Thinking about a robotic pool cleaner for next season, is it worth it in Michigan?

[Sarah Harris]

I've been maintaining our above-ground pool myself for a few seasons and I'm getting tired of vacuuming by hand every weekend. I keep seeing robotic pool cleaners talked about for 2026 and the idea of something that scrubs the walls and floor without me dragging a hose around sounds appealing. My uncertainty is really about our short season here in Michigan. We're open maybe four months, and I'm wondering whether a robotic unit actually pays off over that window or whether I'd just be storing an expensive machine most of the year. I also worry about parts and repairs if something breaks mid-season. People with experience in colder climates, what has your routine looked like with a robot versus manual cleaning, and would you buy one again for a season this short?

[OrionArkk]

Can't speak from experience. IM Speaking from my mothers experience. She loves in Georgia, so its not exactly apples to apples.

 

She hates it. It doesn't really clean her pool and she is constantly paying some one to clean it. (She's older). The hose gets tangled (on the machine) and its got a bucket you need to empty. But again, she's southern US. 

 

-- Orion