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Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
"The Aqua Critter pool cleaner by Hayward vacuums all leaves, dirt, grass and bugs from swimming pool bottoms in 2 hours or less. Above ground pool cleaning made easy. Pool cleaners at In The Swim."
Average Customer Rating:
(79 Reviews) 76
70 of 79(89%)reviewers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Review 1 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
Big let-down after 1 season,
Date:May 16, 2012
By mortimermouse
from Graham, NC
from Graham, NC
Pros: worked well initially, picks up dirt well, entertaining
Cons: petered out after one season, doesn't pick up leaves, clogs
"This unit worked well initially. It doesn't pick up leaves well, but minor dirt was no match, at least in the first season. I was very disappointed when the unit failed to move at the start of season two. For a first timer, I'd recommend going with another vacuum. Either the cheaper Li'l Shark, or a more expensive model with good ratings."
Review 2 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
Disappointed,
Date:July 11, 2011
By Poola
from Richmond VA
from Richmond VA
"If you want to throw away some money during these tuff times I would recommend purchasing The Hayward Aqua Critter. It's back to cleaning the pool the old way for me"
Review 3 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
if you need help to work awsome,
Date:July 4, 2011
By Donald67
from Michigan
from Michigan
Pros: Awsome,just need get return water to not jet to center of pool
Cons: none.just made a wood unit to slip over side to devert water from blowing straight into pool...
"Had a problem that auqacritter would tip over(I have a 1 hp motor) so I gotten a piece of wood and made it to go in front of water return that was blowing the hose around and causing the unit to tip over.This works awsome and Will work.Water dispersis left n right I slid it over the side.My floor has many wrinkles in it.This unit IS A MUST BUY just make water deverter so it blows left n right not straight into pool...enjoy your free time :) I havent vacuum the pool the old way once this year"
Review 4 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
Aqua Bug vacuum,
Date:June 30, 2011
By Poper
from Chicago suburb
from Chicago suburb
Pros: Your pool bottom is cleaned while you can enjoy yourself
Cons: Suction when using leaf canister is reduced quickly
"The previous owner of my house showed me how to use their hand vacuum. After about 2 months of spending lots of time vacuuming, I looked to In The Swim for alternatives. I bought this "cheap" self propelled vacuum. This product has saved me a boat-load of time spent vacuuming by hand [this task is tedious if you've ever done it]. The only con is that my experience has been that the seal between the hose and the leaf canister losses suction after about an hour and a half. Simply reattach this connection and you're good for another hour. I wouldn't use the canister unsupervised overnight [although I really only need the leaf canister immediately following opening]. I would definitely recommend Aqua Bug to everyone I know with an above ground pool; if mine ever breaks due to weathering, I'll be quick to replace it at In The Swim!"
Review 5 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
Read the fine print,
Date:September 28, 2010
By 442Pool
from Southern Illinois
from Southern Illinois
Pros: The Critter does the job as stated.
Cons: The leaf canister accessory is for IN-ground pools, not above-ground pools.
"We love the Critter. It sucks up all the debris on the bottom of the pool. We just wish the leaf canister that In the Swim has listed below the Critter worked with above ground pools, since the Critter is meant for above ground pools. We have several trees in our yard, so our filter fills up rather quickly. It would be nice if we did not have plug the holes then bend over to empty the leaves."
Review 6 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
Keeps working and working,
Date:September 24, 2010
By CARoz
from Delta CA
from Delta CA
Pros: Best pool cleaner I have had at any price
Cons: Some movable parts break and need to be replaced
"I have had my Aqua Bug for 7 years now and it just keeps going and does a wonderful job of keeping my 4,000 gal pool very clean."
Review 7 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
Love it!,
Date:April 22, 2010
By missara
from Kentucky
from Kentucky
Pros: No more achy arms and back
Cons: none
"I Wish I would have bought one of these years ago. I have an 18' X 32' oval pool and it works perfect. Takes about 3 hours to clean the entire pool. I use 3 extra sections of hose so that it can move freely and reach the far end and I hook it up with the skimmer attachment that came with my manual vac., that way I can leave the skimmer basket in place. I have a leaf catcher, but haven't needed to use it. I think that the vacuum created by the filter pump is the most important part of the unit's operation. We have a 1.5HP pump, that during normal operation shows 15psi, when I hook up the critter it reads 10. It moves pretty fast and it does not get stuck in the 2" deep pockets we have in some places. Cleans everything off the bottom. Had to turn my water return eyeball downward, to prevent the water flow from pushing my hose to the side of the pool."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Review 8 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
A gift of time!,
Date:August 17, 2009
By noogiebear
from Hunlock Creek, PA
from Hunlock Creek, PA
Pros: Just set it up and forget about it!
Cons: None
"After years of manually vacuuming my above ground pool, my children purchased this for me for my birthday. It was one of the best gifts I received--it is extremely easy to use, keeps my pool bottom virtually spotless, and gives me much more time to enjoy my pool with my grandchildren! I have a 24' round pool so I bought two more sections of hose to reach the side farthest away from my skimmer."
Review 9 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
very good buy,
Date:July 30, 2009
By joe30113
from buchanan, ga
from buchanan, ga
Pros: unit cleans good, and save a lot of time and effort
"All I have to do is hook it up, and check back later. Pool is cleaned and no work for me. would buy again"
Review 10 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
WOW!,
Date:July 28, 2009
By mdea
from Houston, TX
from Houston, TX
"We bought this product two weeks ago and our pool had never looked so good! From the box to the pool and working in less than 10 minutes with no complicated set-up!"
