This is one of the biggest advantages of a robotic cleaner over older cleaner types, and the answer is refreshingly simple: no.
Robots Are Self-Contained
A robotic pool cleaner has its own drive motor, pump, and filter built in. It plugs into a wall outlet through a low-voltage power supply and does all its own suction and filtration — it does not tap into your pool's plumbing at all. That is fundamentally different from suction-side and pressure-side cleaners, which depend entirely on your pool pump. Learn the full picture in how do pool robots work.
Why That's a Big Deal
Because the robot runs on its own, you can clean without running your large, energy-hungry pool pump for hours. That is why robots are so cheap to operate — see how much electricity a pool robot uses. It also means the robot cannot vacuum to waste, since it keeps everything in its own filter rather than routing water through your plumbing.
A Couple of Practical Notes
Running the pump at the same time will not hurt anything, and light circulation can help distribute freshly disturbed debris — but it is optional. For the cleanest results, just keep the robot's filter rinsed and matched to your debris (see what filters to use). Independent, efficient cleaners like the Dolphin Sigma are featured in our best robotic pool cleaners guide.
