The Pentair LL505G Kreepy Krauly Legend Pressure-Side Inground Pool Cleaner is marketed as a robust and efficient option for cleaning lighter-colored in-ground pools.
With its four-wheel design, large debris bag, and dedicated booster pump operation, the Kreepy Krauly Legend promises thorough cleaning of your pool. But does it truly deliver on its promise? Let's take a closer look at this cleaner's performance, highlighting its strengths, weaknesses, and how it stacks up against the growing trend of robotic pool cleaners.
Setting up the Pentair LL505G Kreepy Krauly Legend is no easy task. Much like its pressure-side competitors, this cleaner requires a dedicated booster pump to function. For pool owners without a booster pump already installed, this means additional costs and, often, the need for professional installation.
The added cost and complexity make it far less appealing compared to the simplicity of a robotic cleaner, which typically requires nothing more than plugging it into a standard power outlet.
We used the Polaris PB4-60, which came installed in our pool, without any issues at all.
However, if you want to go with a Pentair brand one, check out the:
Pentair Booster Pump for pressure side pool cleaners EC-LA01N
Pentair FBA_LA-MS05 LA-MS05, Black
All three of these should work for the Pentair Kreepy Krauly.
The cleaner also comes with a hose assembly that is 30 feet long — sufficient for most medium-sized pools but potentially limiting for larger pools. Setting up the hose correctly to avoid tangling and ensuring that the cleaner reaches all areas of the pool can be tricky. Additionally, adjusting the cleaner's flow to optimize performance involves a learning curve and may require multiple adjustments, adding to the overall time and effort required for initial setup. I had to adjust the flow multiple times to get it dialed in and cleaning correclly.
The Kreepy Krauly Legend is equipped with a four-wheel design and front-wheel drive, providing good traction and stability on various pool surfaces, including concrete, vinyl, and fiberglass. In theory, this should allow the cleaner to cover all areas of the pool, from the floor to the walls. In practice, however, the performance is "meh”.
While the Pentair does a reasonable job of picking up larger debris like leaves, acorns, and twigs, it often struggles with smaller particles such as sand, silt, and pollen. The cleaner’s single-jet propulsion system lacks the power to effectively agitate and suction fine debris, often leaving behind a residue that is particularly noticeable in our lighter-colored pool. Moreover, it tends to miss spots, especially on vertical surfaces and around steps or tight corners, where its maneuverability is limited.
Another point of frustration is its tendency to get stuck. The Kreepy Krauly Legend frequently becomes lodged against pool ladders, steps, and other obstacles. Unlike more advanced robotic cleaners, which use smart navigation systems to avoid obstacles and optimize cleaning patterns, this pressure-side cleaner relies on a more rudimentary random pattern, which is less efficient and often results in missed areas or redundant cleaning paths.
One of the key selling points of the Pentair LL505G Kreepy Krauly Legend is its large debris bag, designed to capture a significant amount of debris and reduce the frequency of emptying. This bag is significantly larger than the Polaris Vac-Sweep 280 and Polaris Vac-Sweep 360, so that is a super nice touch that we enjoyed using.
While this sounds great in theory, the execution leaves much to be desired. The bag is relatively cumbersome to remove and reattach, requiring both hands and a bit of patience. Emptying it can be messy, particularly if it’s filled with fine debris that clings to the sides.
The mesh bag, while effective for larger debris, is less suited for fine particles, allowing smaller debris to pass through and remain in the pool. This often necessitates additional manual cleaning or vacuuming, defeating the purpose of investing in an automated cleaner in the first place. Furthermore, the debris bag is prone to wear and tear, with many users reporting that it needs to be replaced frequently — adding to the long-term maintenance costs.
A significant drawback of the Pentair LL505G Kreepy Krauly Legend is its reliance on a dedicated booster pump, which dramatically increases energy consumption compared to robotic pool cleaners. The booster pump must run concurrently with the pool’s main filtration pump, leading to higher electricity usage. This is not only costly but also less environmentally friendly. For pool owners who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint or save on utility bills, this pressure-side cleaner may not be the best choice.
