Shopping for a Hayward Pool Cleaner?
You’ve come to the right place.
Hayward has been manufacturing pool equipment for over 80 years. Their range of products includes pool pumps, filters, heaters, lighting and cleaners.
Hayward pool cleaners are well constructed, have an excellent cleaning performance, and they last long.
One unique aspect of Hayward cleaners is that you can extend their longevity over and over. That’s because Hayward sells lots of refresh kits for all the different models of their pool equipment.
These are kits of replacement spare parts such as motors, turbines, power units, shoes, etc. When your Hayward cleaner breaks down, there’s no need to spend a lot of money on a new one. Just replace the worn-out part.
This makes Hayward cleaners longer lasting than most other brands.
What’s In This Buying Guide?
In this buying guide, we recommend the best Hayward pool cleaners for both in-ground and above-ground pools.
We also explain how Hayward pool vacuums stand out from other brands and how to choose the right Hayward cleaner for your pool.
Best Hayward Pool Cleaners
- Best Suction Cleaner for In-ground Pools: Hayward W32025ADC
- Best Suction Cleaner for Above Ground Pools: Hayward W3900 Wanda
- Best Pressure Cleaner for In-ground Pools: Hayward W3TVP500C
- Best Robotic Cleaner: Hayward W3RC9740CUB
- Best Wall-Climbing Suction Cleaner: Hayward W3PVS40JST
- Best Pool Vacuum Head: Hayward SP1068DL
Hayward W32025ADC
- Best suction cleaner for in-ground pools
Coverage:
Floor and wallsType of pool:
In-groundPool surface:
Vinyl &guniteMax pool size:
40’
Hayward W3900
- Best suction cleaner for above ground pools
Coverage:
FloorType of pool:
Above groundPool surface:
VinylMax pool size:
32’
Hayward W3TVP500C
- Best pressure cleaner for in-ground pools
Coverage:
Floor and wallsType of pool:
In-groundPool surface:
All typesMax pool size:
40’
Hayward W3RC9740CUB
- Best robotic cleaner
Coverage:
Floor and coveType of pool:
In-groundPool surface:
All typesMax pool size:
40’
Hayward W3PVS40JST
- Best wall-climbing suction cleaner
Coverage:
Floor and wallsType of pool:
In-groundPool surface:
All typesMax pool size:
40’
Hayward SP1068DL
- Best vacuum head
Coverage:
FloorType of pool:
In/above groundPool surface:
All typesMax pool size:
Any size
A suction cleaner is the best choice if you don’t want to deal with constantly emptying a debris bag. The Hayward W32025ADC PoolVac XL sucks debris and removes it via the pool filter.
It offers full pool coverage and can handle large in-ground pools up to 40’ long.
Note: The Hayward PoolVac XL is essentially similar to the Hayward Navigator Pro with only minor design differences.
- Complete pool coverage, including walls.
- No debris bag to clean.
- Quiet operation.
- Excellent cleaning performance.
- Easy to set up and maintain.
- Needs a leaf canister to pick up large leaves.
- Doesn't scrub the pool surface.
The PoolVac XL is available in two options: the W32025ADC model for gunite pools and the W32025ADV model for vinyl pools.
These two models use different shoes to suit the two types of pool surfaces. Make sure you choose the right one for your pool.
The PoolVac XL cleans large in-ground pools up to 40’ long. It comes with everything you need to set it up, including hose sections, the vacuum and a flow gauge.
Setting up the vacuum is pretty easy. You join the hose sections and connect the cleaner to your skimmer or vacuum port.
Hayward doesn’t specify the minimum pump size, but we recommend using a minimum of 1 HP pump, especially if you want the PoolVac XL to go up the walls.
But a too-powerful pump is also not good as it’ll make the cleaner move too quickly without picking up debris. Use the included flow gauge to test your pump’s flow rate. It should be between the min and max markings.
If it’s at max or over, you’ll need to buy a regulator valve.
