If the robot moves but leaves debris, the pickup path is blocked or the filter is the wrong grade: empty and rinse the filter, clear the impeller, purge trapped air, and match the filter to your debris — fine dust and algae need NanoFilters, while leaves need a coarse basket or leaf bag.
Restore the suction path
Debris is drawn up through the impeller and trapped in the filter. If either is blocked, the robot rolls right over dirt without collecting it. Empty and rinse the filter, then check the impeller for a jam (hair and leaf stems are common culprits). Also purge any trapped air, which can leave the intake sitting slightly off the floor.
Use the right filter for your debris
A very common mistake is running a coarse filter when your actual problem is fine debris. Standard cartridges let dust, pollen, sand, and algae flow right back into the pool, so it looks like nothing is being collected. NanoFilters™ capture those micro-particles for a genuinely clean pool. For big loads of leaves, a coarse basket or an oversized leaf bag is the right call instead.
Check the brushes
Debris that’s stuck to the floor or walls needs to be scrubbed loose before it can be vacuumed. Worn, glazed brushes won’t agitate it — inspect and replace them if they’ve gone smooth.
Match the robot to the job
If you constantly battle mixed debris, the Dolphin Premier lets you swap between multiple filter media so you always have the right one loaded. Explore filtration-focused models on our robotic pool cleaners page.
