Your trusty pool robot has stopped climbing walls, won't power on, or is just running out of puff. Now comes the big question: should you repair it or replace it? The honest answer is "it depends" — but not on guesswork. It comes down to three things: a proper repair quote, the brand you own, and a simple 50% rule. Here's how to work it out in a few minutes. Step 1: Get a proper repair quote first You can't make a smart call without knowing what the repair actually costs. A cleaner that "won't move" could be a $20 part or a dead drive motor — the symptoms often look the same. That's why an accurate answer needs a proper diagnosis and quote from Brisbane Pool Robotics or a designated authorised repairer. Online guesses, forum advice and DIY repairers saying "it's probably the motor" won't tell you whether a repair is worth it. Step 2: Check your brand — not all robots are built to be repaired Some pool cleaners are designed to last for years with the right parts. Others are designed to be swapped out when something fails. Highly repairable: Maytronics (the maker of Dolphin robots) supplies parts right down to circuit board (PCB) level. That means a qualified technician can fix the exact fault instead of replacing the whole unit. Medium Repairability: Brands such as Zodiac, BWT, Astral don't sell individual internal motor components. When a motor fails, the fix is often a full motor block, cable (Sometimes come as motor & cable) or power unit, which pushes the repair cost up quickly. Limited consumables repairability: Aiper, Wybot and other online brands don't sell individual internal motor components. When a motor fails you replace the unit, can usually only by tracks, charger or other minor parts which leads to the "Replace Only" sign. The "replace-only" warning sign: Some brands only replace the whole unit under warranty and don't repair it at all. That usually tells you two things: repairs are expensive, and the unit is cheap enough to treat as disposable. These models can look like a bargain on the shelf, but they rarely last having multiple whole replacement units within their warranty period, we have seen up to 3 units in the first year with a couple of these brands. Over a typical 8-year ownership period, you may end up buying two or three of them — often costing more than one quality, repairable robot kept running with servicing. Step 3: Apply the 50% rule Here's our workshop rule of thumb: if the repair costs more than 50% of a comparable new unit, we recommend replacing it. Why 50%? Because of the warranty you get afterwards: Workshop repair Warranty on non-consumable parts 12 months Rest of the robot Still the original, ageing parts New robotic cleaner 2–4 years (depends on brand and model) All new Paying more than half the price of a new robot for just 12 months of cover rarely makes sense. Under 50%, a repair is usually the smarter, cheaper choice — especially on a quality, repairable brand. Quick answer: repair or replace? Repair it if: • The quoted repair is under 50% of a new unit • It's a repairable brand like Maytronics Dolphin • The rest of the robot is in good condition Replace it if: • The repair is over 50% of a new unit • The brand doesn't sell individual motor parts • It's a "replace-only" model that can't be properly repaired Get an honest repair quote in Brisbane The only way to know for sure is to have your cleaner properly assessed. Bring your robot into the Brisbane Pool Robotics workshop at Eagle Farm and our technicians will diagnose the fault and give you a clear repair quote. If repairing it is the better value, we'll fix it. If it isn't, we'll tell you straight — and help you choose a replacement that will last. FAQs Is it worth repairing a robotic pool cleaner? Yes, if the repair costs less than 50% of a new unit and the brand is repairable, like Maytronics Dolphin. Get a proper quote first. Which pool cleaner brands can be repaired? Maytronics robots are repairable down to circuit board level. Robotek is repairable to this level however the cable is not detachable from motor so once the cable degrades or splits you have to replace the cable and motor. Zodiac, BWT, Astral sell motor as whole and cable or sometimes as one LRU (lowest replaceable unit) Aiper, Wybot and other budget cleaners mostly sold online don't sell individual motor components or replacement parts and are not repairable. What warranty do I get on a pool cleaner repair? Workshop repairs carry 12 months warranty on non-consumable parts. Where can I get my pool cleaner repaired in Brisbane? Bring it to Brisbane Pool Robotics Eagle Farm for a proper diagnosis and repair quote, if your in remote location give us a call and we might be able to help over the phone. Web tip: add FAQ schema markup to this section so Google can show these answers directly in search results.