. On the other hand, if the sand looks a bit odd, you might be dealing with yellow algae instead.

Is Sand Bad For Your Pool Water?

Sand can be problematic for your swimming pool. When sand accumulates at the bottom of your pool, your pool will always look dirty regardless of how many times you clean it, and it'll be very uncomfortable for you to walk around your pool.

Best Pool Vacuum For Sand Reviews

1. Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus: Best Robotic Pool Vacuum For Sand

Efficient, convenient, and easy to use, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus sits at the top of our list of the best pool vacuum for sand. The striking blue color makes it a stunner among other pool robots. Weighing in at just 20 pounds, it's relatively lightweight, and the streamlined design makes it compact. 

This vacuum is designed for in-ground pools of various shapes up to 50 feet long. You can set up this vacuum to clean twice a week, every other day, or once every day; you can simply assign the schedule and carry on with your other tasks. There's also an automatic shut-off feature, so you don't have to worry about leaving it on.

We used the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus in a 30 feet pool, and it was able to clean it thoroughly in about 2 hours which is really impressive. It also operates quietly compared to similar models, and the tangle-free 60 feet cord ensures uninterrupted performance. 

Why it's Our Best Choice For Sand:

This pool robot equipped with its own easy to access ultra-fine filteration system (along with the standard filter) which is very efficient at capturing small debris including sand. Moreover, it can navigate your pool bottom without getting stuck by any objects.

Our verdict:

This pool robot will impress you with its unmatched suction power and quick setup. It's able to picke up 90% of stuff from the pool. If you’re looking for the best robotic pool vacuum for sand, this is the one you should get. However, this vacuum cleaner is unable to climb the pool walls to clean the waterline.

2. Pool Blaster Max Cordless vacuum: Best Cordless Pool Vacuum For Sand

Handheld pool cleaners are the most cost effective and easy way of vacuuming your swimming pool. The Pool Blaster Max is an ergonomically designed handheld vacuum which is suitable for both in and above ground pools surface. On top of that, the lightweight design makes it super convenient to move this unit around.

It features powerful lithium-ion battery which takes about 4 hours to charge. On a single charge, you'll be able to vacuum for 1.5 hours which is more than enough to clean a standard swimming pool. Another great things about this cordless unit is that, you can attach your existing pool pole with this unit to clean further areas of your pool.

The Pool Blaster has adequate suction power and it does a great job at sucking up smaller particles, especially sand and silt. You can also convert it into a handheld device, and thanks to this feature, it does a better job at cleaning edges and hard-to-reach spots than many robotic pool cleaners.

The brush also does an excellent job of gently scrubbing the pool floor. On the downside, the filter bag is quite small, and you may need to empty it numerous times while vacuuming the pool with heavy sediment buildup. However, the filter is very easy to clean.

Take Note:

If you're going to buy this unit especially for sand then make sure to get the optional sand/grit filter for a better perforance. Yeah, you need to pay some panny for that.

3. Zodiac MX8 Suction-Side Cleaner: Best Suction Side 

The best thing about suction side pool cleaners is their simple installation process and the ability of working with variable speed of pump. If your pool already has a dedicated pool skimmer line, you can easily connect it with a suction pool cleaners to keep your pool free of stuff. They're also an affordable and accessible option when compared with robotic and pressure pool cleaners.

The Zodiac MX8 is one of the best and best quality suction pool cleaners of all time. It's is very efficient at climbing wall and waterline for a complete pool coverage. The tracks on the sides of the cleaner gives it enough stability to reach all the spots and tight corners.

This powerful pool sweeper has a wider cleaning path. This ensure faster and more comprehensive pool coverage than most similar suction cleaners. Besides, it features a large opening of debris which can be increased if necessary.

This vacuum cleaner is also easy to open to effortlessly remove all the dirt and debris inside the unit. With its hose, it can reach up to 36 feet which is impressive coverage. It can go anywhere in your pool, and if it bumps into a corner, the two-directional gears allow it to change directions.

