Tip #1: Read your owner's manual.
Become familiar with the operation of your cleaner and the manufacturer's best practices for maintaining your unit and prolonging its life. The owner's manual offers tips for troubleshooting problems and provides information on what to do if you have an issue with your cleaner.
Tip #2: Wind your cable correctly.
After each use, remove your unit from the pool, unplug it from the power supply, and straighten out the cable along your lawn or pool deck. Then, starting at the unit, wind the cable around your hand and elbow until you reach the free end. Winding the cable the other way, from the free end to the unit, causes the wires within the cable to twist and bend, eventually causing a break in the wires.
Tip #3: Store your unit appropriately in the off-season.
Units should never be stored where the temperature can drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Unless your garage is independently heated, it should not be used to store your cleaner in cool weather. Moisture from the cold can infiltrate the motor and shorten its life.
Tip #4: Never use the cable to lift the cleaner.
Cables cannot support the weight of the pool cleaner, and trying to lift the cleaner out of the pool by the cable will cause the wires within to snap. When necessary, gently pull on the cable until the cleaner rises to the water line, then reach in and lift the cleaner by the handle.
Tip #5: Make sure all personnel are properly trained.
This can be a problem for organizations such as fitness centers, community pools, and private residential associations -- the people who actually use the pool cleaners have not been trained sufficiently on their care and handling. Make sure your staff knows how to put the cleaner into the water and take it out, how to wind the cable, and where to store the unit between uses.