Skimmer-Connected vs Dedicated Suction Line Cleaners

What the connection words mean on a listing

A suction-side pool cleaner is driven by the water pulled through it from the pool's circulation system. On a listing, the type is usually the first word: "suction-side", "suction pool cleaner", or a brand name such as Hayward or Polaris that mostly makes suction cleaners. What the listing rarely states is how the cleaner connects to the pool. The two common connections are through the skimmer and through a dedicated suction line in the pool wall.

The connection does not change what the cleaner is, but it changes how the pump, the skimmer and the cleaner work together while a cleaning run happens. Read the listing's bullet list for words like "skimmer", "suction line", "wall fitting" or "inlet valve". When none of those words appear, the maker's page is the next place to look.

Reading a skimmer connection

A skimmer connection means the cleaner's hose enters the pool at the skimmer opening. The skimmer basket is usually removed and a skimmer plate holds the hose in place. While the cleaner runs, the pump pulls water through the cleaner, so the skimmer's usual surface-skimming job is reduced during that run.

Debris that would normally collect in the skimmer basket is instead pulled toward the cleaner and into its own filter bag or basket. A listing that includes a skimmer plate or says "skimmer connection" is describing this hookup. See the How a skimmer plate assembly is described article for the words to look for on a listing.

Reading a dedicated suction line

A dedicated suction line is a wall fitting connected by its own pipe to the pump, often with a valve at the equipment pad. The cleaner's hose attaches to this fitting, and water is pulled from the wall rather than from the skimmer. The skimmer can keep skimming while the cleaner runs.

Installing a dedicated suction line is pool plumbing work, not a cleaning purchase. The maker's manual describes the fitting, and a pool professional handles the installation. This article does not give plumbing instructions. The Inlet valve compatibility article explains how that word appears on a listing.

Flow loss and pump strain as listing terms

Any suction cleaner adds resistance to the water path, because the pump must pull water through the cleaner's hose and mechanism before it reaches the filter. "Flow" on a listing means the water movement the cleaner needs. "Low flow" or "works with low flow" is a seller's claim about that resistance.

Pump strain is the other side of the same question: a pump that pulls against a cleaner works at the higher end of its operating range during a cleaning run. Pool pump speeds vary by operation. The ENERGY STAR page on pool pumps states that filtration requires only half the flow rate of running a pool cleaner, so a cleaning run is already the higher-flow task. Read the cleaner's flow requirement and the pump's specifications on their own pages; this site does not measure either. The Required flow rate for suction pool cleaners and Pump requirements articles cover those listing words.

Debris bypass in plain words

"Debris bypass" is the term for debris that does not end up in the cleaner's bag. With a skimmer connection, removing the skimmer basket means debris reaches the cleaner, but anything the cleaner's opening misses can also pass toward the pump's filter. With a dedicated line, debris near that wall fitting is pulled to the cleaner, while surface debris still goes to the skimmer.

Some listings include "bypass" as a feature word, for example a valve that reduces flow past the cleaner. That word is a seller's claim; the maker's page describes what the valve does. This site does not say which connection captures more debris.

What to read on the maker's page

Before choosing a suction cleaner, read the maker's page for the details a listing usually leaves out. The connection type the cleaner is built for, whether a skimmer plate or wall fitting is included, the flow range the cleaner requires, and the debris bag or basket that receives what the cleaner picks up are all stated by the maker, not by the listing title.

• Connection type: skimmer or dedicated wall fitting
• Included parts: skimmer plate, hose, or wall fitting
• Flow range the cleaner needs from the pump
• Debris bag or filter basket that collects what the cleaner picks up

What this site cannot say about connections

This article compares two connection words that appear on listings. It does not say which connection cleans better, which is easier on a pump, or which suits a given pool. A dedicated suction line is an installed feature of the pool, so the pool professional who services the pool can say whether one exists. Read the maker's manual for the cleaner's connection requirements.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Does a skimmer-connected cleaner stop the skimmer from working?

While the cleaner runs, the pump pulls water through the cleaner instead of through the skimmer's surface opening, so surface skimming is reduced during that run. The maker's manual describes the connection and what changes while the cleaner is in the pool.

Is a dedicated suction line the same as a booster pump?

No. A dedicated suction line is a wall fitting for a suction-side cleaner. A booster pump is a separate pump used with pressure-side cleaners. The two belong to different cleaner types, as explained in the Suction-side vs pressure-side article.

How do you know which connection your pool has?

A pool professional or the pool's manual describes the fittings at the equipment pad and in the wall. The cleaner listing rarely states this; the maker's page states what the cleaner needs.

What does "debris bypass" mean on a listing?

It is a seller's word for debris that does not go into the cleaner's bag, often because of the way the cleaner connects or because of a bypass valve. Read the maker's page for what that valve does.

Can a robotic cleaner avoid this question?

A robotic cleaner is powered by its own low-voltage supply and collects debris in its own filter, so it does not connect to a skimmer or a suction line. That removes the connection question entirely; the Best Pool Cleaner guide covers robotic options.