Review 11 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
quick cleaner,
Date:July 25, 2009
By jaylan
Pros: easy to use
"I had an Aqua bug that came with my original pool purchase 6 years ago so when it gave out I knew what I wanted. Great product."
Review 12 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
Best thing i have spent my money on,
Date:July 25, 2009
By Godschild
from Seneca SC
from Seneca SC
Pros: easy assembly.cleans great.
"Diver Dave was the best investment I have ever spent my money on! Not only does he clean great but its so easy to put together and plug it up and let him work! thats all there is too it no hard labor at all."
Review 13 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
extremely satisfied,
Date:July 18, 2009
By emeca
from MASSACHUSETTS
from MASSACHUSETTS
Pros: excellent product, price, service
Cons: NONE
"we already had a bug, but after 8 years of loyal service we had to replace him... we saved $75.00 by buying through "in the swim" AND we really did get delivery the very next morning!!!! thank you very much :-)"
Review 14 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
I am so glad I bought this,
Date:July 18, 2009
By crazyta
Pros: It does the work for me
Cons: really need the leaf canister to work the best
"It only took 15 minutes to set up the pool cleaner and it did a wonderfull job without me having to do the work. It cleaned the entire bottom of my pool even the sand. I am very satisfied with my pool cleaner. and it's cute!!!"
Review 15 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
So Incredibly Helpful!,
Date:July 17, 2009
By DeliriousMom
from Pocono Mts, PA
from Pocono Mts, PA
Pros: Works on its own, no noise, cleans well
Cons: Have to put together & take apart that dang hose every time it's used
"I have a 27' round pool and I had received a dirt devil vac when I had my pool installed 3 years ago and it promptly broke and really never worked well to start with, not to mention it was very noisy with all the clicking. Needless to say, hand vac'ing the pool took FOREVER due to the size and I don't have a deck yet so I had to walk around the pool with a small ladder to be able to do this at all. I had heard about the Hayward Aqua years ago from someone who owned a pool store and in fact it was what they themselves used in their above-ground pool (when they could have chosen any they sold that says alot). So I found this site and the price was right so I ordered it and I have been using it for a while now and absolutely love it!! It's easy to use, you just drop it in and it goes on its own and covers the whole pool in a couple of hours. It does a fabulous cleaning job getting all the grit & stuff off the bottom of the pool. When I opened the pool this year it was a green murky mess and I had it running daily till I got it cleared up and it got all the leaves & even stones off the bottom of the pool. I would highly recommend anyone with an above ground pool to get this product! The only "con" I have and it really isn't much of a big deal, is that the hose cannot be coiled or you void your warranty; so you need to disconnect the hose sections and store them flat each time you use the vac. Like I said not much of a prob, but wanted to mention it anyway."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Review 16 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
Great Buy,
Date:July 13, 2009
By phnxnight
from Silver Spring, MD
from Silver Spring, MD
Pros: compact, easy setup, cleans pool unassisted, great with add-on skimmer
Cons: maintaining water pressure
"This product was a great help opening the pool this year. I had a leak in the winter cover, and a bunch of leaves and other debris were in the pool. Once I purchased this cleaner, it made cleaning the pool twice as fast, plus, it cleans the pool overnight, without supervision.
I would really recommend this product to everyone."
I would really recommend this product to everyone."
Review 17 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
Time Saver,
Date:July 12, 2009
By BarnMom
from Great Meadows, NJ
from Great Meadows, NJ
Pros: Easy to use
Cons: Likes to get caught behind the ladder
"This year I decided that it was about time to automate some pool chores. After lots of research with my friends that have pools, Aqua Critter won by a landslide vote. It is very easy to use, no problems getting her to start cleaning the pool. I highly recommend this product."
Review 18 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
Works great,
Date:July 12, 2009
By Sugaree
from Northern CT
from Northern CT
Pros: Effective, works just fine in a dished center pool
Cons: Occasionally gets confused and needs to be manually redirected
"This cleans the pool as quickly and efficiently as if you yourself were doing it yourself - Don't expect it to be any faster. Does not climb the sides but it is my understanding that none of the above ground pool cleaners do. (if you maintain good chemical balance your sides should require minimal scrubbing anyway) Great product for the $$. I don't have to bug my sons to vaccum anymore!"
Review 19 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
not bad,
Date:July 11, 2009
By wendylynn
from East Texas
from East Texas
Pros: cleans well where it cleans
Cons: doesn't do whole pool, an acorn knocks it out
"This works well in spots; does well on pool bottom. However, we have oak trees and just 1 acorn will totally shut it down until you pry the acorn out. Not bad for the money, but the pool water doesn't filter as well with it connected."
Review 20 for Hayward Aqua Critter Automatic Pool Cleaner
Overall Rating:
aqua critter works great,
Date:July 11, 2009
By poolcleaner69
from Shelby NC
from Shelby NC
Pros: cleans without any effort on your part
Cons: may need to upgrade pump to get proper flow
"after initial installation took about two days to get pool clean. now about 1 hour a day takes care of it. RECOMMEND critter very highly works wonderfully!"