The Zodiac MX8 comes with two cleaning turbines, and it does an excellent job of cleaning sand as well as other small to medium size debris. However, it stops working if it gets full of debris (especiall by large leaves), and you'll have to clean it continuously if you have a large pool.

4. Pentair LL505G Kreepy Krauly: Best inground pool vacuum for sand

The Pentair LL505G is the best inground pool vacuum for sand on our list. This top rated pressure side pool cleaner is preferred by many pool professionals due to its sturdy built and long lasting performance. With this reliable cleaner, your pool will be cleaned within just 1 or 2 hours.

This legend pressure cleaner has a great range of cleaning. It's able clean a large inground pool (350,000 gallon) within just a couple of hours. Unlike other similar vacuums, this unit comes with four wheels instead of three, so there's no concern over tipping. The tires feature a unique tread design that allows it to freely move around in pools of any design.

The Pentair LL505G comes with a double jet system and does an excellent job vacuuming all kinds of debris. It also includes a sand & silt bag which is very efficient at capturing small particles. On top of that, it features a large and high quality debris bag which is easy to open and clean.

The intake throat is also above average, and it does a better job at picking up larger debris like sticks and twigs than many pressure side cleaners in its range.

On the downside, setup can be time-consuming and the manual is poorly written.

Editors Note:

To run this unit you'll need to set up a 3/4 booster pump with its own return line which is quiet expensive. However, if you can afford that initial cost, you'll get complete value of your investment. We recommened this unit if you already have a booster pump installed in your pool or you just want to replace your previous pressure sweeper.

5. AIPER SMART Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner: Best For Small Pool

This automatic rechargable pool cleaning robot works independently to keep your above ground pool free of stuff. That means, it doesn't require electricity or connection with your pool pump to run. If you're searching for an energy efficient, and smart robotic unit, this one would be a smart pick.

This Aiper smart pool vacuum is very easy to use; you just need to switch it on, and as soon as it touches the pool's surface, it'll start cleaning. If it runs into a wall, it'll change directions. 

This cordless robot is powered by 2500mAh waterproof Lithium battery, and it takes about 4 hours to get it fully charged. On a single charge, this unit is able to run upto 1 hour which should be sufficient for most residential pools.

When it's comes to convinience, this AIPER smart robot is one of the low maintanance pool cleaners you'll find in the market. Unlike other pool robots, you should not worry about the cord entanglement or damage. On top of that, the filter is very easy to open and clean. It's also very lightweight than many robotic cleaners.

If you think about its performance, this smart robot is  fitted with two highly efficient brush roll and it does a great job of scrubbing the pool floor. Beyond that, the suction power is also adequate to pick up small leaves, dead algae, and sand from the bottom of your intex pool. 

If you’re looking for the best above-ground pool vacuum for sand, this is a fantastic choice. However, for a larger pool the suction power is not that sufficient.

6. Intex Handheld Rechargeable Vacuum: Best Budget

If you own a pool for a very long time you must be familiar with the Brand "Intex". They're one of the most trusted pool equipement manufacturers in the world . The Intex Handheld Rechargeable Vacuum is one of their great offerings for the above ground pool owners.

This manual pool cleaner has some similarity with our 2nd best pick ( pool blaster max). Both of them are rechargable unit. However, the key difference between them is the run time of the battery. On a single charge this intex pool cleaner can vacuum for upto 50 minutes where the max can vacuum upto 1.5 hours. Therefore, the intex is not a perfect choice for larger above ground pools.

However, this intex pool vacuum is quiet a versatile unit. You can use it to vacuum your spa as well. It includes a sturdy telesoping shaft (stretchable up to 94 inches), that lets you reach even in the deepest end of the pool. Weighing in at just 4.7 pounds, it doesn't feel heavy even after using it for a long time.

