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Guide · Researched, not tested

How to maintain a robotic pool cleaner

A robotic pool cleaner needs about five minutes of care after each run and a quick check each month. Skip it and the robot stops climbing walls, its charging port corrodes, or the warranty claim gets knocked back. We pulled together what Maytronics, Aiper, Beatbot and WYBOT tell owners, plus what Australian parts cost. Parts prices checked 31 October and 1 November 2026.

By Domestic Robot · Editor: Christian Ganaban · Updated 1 November 2026

Researched, not testedThis guide is based on Maytronics, Aiper, Beatbot and WYBOT manuals, support pages and warranty terms, and Australian parts prices, all linked below. We haven't maintained these robots ourselves.

Quick answer

Take the robot out after each run, empty and hose the filter while it's wet, rinse the robot in fresh water and store it in the shade. Monthly, check the brushes and tracks for wear, clear hair from the impeller and deep-clean fine filters. Keep the pool within the makers' limits (usually pH 7.0 to 7.8, chlorine no more than 4 ppm, salt up to 5,000 ppm), and take the robot out when you shock the pool. For cordless robots, dry the charging port before charging. Brushes and filters are consumables: a Dolphin combined brush is $27.71 each from Maytronics Australia, and an Aiper Scuba S1 basket about $60.

The maintenance schedule

When	What to do
After every run	Lift the robot out by the handle (never the cable); empty and hose the filter basket or panels before they dry; rinse the robot in fresh water; cordless: dry the charging port
Weekly	Corded Dolphins: straighten the cable and release twists; check brushes for hair and fibre
Monthly	Deep-clean fine filters (Maytronics: ultra-fine panels at least monthly; Aiper: soak the S1 filter 30 minutes in diluted enzyme cleaner); check brushes and tracks for cracks, flattening or looseness; clear the impeller if suction drops
Every season	Inspect brushes, tracks and filters and replace worn parts; run a full test cycle before the pool gets busy
Storage	Shade, 5 to 45°C, no water left inside; cordless: charge to 40 to 60% (Aiper) or fully (WYBOT) and top up every two to three months

From Maytronics Australia's support pages and Dolphin manuals, Aiper's Scuba manuals and support pages, Beatbot's care guide and WYBOT's S2 manual. Always follow the manual for your model.

Don't leave it in the pool

Maytronics Australia recommends taking a Dolphin out after each use to empty the filter and store it in a dry, shady place, because constant exposure to chlorine and UV shortens its life. Models with a weekly timer can stay in for that week, but the filters still need cleaning at the end of it. Cordless robots park at the waterline or the wall when they finish; pull them out with the hook rather than leaving them to sit.

Filters: the job that matters most

A clogged filter is the most common reason a robot stops climbing walls: Aiper says a clogged or torn basket directly reduces suction. Hose the basket from the inside out, against the direction of flow, straight after each run, and don't let fine panels dry out with dirt in them (Maytronics). Avoid high-pressure washers on fine mesh. Replace torn filters: Aiper treats filters as consumables with no warranty, and Beatbot covers its basket for only three months.

Brushes, tracks and the impeller

No maker publishes a fixed replacement interval; they say to replace brushes when they're worn, cracked, flattened or hardened. Worn brushes are one of the reasons Maytronics gives for a Dolphin not climbing walls. If suction drops or the robot sounds different, unplug it and check the impeller for hair or debris; Maytronics says to use a hand Phillips screwdriver, not a power tool, on the impeller cover.

Water chemistry and shocking

Brand	pH	Chlorine	Salt	Other
Maytronics Dolphin	7.0–7.8	4 ppm max	5,000 ppm max	Remove when shocking; don't run after adding liquid flocculant or clarifier
Aiper Scuba SE	7.0–7.4	4 ppm max	5,000 ppm max	Water 10–35°C
WYBOT S2	7.0–7.8	4 mg/L max	5,000 ppm max	Water 5–35°C
Beatbot	Neutral (7.2–7.8 to restart after shocking)	Wait until free chlorine is 5 ppm or less after shocking	5,000 ppm max	Don't run during or straight after shocking

Check your salt chlorinator's recommended level against these limits. For balancing the water at the start of the season, see our pool robots in summer guide.