In contrast, most robotic cleaners are designed to be energy-efficient, consuming minimal power and often operating on programmed schedules to maximize efficiency. The Kreepy Krauly Legend lacks any sort of programmable functionality, requiring users to manually turn it on and off, which can be inconvenient and further detracts from its energy efficiency profile.
Durability is one area where the Pentair LL505G Kreepy Krauly Legend does not entirely live up to its name. While the cleaner itself feels sturdy, the internal components — particularly the gears and wheels — are prone to wear over time. The front-wheel drive system, while effective initially, can become sluggish or fail altogether after a few seasons, especially if the cleaner is used heavily or not maintained properly.
The debris bag and hose are also points of concern. As mentioned earlier, the bag is prone to tearing, requiring regular replacement. The hose, while flexible, can become brittle with prolonged exposure to UV rays and chemicals, leading to leaks or cracks. Additionally, the cleaner's reliance on mechanical parts means more opportunities for failure. Regular maintenance, such as checking and cleaning the internal gears, is necessary to keep the cleaner running smoothly, which may not appeal to those looking for a low-maintenance solution.
In a market increasingly dominated by smart, connected devices, the Pentair LL505G Kreepy Krauly Legend feels like a bit of a relic. It lacks any form of app connectivity, programmable schedules, or remote control capabilities. Users have limited control over the cleaner's operation, relying solely on the booster pump to power it. This means no customization of cleaning cycles or the ability to remotely monitor and control the cleaner — features that are now standard in many robotic pool cleaners.
Furthermore, the cleaner's overall usability is hampered by its design. The bulky debris bag and cumbersome hose setup can make it challenging to maneuver, and the lack of intuitive controls or automation means more manual intervention is required. For pool owners used to the convenience of robotic pool cleaners, the Kreepy Krauly Legend may feel like a step back in time.
To provide a thorough and unbiased review, we tested the Pentair LL505G Kreepy Krauly Legend over a four-week period in two different in-ground pools: one with a light-colored vinyl liner and another with a concrete surface. The pools were exposed to typical debris, including leaves, twigs, dirt, and insects, to simulate real-world conditions.
Our testing focused on the following criteria:
Ease of Installation: We documented the time and complexity involved in setting up the cleaner, including the installation of a booster pump and assembly of the hose and debris bag.
Cleaning Performance: We evaluated the cleaner's ability to navigate different pool surfaces and its effectiveness in removing various types of debris. Special attention was given to areas that are typically challenging for pool cleaners, such as steps, corners, and the waterline.
Energy Efficiency: We measured the power consumption of both the main pool pump and the booster pump during cleaning cycles and compared it to similar robotic cleaners.
Durability and Maintenance: We assessed the build quality and frequency of required maintenance, including the replacement of parts such as the debris bag, hose, and internal gears.
Overall, our testing revealed a cleaner that performs adequately in many respects but falls short when compared to more modern robotic options. The Kreepy Krauly Legend struggled with fine debris, required significant manual intervention, and consumed considerably more energy, making it less efficient than many of its robotic counterparts.
The Pentair LL505G Kreepy Krauly Legend Pressure-Side Pool Cleaner has its strengths, particularly in terms of construction and its ability to handle larger debris. However, its many shortcomings, including complex setup, poor performance on fine debris, high energy consumption, and lack of modern features, make it less appealing in today’s market.
For those who are already invested in a pressure-side cleaning system with a dedicated booster pump, the Legend might be an option worth considering, especially for pools that tend to accumulate larger debris. However, for pool owners looking for convenience, energy efficiency, and advanced cleaning capabilities, a robotic pool cleaner is likely the superior choice.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5)
While the Pentair LL505G Kreepy Krauly Legend offers some benefits, it is overshadowed by the many superior options available in the robotic pool cleaner market today.
While this was a top of the line cleaner, the Pentair Kreepy Krawly Legend lives up to its name: a legend. In 2024, we recommend a true robotic pool cleaner.