The cleaning performance for the PoolVac XL is great. It picks up all kinds of debris and directs it to the pool filter.
However, it can get clogged up if the pool has a lot of leaves. We recommend buying the Hayward leaf canister if your pool often gets lots of leaves. Alternatively, skim the pool before putting the PoolVac XL cleaner in.
The Hayward PoolVac XL doesn’t come with underside brushes, meaning it doesn’t scrub the pool to remove algae and dirt stuck on the pool surface.
You’ll need to manually brush your pool regularly.
The Hayward PoolVac XL is best for: In-ground pool owners looking for a reliable suction pool vacuum. Also great for pool owners who don’t want to deal with a debris bag.
Avoid if: You want a pool vacuum that also scrubs the pool floor and walls.
If you want a pool cleaner that handles its own debris instead of overburdening the pool filter, get the Hayward TriVac 500 pressure-side cleaner.
Pressure cleaners are pricier, but they prolong the life of the pool filter.
- Cleans large in-ground pools.
- Large debris bag.
- Cleans floor and walls.
- Easy to install.
- Quiet
- Requires a booster pump.
- Doesn't pick up fine debris.
Pressure side cleaners excel at picking up medium and large debris. If your pool often gets lots of leaves, bugs, twigs, or acorns, the Hayward TriVac 500 is a great choice.
It runs off the pressure of water returning to your pool. So, you hook it up to the return port using the included hose. The hose sections, when joined, are long enough to cover a 20’ by 40’ pool.
The Hayward TriVac 500 uses water jets to propel itself around the pool and also suck debris into the filter bag. The vacuum inlet is wide to allow leaves and other large debris to enter easily without clogging the cleaner.
The extra-large filter bag has a unique floating design that allows it to hold a lot of debris without affecting the cleaner’s performance. You can go for longer without emptying it
The Hayward TriVac 500 moves on a pair of high-grip wheels. It easily navigates over the pool floor and goes up the pool walls.
In keeping with the design of most Hayward pool vacs, the TriVac 500 lacks any scrubbing brushes. But it does have a sweeper hose to help loosen some of the debris and algae on the pool surface.
The TriVac 500 is great for picking up leaves and other large debris, but it struggles with fine particles of sand, silt and algae. Most of them go right through the filter bag.
The other issue to note is that you’ll need to buy a booster pump if you don’t already have one. That significantly increases the overall cost of the TriVac 500.
The Hayward TriVac 500 is best for: Pool owners shopping for a capable Hayward pressure vacuum for an in-ground pool. It’s especially suitable for pools that get a lot of leaves.
Avoid if: You are on a budget (the vacuum + booster pump combo is pricey). Also, not suitable for pools that mostly get fine debris like sand.
For above-ground pool owners, the Hayward W3900 is a cheaper suction vacuum explicitly designed for above-ground pools up to 32’ long.
- Affordable
- For small & large above-ground pools.
- Navigation ensures no missed spots.
- Easy to set up and maintain.
- No scrubbing brushes
- Requires leaf catcher for larger debris
Wanda the Whale is a cute but capable suction-side pool cleaner. What’s most impressive about it is the pool size it can handle.
Most above-ground pool vacs are good for pools up to 24’ long. The Hayward W3900 can handle larger pools up to 32’ long.
The 32’ long hose sections are easy to put together and connect to the pool’s skimmer or suction port. Note that you don’t need to use all the sections. Use just enough sections to give the vacuum adequate reach around your pool.
Once you turn on the pool pump, the Hayward W3900 automatically moves around the pool floor, picking up debris and directing it towards the pool filter.
Hayward doesn’t specify the minimum pump size, but we recommend having a 1HP pump or bigger to ensure the vacuum has adequate suction.
It does take some time for Wanda the Whale to cover the entire pool bottom. But it doesn’t leave any uncleaned spots thanks to the integrated SmartDrive navigation.