Cordless robots: look after the battery and port

Charging faults are the most common complaint about cordless pool robots. Aiper's manual says to switch the robot off and clean and dry the charging port before plugging in, and its troubleshooting page blames corrosion or debris on the contacts when a robot won't charge. WYBOT warns a wet charging port can cause an electric shock. Don't store a battery flat: Aiper says to charge it to 40 to 60% every three months in storage, and WYBOT says to recharge every three months. Robots with wireless charging docks, such as Aiper's Scuba V3, avoid exposed contacts altogether.

What parts cost in Australia

Part	Price	Where
Dolphin dual-drive combined brush (grey moulded, M line)	$27.71 each; a full set is four	Maytronics Australia
Dolphin ultra-fine filter panels, 4-pack (X30, X40+, S200, S300i, M600, M700)	$180.45	Maytronics Australia
Aiper Scuba S1/N1 top-load 3.5 L filter basket	$59.99	Pool & Spa Warehouse
Aiper filter set for Scuba S1 Pro	$69.99 (being phased out)	Aiper AU store

Checked 31 October and 1 November 2026. We couldn't find Australian prices for Beatbot or WYBOT filters; ask the brand's Australian support. Aiper's own page gives two different lifespans for the S1 basket (3 to 6 months and 12 to 18 months), so inspect it rather than replacing it on a timer.

Dolphin brushes: Maytronics AU Aiper S1 basket: $59.99

Maintenance and your warranty

Maytronics: its limited warranty covers defects under normal use in line with the manual, and excludes failure to carry out reasonable maintenance and repairs by anyone other than authorised service. Melbourne dealer Pooltronics notes brushes, tracks and filters may have separate terms.
Aiper: 12 to 36 months depending on model; excludes damage from improper operation, third-party repairs and robots bought from unauthorised resellers. Filters aren't covered. Proof of purchase required.
Beatbot: 24 or 36 months on the robot, three months on the basket and roller brush; excludes use that doesn't follow its instructions and “extreme water environment”.

Keep your receipt, register the robot, and keep the water within the limits above. The Australian Consumer Law applies on top of any warranty. Brand-by-brand warranty and support comparisons are in our Maytronics Dolphin review and WYBOT vs Aiper.

Troubleshooting common problems

Problem	Likely cause	What the makers suggest
Won't climb walls	Clogged or torn filter, worn brushes, algae on walls, pH out of range, debris in the impeller, or Floor-only mode / low battery (cordless)	Clean the filter, check brushes and mode, balance the water
Won't charge (cordless)	Corrosion or debris on the contacts; battery left fully flat	Dry the robot, clean the contacts with a dry cloth, contact support if it still won't charge
Cable tangled (corded)	Twists build up over many cycles	Stretch the cable out straight in the sun for a day; disconnect and straighten weekly
Suction weak or noisy	Hair or debris in the impeller	Unplug, open the impeller cover and clear it

Brush wear depends on your pool: see pool robots for concrete, fibreglass and vinyl pools.

Got a salt or mineral pool? See robotic pool cleaners in salt water pools.

Common questions

How often should you clean a robotic pool cleaner?

Empty and hose the filter after every run, rinse the robot in fresh water, and check brushes, tracks and fine filters monthly.

Can you leave a robotic pool cleaner in the pool?

Maytronics recommends taking it out after each run and storing it in the shade, because chlorine and UV shorten its life. Weekly-timer models can stay in for that week.

When should you replace pool robot brushes?

When they're worn, cracked, flattened or hardened. Makers don't give a fixed interval. A Dolphin combined brush costs $27.71 each from Maytronics Australia.

Should you remove a pool robot when shocking the pool?

Yes. Maytronics says to remove it whenever you shock the pool, and Beatbot says to wait until free chlorine is 5 ppm or less.

Why won't my cordless pool robot charge?

Often corrosion or water on the charging contacts, or a battery left completely flat. Dry the robot, clean the contacts with a dry cloth and contact support if it persists.

Sources

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