The Polaris 280 Pool Cleaner is one of the best in-ground pool cleaners available on the market today. Although it is an older model, it consistently outperforms the newer models of Polaris pool cleaners. It also requires less maintenance and is easier to troubleshoot and repair when problems start to occur. Like all pool cleaners, over time the cleaner will eventually begin to wear out and work less efficiently. A common symptom that can appear is when the Polaris 280 simply stops moving and doesn’t do the cleaning it normally does so well. The following troubleshooting tips will help identify why the vacuum has stopped moving.
Clogged cleaning wheels – First things first, turn off all pool equipment and remove the cleaner from the pool. Inspect the wheels and make sure they spin freely and nothing is preventing the wheels from turning. It is very easy, and very common, for a pool toy, a small branch or other types of debris to get caught between the wheels preventing them from moving. When this happens, everything else might be working just fine, it’s just that the wheels can’t turn. Once the toy or debris is removed, the Polaris 280 will return to normal to keep the pool clean again.
Is there enough water pressure? – then make sure that sufficient water pressure is supplied to the cleaner. Since the Polaris 280 is a side pressure cleaner, it needs a sufficient amount of water pressure to function properly and without the necessary pressure it will not move. Turn on pool equipment and visually confirm pool has good circulation. If there is not a good flow of water, the following are the most common reasons.
1 – The main pool filter is dirty – If the pool’s main filter has not been recently cleaned or the filter gauge has an unusually high pressure reading, the main filter needs to be cleaned. After cleaning the filter, test the cleaner again to see if it fixed the problem.
2 – The wall filter screen is dirty – the Polaris 280 pool cleaner is equipped with a small filter located inside the wall attachment that can become clogged with dirt. If this screen is clogged, not enough water pressure will reach the pool cleaner.
3 – Booster pump malfunction – turn on all pool equipment, including the Polaris 280 booster pump. If the pump won’t turn on, it’s obviously a problem. If it comes on, check the water pressure reaching the cleaner by slowly and carefully lifting the cleaner up to the surface of the water and putting your hand into the water to feel the water pressure. Be sure to keep the cleaner under the water and hold the tail so you don’t get water splashing on your face. It is a good idea to wear protective glasses or goggles when doing this test.
Pool cleaner wheels need repair – if the cleaner wheels are not clogged, all filters are clean and there is good water pressure to the cleaner, the wheels may need to be repaired. Three wheel components commonly wear out and need replacement over time.
1 – Wheels – the wheels have grooves that mesh with the drive shaft. Any of the three wheels that have worn or broken grooves will need to be replaced. Wheels can easily be visually inspected for bad grooves.
2 – wheel bearings – each wheel has two wheel bearings that will wear out over time. Indicators that the bearings need replacement are excessive horizontal play and/or wheels that do not spin freely. If you suspect the bearings are bad, remove the wheels and it will show.
3 – Tires – if the tires have excessive or uneven wear, or have been stretched to the point that they do not fit well on the wheels, they need to be replaced.
After following the troubleshooting tips above, if the Polaris 280 still won’t budge, you may have a more complicated internal mechanical problem. Call a pool service professional or local pool store for help.