Pool Robot Brush Types Explained

A robot's brushes do the scrubbing. Their material changes how well they grip a surface and how fast they wear. Here are the main kinds.

The main kinds

• Rubber. One maker says rubber brushes suit concrete and plaster¹.
• Foam. The same maker says softer foam brushes suit vinyl, fiberglass and smooth surfaces¹.
• PVA. This is polyvinyl alcohol, a spongy plastic. Some machines use PVA brushes, which have "an adhesive quality that allows the unit to cling to the walls, steps, and floors"².
• Bristle segments. Some makers build brushes from short sections. One maker's brush has several segments that clip onto a carrier bar, and each segment has "a row of bristles" held by snap tabs³.

Not every robot offers every kind. Your model's brush is usually one fixed design, and the manual lists what fits.

What the brushes do

• They sweep dirt loose from "pool floors, walls, and the waterline"¹.
• On many machines they look like paint rollers and sit at the front and back².
• On some designs they also help the robot grip a wall. That's why PVA brushes are said to cling.

Matching a brush to a surface

• Concrete or plaster: the maker's guidance points to rubber¹.
• Vinyl, fiberglass, smooth finishes: the same guidance points to softer foam¹.
• Not sure what you have? The pool builder's paperwork or the manual will say.
• Tile: no source here gives a rule, so ask your maker.

Why material matters for wear

• Rough surfaces are hard on brushes. One maker ties a loss of scrubbing power over a few seasons to rough finishes in particular⁴.
• Wear is gradual. Nothing in these sources gives a set number of weeks or hours, so go by what you see.
• Your manual's brush list is a safer guide than a guess about which material to pick.
• Sunlight and pool chemicals also age rubber and plastic. The overview page on what wears out covers that.

Fit comes before material

• Makers build parts to their own sizes. One says "Each manufacturer uses specific dimensions, materials and fastening systems"⁴.
• A brush that suits your surface still has to suit your robot. Check the model label and parts list first. The last page of this set, on matching parts, walks through it.
• If your manual lists a set of brushes for your model, follow that list.

When a brush needs a closer look

• It's thin, flat or missing pieces.
• A segment has come loose.
• The robot leaves dirty patches.
• You can't tell what it's made of, and you want to order a match.

The next page, signs of a worn brush, helps you tell wear from simple dirt. If you do need a new one, read your manual's parts list before you order, and keep the old brush to compare. Brush design also changes by model, so two robots from one maker can take different brushes.