Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Zodiac F5B Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 Black Max Pressure Side Pool Cleaner

Top positive review

Good Value and Quality Overall

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2023

When we bought our house, the pool came with Polaris cleaner 280 black. It worked well for couple of years. Then, my pool guy to me that we need to re-build it. I ordered a rebuild kit, and I did it myself. It was not difficult. Recently, my original one broke (the housing actually broke due to constant gringin agains the pebble tech plaster. I wanted to upgrade and buy a Polaris 3900, but my pool guy told me to buy 280 vs 3900. The reason, both work very well but the rebuild kit for 280 is much cheaper than 3900. Also, 280 has fewer issues comparing to 3900.
Polaris 280 works for us really well.

Top critical review

Critical reviews›

C. L.

Always broken for one reason or another

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2019

Having a specific pool type or shape can sometimes limit your options when it comes to cleaning so this is the third such device we've bought (all by Polaris and all of this same class). The last one began with the gears somehow breaking and, thus, the wheels wouldn't turn efficiently. Next the tail stopped working which interferes with how it sweeps and pushes in different directions. With this one the hose connection to the wall keeps popping off. We suspect it's broken and will haul it in. Also, it should be noted that these really stop working when the temperature drops simply due to the hose plastic becoming inflexible. Not a fan but not sure what the options might be.

One person found this helpful

151 total ratings, 56 with reviews

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From the United States

Mason

Good Value and Quality Overall

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2023

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2016

Verified Purchase

I had a Pentair 4 wheeled hunk-o-junk for years and it never cleaned worth a damn. It would run for 3 minutes and get stuck in a corner no matter how you adjusted it. For it to clean, you'd have to stand outside for hours and move it every 3 minutes when it got stuck again. If you left for a 2 week vacation, it would be stuck in the exact same spot as when you left and the pool would be full of dirt and debris.

I read the reviews of all the newer Pentair and Polaris products and they all seem to get poor reviews and the prices have skyrocketed. The older 280 models seemed to get the best reviews and are more reasonably priced, but aren't available many places anymore. So I jumped at the chance to buy this black one from Amazon. The old white Pentair always stuck out like a neon sign in my dark Pebble Tec pool. This black one looks much better. It almost disappears.

The Black Max 280 performs admirably. I've had it now for a couple months and I think it only got stuck once for a couple hours. Then it freed itself and went on it's merry way. I couldn't be happier so far. It does it's job well.

Only time will tell if it holds up or not. But from the glowing reviews, it appears it usually does. Even if it does break, repair parts are easy to find and priced well compared to all the new product spare parts.

12 people found this helpful

Helpful

Jillian M. Brooks

I'm so glad I went with this model.

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2018

Verified Purchase

I have owned Polaris Pool Sweeps for nearly 30 years. My last one was the 180 model and I had that one rebuilt 3 times. But finally it was just done and was not worth another rebuild. Of course my pool store was trying to sell me the latest more expensive model but I just didn't have that much money . I reluctantly decided to buy the 280. I am a 67 year old woman and when this sweep arrived, I took it out of the box, lined it up with my old one and simply cut the hose to the same length. I then plugged it in. THAT WAS ALL IT TOOK!!! ZOOM, ZOOM...!!! He took off like a bat out of Hades and cleaned my pool it in "two shakes of a lambs tail". After the fires in Redding, my pool was so full of ash, soot and fire debris, but this sweeper did such a fabulous job. It comes with everything you need too: back up valve, quick release wall connect, floats, swivels, and it's all assembled for you. I bought the black one and decided to name him "Smokey". I am glad I didn't spend more than I did. I could not be happier. This was money well spent.

21 people found this helpful

Helpful

Tony

Not as good as I expected.

Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2020

Verified Purchase

We needed to replace the 280 white cleaner which had seen better days, the wheels and tires were perishing as was the hose. After weighing up the cost of a refurb buying a new cleaner appeared to be a better option. We chose the Polaris 280 F5B Black Max Pressure Side Automatic In Ground Pool Cleaner with Hoses.It was any easy install as everything was basically the same as the previous 280 but not quite what we expected with its operation. To begin with the pool was filled with miniscule bubbles and we could not determine where they were coming from. It actually made the pool water look cloudy.
Eventually the bubbles disappeared but the tail began getting wrapped around the wheels, almost as if the cleaner was moving backwards. Not that we saw it doing that. The cleaner often prefers to float around the pool instead of remaining on the floor. So really we are not as happy as we thought we would be. Anyway I think we've cured or are not seeing as many problems as we did now but it would be nice to speak to someone from Zodiac who can explain our experiences.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

C. L.

Always broken for one reason or another

Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2019

Verified Purchase

One person found this helpful

Helpful

SSM

Product and quick response by seller

Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2021

Verified Purchase

The product was delivered on time and was TOTALLY complete with a long hose, back up device, filter bag and wall attachment. All in black. This item replaced our original Polaris (we call it Dewey after the maintenance drone in the motion picture "Silent Running"). Our local pool supply store would have charged us about 50% more and the availability/delivery date was vague. Our new Polaris (Dewey) works great right out of the box and with the longer hose is able to reach further to clean the entire pool! I could not be happier with the product and this seller!!

Helpful

Sean

Truly terrible product

Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2020

Verified Purchase

I have owned more than four of these in the last 10 years for my home and rental properties. These devices are awful. The one in my rentals work better because that pool is old and has no benches or steps to contend with to get caught on. The one in my pool at home is so terrible. My pool has four benches a toddler area, and a set of steps. The Polaris can’t handle any of it. The stupid thing knots itself up in the corner three times a day. I have replaced all the swivels, the backup valve, top housing, literally dumped thousands of dollars in this terrible product over 10 years. Just bought a Nautilus CC Plus robot being so frustrated with Polaris. One day in and I can tell this Nautilus pool cleaning robot blows the doors off Polaris. I just hope it holds up. Time will tell, but Polaris will never get another dollar out of me.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Tina D

Great pool cleaner

Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2021

Verified Purchase

My other Polaris was 12 years old. I replaced all the parts on it at least once. The hose constantly tangled up finally had enough and decided it was time to spend the money on a new one. This works great.

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