What's Up Wednesday: Caretaker Nozzle Overview

Hello again! Every Wednesday we like to inform our customers of the newest updates in the swimming pool industry. Whether it be a simple "who's who" or maybe even a recent update to equipment. This week we will be discussing each of the Infloor Cleaning Head Nozzle Inserts offered by Caretaker. Let's dive in!

How Does Infloor Cleaning Work?

There are many different versions of infloor cleaning systems out there however, the principal operation for each manufacturer is roughly the same. As with any pool, the water is circulated through a system of suction lines, run through a filter, and returned back into the pool through various pool jets and water features. This is where the infloor system comes in. Once the water has been filtered, it is driven through an actuator which disperses the water at high pressure to a designated "zone" of three to five cleaning heads. These heads "pop up" from the pool floor and spray dirt & debris towards the main suction drain. Depending on where the heads are located in your pool in relation to the other cleaning heads, Caretaker offers five different Nozzle Inserts to determine the cleaning radius for each pop up head to ensure proper water circulation and precise cleaning. We'll go over each one in detail to give you the best recommendation!

Mini Nozzle

Under ideal operating conditions, this nozzle has an estimated cleaning radius of two feet at five gallons per minute.

The Caretaker Mini Nozzle Insert is designed to eliminate excess splashing and prevent water loss for cleaning heads installed in very shallow areas of your pool or spa. The restricted flow is perfect for zones that need a boost in pressure.

We recommend the Caretaker Mini Nozzle be installed in the following applications:

  • Small Pool Steps 
  • Small Spa Steps
  • Beach Entries
  • Swim Outs
  • Baja Steps
  • Zones needing a boost

Step & Bench Nozzle

Under ideal operating conditions, this nozzle has an estimated cleaning radius of four feet at seven gallons per minute.

The Caretaker Step & Bench Nozzle Insert is designed to provide thorough cleaning for the average pool and spa steps. The restricted flow also provides back-pressure for zones that have a mix of floor and step cleaning heads.

We recommend the Caretaker Step & Bench Nozzle be installed in the following applications:

  • Average sized Pool Steps
  • Average sized Spa Steps
  • Beach Entries
  • Swim-Outs
  • Baja Steps
  • Floor/Step Combo Zones

Flow Adjust Nozzle

Under ideal operating conditions, this nozzle has an estimated cleaning radius of four-and-a-half feet at 12 gallons per minute.

The Caretaker Flow Adjust Nozzle Insert is the middle size between Step & Bench Nozzles and Standard Nozzles. They come in handy if you need to increase/decrease pressure on a particular zone. They also work great as an all-around spa nozzle.

We recommend the Caretaker Flow Adjust Nozzle be installed in the following applications:

  • Larger Pool Steps
  • Most Spa Applications
  • Balance Pressure
  • Increase Cleaning

Standard Nozzle

This nozzle has an estimated cleaning radius of five feet at sixteen gallons per minute.

The Caretaker Standard Nozzle Insert is designed to provide optimal cleaning power for heads installed mainly in the floor of your pool. They also work extremely well on large steps.

We recommend the Caretaker Standard Nozzle be installed in the following applications:

  • Pool Floor
  • Spas With Few Heads
  • Larger Steps

Flow Plus Nozzle

This nozzle has an estimated cleaning radius of six feet at twenty-five gallons per minute.

The Caretaker Flow Plus Nozzle Insert is designed to balance pressure on floor cycles and to also increase cleaning radius for dead zones. These nozzles are the go-to for Caretaker UltraFlex Cleaning Systems.

We recommend the Caretaker Flow Plus Nozzle be installed in the following applications:

  • Floor Cleaning Heads
  • Dead Zones
  • UltraFlex Systems
  • Standard Heads Requiring a Boost


If you are looking for a stronger output and a larger cleaning radius we recommend the Caretaker High Flow Heads. Available in 10 colors with a factory installed nozzle rated for a 7.5' radius at 30gpm. We do not recommend installing multiple High Flow heads on the same zone. The pressure required to activate multiple heads is greater than the valve can achieve. 



If you have any questions about the information provided in this guide, please feel free to reach out to us directly. Our team of Pool Professionals is here to assist you with whatever you need! 

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