When to stop using your robot for the season

Watch the water, not the calendar. The number that matters is how cold the pool has got.

One maker's guide says this. "When water temperature drops below about 50°F (10°C), most manufacturers recommend taking the cleaner out for the season."¹

So the number to watch is 50°F, or 10°C.¹ A pool thermometer will tell you where you are. Check it in the morning, when the water is at its coolest, and again a few days later to see which way it's heading.

Running limit and storage limit are different

Don't mix up two figures. One is how cold the water can be while the robot works. The other is how cold the robot's storage place can be once it's out.

For storage, Maytronics names a lowest temperature of 5°C (41°F).² That's for the storage place, not the pool. What happens below it is on the page about freezing weather.

Why cold water matters

The same guide says "cold water makes plastic brittle and can damage motor seals".¹ Seals are the soft rings that keep water out of the motor. Hard, brittle seals are the last thing you want.

Notice the wording, though. It says "most manufacturers", not all. Your robot's manual may give a different lowest water temperature. If it does, the manual wins.

Where to find your limit

Look in your manual for the water temperature limits. If you've lost the paper copy, check the maker's support page.

Climates differ a lot, so don't copy a date from a neighbor's pool. Use your own water reading.

One last clean before you stop

Maytronics suggests a final push. Running the cleaner several times before the pool closes "will prevent the breakdown of organic material over the winter".³ A last few runs leave less for the winter to work on.

If you shock the pool or backwash the filter, take the robot out first. One maker's guide says to "remove the cleaners before chemical shocking and before backwashing the filter".⁴ For the chemicals themselves, follow the label on the product.

Taking it out

It's a short job.

• Make sure nobody is in the pool.
• Switch the robot off and unplug it. Maytronics says to ensure it is off and disconnected before storing.⁵
• Lift it out by the handle, not the cable. One maker's guide gives that advice.⁴
• Go straight on to cleaning and rinsing.

What if your pool stays open?

Do you keep the pool open through winter? Then the question changes. It's no longer "when do I stop?" but "does it need to come out at all?" The last page in this set covers that.

If your water drops below your manual's lowest figure, plan on taking it out either way. If you're unsure, ask the maker's support line. They'll know the limit for your exact model.

A note on dates

There's no single date that suits everyone. Pick a day, write it down, and use the water temperature to check yourself.