What Wears Out on a Pool Robot

Some parts of a robot are made to rub against the pool and wear down. Others sit inside a sealed case and mostly get left alone. Knowing which is which tells you where to look first.

Parts that wear first

• Tracks and wheels. They carry the robot's weight and grip the floor and walls. One maker calls them "among the first parts to show signs of wear"¹. See how drive tracks and wheels work.
• Brushes. They scrub as the robot moves. One maker says brushes lose scrubbing performance after a few seasons, especially on rough surfaces¹. More in brush types explained.
• Filter basket or cartridge. It fills with debris, so it's cleaned often. A clogged one cuts suction. It's a care item more than a wear item, but it still ages.

Parts that age slowly

• Seals and gaskets. They keep water out of the body. Sunlight can degrade them: "UV exposure degrades the robot's housing, cable, and gaskets over time"².
• Power cable. It gets twisted, dragged and left in the sun. Check it for cracks or stiff spots.
• Impeller. This is the small propeller that pulls water through the filter. One maker lists propulsion impellers as consumable parts to check regularly¹.
• Plastic and rubber in general. Pool chemicals are hard on them. Another maker says "High levels of pool chemicals wear out the plastic and rubber parts of robots"². Your manual says when the robot should stay out of the water.

Parts built to be left alone

• The drive motor. One maker's FAQ describes its motors as sealed and not usually needing internal servicing by the owner³. That's about one maker's design, so read your own manual.
• Bearings. Many are sealed. Don't open them up unless your manual shows you how. Drive motor basics covers the signs of a tired motor.

How often to look

• Check brushes and tracks every few weeks in peak season³. Another maker gives the same interval².
• Look for cracks, flat spots, stretching and loose parts.
• Write down what you see. A note with the date helps you spot slow changes.

What wear looks like from the outside

Different parts fail in ways that look alike. A robot that cleans badly could have a worn brush, slipping tracks, a full filter or a weak motor. Don't guess from one clue.

• Poor scrubbing, normal movement: start with the brushes, using the brush wear checklist.
• Slipping or drifting: start with the tracks and wheels, using the track and wheel checklist.
• Weak climbing and a clean filter: think about the motor and impeller, then ask a service center.

Before you touch anything

• Unplug the unit and take it out of the pool first.
• Read the manual for your model. It shows which parts an owner may change and which go to a service center.
• Match any new part to your model. The page on matching a part shows how.