Similar to the Hayward PoolVac XL, the Hayward W3900 also lacks scrubbing brushes. You’ll need to break out the pool brush regularly.
The Hayward W3900 also struggles with leaves. It’ll pick them up, but it clogs easily if there are too many. If your pool gets lots of leaves, you’ll need to buy a leaf canister and install it along with the hose.
A robotic pool cleaner is the best choice if you want a high-performance pool vacuum that’s easy to use. The Hayward SharkVac doesn’t need any hose connections and doesn’t rely on the pool filter.
It’s also one of the few Hayward automatic pool cleaners to have scrubbing brushes.
- Excellent cleaning performance.
- Cleans large pools in 2 hours.
- Large filter basket catches all debris.
- Smart navigation doesn't miss a spot.
- Covers most of the pool.
- Heavy
- Struggles with steps
- Limited wall climbing ability
- Expensive
Yes, it’s pricey. But the Hayward SharkVac provides the best cleaning performance for large in-ground pools.
For one, it scrubs and vacuums the pool. This ensures it gets both the debris floating in the water and the algae stuck on the pool surface.
Two, the top-loading filter baskets capture everything from fine sand and silt to large leaves and acorns. You don’t need to buy a separate ultra-fine filter.
The Hayward SharkVac gets the pool spotless clean in just two hours.
Unlike suction and pressure cleaners, the Hayward SharkVac doesn’t need any tedious setup. Just plug in the power station and dunk the cleaner into the pool.
Because the SharkVac doesn’t rely on your pool pump or filter, you save money on power, and you don’t have to backwash the filter as often (saves water and prolongs the filter life).
The Hayward SharkVac is expensive. If you are shopping on a budget, it’s probably not what you are looking for.
We also don’t recommend SharkVac for pool owners who cannot lift heavy items. That’s because it’s heavy and cumbersome to handle. It weighs a whopping 44.6lbs.
You can get a pricier model with a Caddy for easy transport (the Hayward W3RC9742CUBY SharkVac), but you’ll still need to lift it into and out of the pool.
Something else to note is that the Hayward SharkVac only goes partially up the pool walls. So, you’ll have to do some wall scrubbing yourself.
If you want a good wall climber, you’ll need to buy the Hayward SharkVac XL model.
The Hayward SharkVac is best for: In-ground pool owners looking for a high-performance Hayward robotic pool vacuum.
Avoid if: You are shopping on a budget, or you want a lighter robotic pool cleaner that’s easier to handle.
If you want a wall-climbing pool vacuum without spending a lot of money on the Hayward SharkVac XL, we recommend the Hayward Poolvergnuegen suction pool cleaner.
It’s one of the most capable suction pool vacuums and can clean large in-ground pools up to 40’.
- Excellent coverage, including walls.
- For large in-ground pools.
- Smart navigation ensures full coverage.
- Variable speed pump saves energy.
- Cheaper than a robotic cleaner.
- Runs on your pool filter system.
The Hayward Poolvergnuegen uses a combination of powerful 4-wheel drive and unique tire treads to easily traverse across the pool floor and go up the wall without getting stuck.
Note: The Hayward Poolvergnuegen wall climbing ability depends on your pool’s floor-to-wall radius (a curved transition is better) and the pump flow rate.
Using the pool pump’s power, the Hayward Poolvergnuegen generates enough suction to pick up all kinds of debris, including sand, leaves, and algae. A large inlet keeps leaves and other large debris from clogging the vacuum.
Adjustable roller skirts ensure the vacuum maintains constant suction when it’s moving over pool features or an uneven surface.
The Hayward Poolvergnuegen is also designed to generate adequate suction at different flow rates. It can work with pumps as small as 1/2HP, though you need a stronger pump to get it to climb walls.
It also works great with variable speed pumps. You can reduce speed and save energy to clean just the pool floor, then increase speed when you want the vacuum to go up the walls.
