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The way to Troubleshoot a 380 Polaris Automatic Pool Cleaner

Polaris, a division of Zodiac Pool Systems, provides a product lineup that encompasses high-quality pool-maintenance gizmos like fully robotic cleaners and high-performance booster pumps. One of these devices, the Polaris Vac-Sweep 380 automatic pressure cleaner for inground pools touts triple jets and 31 ft of feed hose. These attributes may lead to greater convenience, but they also mean the Vac-Sweep 380 requires a little more attention than the average pool skimmer.

Filter Fixes

If the Vac-Sweep 380 operates sluggishly or seems to lack electricity, a dirty filter may be at fault. To wash out the in-line filter screen, open the cylindrical filter housing — located in the end of the 380’s feed compartment — and pull out the filter. Rinse the filter thoroughly with clean water before replacing it. Cleaning your pool’s filter, skimmer basket and pump basket or draining the 380’s bag may help out as soon as the device runs slowly or doesn’t move backward.

Wheel Woes

When the pool cleaner gets hung up on obstacles for over three minutes at a time, runs sluggishly or fails to make contact with the base of the pool, then research the device’s wheel binder. To determine rpm, mark the single-wheel side nut using a bit of colored tape. Hold the 380 under water level, turn on the pump and count the number of times that the wheel rotates in one moment. If the binder is less than 28, wash out the filter and clear its pump basket to encourage water flow, or eliminate the blue restriction disk in the unit’s universal wall fitting, which you may open with an unscrewing movement. If the rpm is over 32, replace the blue disk with the included red disk and, if the booster pump attached to a Polaris 380 has a flexible valve, then decrease the valve’s water stream.

Thrust Troubles

Getting hung up on moving or obstacles in just one direction may indicate the cleaner needs thrust-jet adjustment. To restore the thrust jets into the factory settings, then move the push jet nozzle into the 11-o’clock position. You can also transfer the nozzle to suit the needs of your pool. Pushing the nozzle up increases the 380’s growing ability, while pushing it downward decreases its scaling capability.

Polaris Professionals

If Polaris-recommended troubleshooting procedures do not cure the 380’s diseases, it is time to call at the technicians. Contact Zodiac Pool Systems, or email the business for professional support. When purchased new and enrolled at Polaris’s official site, your 380 Sweep-Vac includes a limited manufacturer’s warranty.