This portable pool cleaner is equpped with decent suction power to get small debris and dirt out of the bottom of your intex pool. However, it has a small filter bag that needs to be cleand multiple times. Therefore, we recommed it for a pool with small amount of debris.

7. POOLWHALE Jumbo Rectangle Pool Vacuum Head

The POOLWHALE Jumbo Pool Vacuum Head is a no-hassle vacuum that does its job pretty well. It's effortless to set up and doesn't take a lot of time. This vacuum head is well built and lightweight; you won’t get tired even if you use it for a long time.

The vacuum is powerful and does an excellent job at sucking up debris, dirt, and sand. Moreover, the cleaning path is wider than most handheld models providing a quicker vacuuming session. The brush is also ideally positioned at the bottom, and it was convenient for cleaning walls and hard-to-reach edges with this vacuum. 

However, it's very lightweight, and as a result, it can be tough to keep this vacuum on the pool floor while using an extended pole.

What Should I Look For In A Pool Vacuum For Sand?

Pool Types:

Pools come in above-ground and in-ground types, and you must buy a vacuum that corresponds to your pool type. Keep in mind that not all vacuums are suitable for both types of pools. In most cases, in-ground vacuums can clean up to a depth of 8 feet. 

On the other hand, above-ground pools generally go up to 4 feet in depth, and In-ground vacuums can typically be too harsh for above-ground pools.

Pool Size And Shape:

You need to make sure that your vacuum's size is suitable for your pool's shape and size. You don't need to buy a large vacuum for a small pool. On the other hand, if your pool is huge, you need to invest in a bigger, more powerful vacuum. Additionally, if you're purchasing a battery-powered vacuum, you need to ensure that it has ample run time.

Efficient Filtration System:

Another important consideration is the filtration system. First of all, make sure that the filter carefully captures all sorts of dirt and debris and prevents them from spilling out. There're some pool cleaners available that only offer standard filter bag which capture only large debris. But, you should go for a unit that comes with special micro filter with adequate suction power. This type of filter is highly efficient for vacumming sand and other tiny objects of your pool. 

Additionally, you also need to ensure that the filter is big enough for your usage. If it’s too small, it can be tedious to continuously clean it out mid vacuuming.

Portable And Lightweight Design:

Finally, make sure that your vacuum is portable and lightweight. Even if it's an automatic vacuum, you'll still need to carry it and move it around now and then. If it's a handheld vacuum, portability becomes even more important. If it's too heavy, it'll be tiresome to use it for a long time, and you won't be able to vacuum thoroughly. Especially if you have a large pool, a portable and compact vacuum becomes a must.

Final Verdict:

This wraps up our list of the best pool vacuums for sand. The right vacuum will ensure that your pool water is always clean so that you can go for a dip anytime you want. The vacuums mentioned on this list are all efficient and powerful and do an excellent job sucking up sand.

If we had to pick a winner, it would be the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus, thanks to its design, features, and functionality. If you're under a budget, you should go for the POOLWHALE Jumbo Rectangle Pool Vacuum; it performs much better than products, almost twice its price range.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Will Sand Ruin A Pool Pump?

Sand is not good on a pool pump as it could prevent it from functioning properly. Additionally, if sand makes its way into the pool, it could get dirty, and you'll have to clean it up.

2: How Do I Get Sand Out Of My Pool Without A Vacuum?

To remove sand without using a vacuum, get a pool leaf canister and then put in a skimmer sock filter. After that, connect the pools return line with one part of the canister. Next, connect the hose attachment with the another part of the canister. Then, attach the hose with a pool vacuum head as usual; it would suck up all the dirt and debris, and the canister will capture the sand inside the sock.

3: Does Robotic Pool Cleaner Pick Up Sand?

Yes, a robotic pool cleaner can pick up sand without you having to do much. As they are automatic, they can move around your pool, sucking up all the dirt and debris at the touch of a button. However, keep in mind that the performance heavily depends on the model.