The Hayward Poolvergnuegen has a pre-programmed navigation system that automatically turns the cleaner to a new direction every few feet. It’s not as smart as that of Dolphin pool robots, but it’s good enough to ensure the cleaner doesn’t miss a spot.
Being a suction cleaner, the Hayward Poolvergnuegen depends on your pool pump and filter to clean the pool.
This can increase pool energy usage, increase filter maintenance, and reduce filter lifespan.
On the upside, you never have to deal with a debris bag.
The Hayward Poolvergnuegen is best for: Pool owners looking for a powerful suction vacuum that can clean a large in-ground pool.
Avoid if: You are shopping for a pool vacuum that doesn’t need to be connected to your pool system.
Get a robotic cleaner instead. Alternatively, get the Hayward TriVac 500 pressure cleaner which relies only on your pool pump but not the filter.
The cheapest way to vacuum your pool is manually using a vacuum head attached to a pool pole. Our favorite Hayward vacuum head is the Hayward Super-Vac.
The Super-Vac features a see-through design for easier vacuuming and a swivel connector to eliminate hose tangling.
- Least expensive option
- See-through design improves visibility
- Weighted head keeps it on the bottom
- Swivel connector prevents hose tangles
- Includes brushes.
- Replacement brushes are costly.
- Requires additional accessories.
If you don’t mind spending some time every week manually vacuuming the pool, a pool vacuum head is a great (and low cost) alternative to an automatic pool vac.
The Hayward Super-Vac works the same way as an automatic suction vacuum, only that you have to maneuver it yourself.
The vacuum head uses power from the pool pump to generate suction and pick up debris from the pool floor.
Bottom brushes loosen dirt and algae from the pool surface for easier vacuuming.
The Hayward Super-Vac has a convenient see-through design that lets you see what and where you are vacuuming. It also comes with weights to keep the vacuum head down and make it easier to maneuver.
Another handy feature is the triangular design that does a great job vacuuming debris from corners, edges and steps.
The Hayward Super-Vac connects to standard 1.5” and 1.25” pool vacuum hoses via a 360-degree swivel connector that keeps the hose from tangling.
It’s compatible with a standard pool extension pole.
The most common complaint from pool owners is the brushes included with the Hayward Super-Vac. They are often the first thing to wear out.
The problem with this is that replacement brushes are pricey, half the price of a new vacuum head. So, most people just opt to buy a new vacuum head.
To increase the lifespan of your brushes, make sure you rinse them out after every use, then store the vacuum head upside down to ensure there’s no pressure on the bristles.
Another issue with the Hayward Super-Vac is that it requires additional accessories, unlike automatic pool vacuums that come with everything you need.
If you don’t have a pool pole, you’ll need to buy one. You’ll also need to buy a hose to connect the vacuum head to your pool’s suction port.
The Hayward Super-Vac is best for: Pool owners looking for a low-cost Hayward pool vacuum and don’t mind manually vacuuming their pool.
Avoid if: You love the hands-free operation of automatic pool vacuums.
Hayward Pool Cleaner Buying Guide
Why Buy A Hayward Pool Cleaner?
Hayward pool cleaners are reliable. It’s a known brand that has been in the pool equipment business for over 80 years.
Their pool cleaners are well made, and they last longer with proper care.
Hayward pool cleaners are great at what they do. Hayward makes pool vacuums that work. Whether it’s the SharkVac robotic cleaner or the Super-Vac vacuum head, most of their products have great cleaning performance.
Hayward pool cleaners are easy to maintain. Hayward designs their pool vacuums for easy maintenance at home.
And if some parts wear out, it’s easy to swap them with new components without having to go to a dealer.
This further increases the longevity of Hayward pool vacuums.
Hayward offers good customer service. Most owners of Hayward pool vacuums say customer support is great and helpful, whether they need advice on setting up a cleaner or replacing a faulty unit.
How to Choose the Right Hayward Pool Cleaner for Your Pool
Here’s what to consider when shopping for a Hayward pool cleaner.
1. Type of Cleaner
Hayward sells most types of pool cleaners. Here’s how to choose between them.
- A suction cleaner is a great choice if you want an affordable automatic vacuum. It’s fairly easy to set up and does a great job vacuuming the pool. The only downside is that it relies on your pool pump and filter. A suction cleaner connects to your pool’s suction port.
- A pressure cleaner is a bit pricier. Its main advantage is that it has its own filter, thus easing the burden on the pool filter. A pressure cleaner connects to your pool’s return port.
- A robotic cleaner is great if you want a full self-contained pool vacuum. It doesn’t connect to any of your pool’s systems. A pool robot is pricier than suction and pressure cleaners, but cleaning performance is usually better. You also don’t have to deal with hoses.
- A pool vacuum head is the best choice if you are on a tight budget. You do have to clean the pool manually, but it’s way cheaper than other types of pool vacuums.
2. Type and Size of Pool
Buy the right Hayward cleaner for your type of pool. Some Hayward cleaners are designed only for above-ground pools and others just for in-ground pools.
An above-ground cleaner will be underpowered for an in-ground pool, while an in-ground cleaner is usually overkilling for an above-ground pool.
Also, check the maximum pool size recommended for a particular pool vacuum.
3. Pool Coverage
Check which parts of the pool a particular model cleans. Some Hayward models are bottom or floor-only cleaners.
These are great for above-ground pools since it’s easy to brush the walls yourself.
For an in-ground pool, we highly recommend a full coverage model that cleans the floor, coves, and walls. This saves you extra work manually brushing the pool.
4. Cleaning Performance
Finally, check the model’s cleaning performance. There are two things to focus on here.
- Does the cleaner scrub the pool surface? Several Hayward models don’t come with scrubbing brushes, so you have to regularly brush the pool yourself. Others, such as the SharkVac and Super-Vac, vacuum and scrub the pool, which reduces how much manual cleaning you need to do.
- What kind of debris does the cleaner pick up? Some models only pick up large debris like leaves, while others are great at picking up both large and fine debris. Get a Hayward cleaner that picks up the kind of debris you get most in your pool.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Hayward pool cleaners last?
Generally, most Hayward pool cleaners provide at least three seasons of service, and many can last for five seasons or more.
Because Hayward pool cleaners have easily replaceable parts, you can extend your pool cleaner’s life even longer.
Why is my Hayward pool cleaner not moving?
If you have a pressure or suction cleaner, the first thing to check is whether your pool pump has a good flow rate.
Use the included flow gauge to check whether your pump is powerful enough. The gauge readings should be between the max and min mark.
The other thing to check is the pool filter. If it’s clogged, the pool cleaner won’t work optimally. Backwash the pool filter often, especially if you have a suction cleaner.
If you have a Hayward robotic cleaner, make sure the internal filter is not too full. Also, check for obstructions in the wheels and inlets.
Are Hayward pool cleaners any good?
Hayward pool cleaners are rated highly by pool owners. They do a great job cleaning the pool, and they last a long time with good maintenance.
Does Hayward sell a robotic pool cleaner?
Yes, they do. The Hayward SharkVac is their top-rated robotic pool cleaner. It scrubs and vacuums in-ground pools up to 40’ long.
Can I leave my Hayward pool cleaner in the pool?
It depends on the type of cleaner you have. If it’s a pressure or suction cleaner, then you can leave it in the pool most of the time. It’ll start cleaning whenever the pool pump comes on. Take it out when swimming or adding chemicals.
For other types of pool cleaners (vacuum head and robotic cleaner), take it out after every cleaning session.
Final Verdict: What is the Best Hayward Pool Cleaner Sold Today?
After carefully considering all the options that we have reviewed in this guide, we have concluded that the PoolVac XL is the best Hayward suction cleaner, the TriVac 500 is the best Hayward pressure cleaner.
In contrast, the SharkVac is the best Hayward robotic cleaner, and the Super-Vac is the best Hayward vacuum head.
