Hayward S180T Pro Series Sand Filter Review

Hayward Pro Series Sand Filter Model S180TNeedless to say, I’m a big fan of sand filters for above ground pools as they can keep your pool spotless and clear when maintained properly. And speaking of maintenance, sand filters are super easy to maintain and normally there is nothing else for you to buy like DE (diatomaceous earth) or cartridges as the sand does the job for years. So when my original Waterway Sand Filter that came with my pool decided to spring a leak, I researched my head off and finally came to what I believe is a great value in the HAYWARD S180T PRO SERIES SAND FILTER. Read on to see why I chose this filter and why you should too!

>> Find the Hayward S180T on Amazon! <<

Why I Chose Hayward

The one thing I’ve found when I researched sand pool filters and replacement pool pumps was that Hayward was the brand that everyone spoke of first.  For over 80-years, Hayward swimming pool products have been used in American homes and they have slowly become one of the most affordable and durable filtering solutions for above ground pool owners across the country.

Immediately I knew that Hayward was going to be on the top of my list. After dealing with the Waterway filter that came with my pool and knowing that it did a great job but didn’t last very long, I wanted a name brand sand filter that I can rely on year after year with no durability issues. Every website I went to, every pool forum online and every deal I spoke with all spoke very highly of Hayward so I knew at that point that as long as I could find a decent model that wasn’t way out of my budget, I would be able to find a filter that would work for me.

So before I get into why I selected the Hayward model S180T you may be wondering why I had to purchase a replacement filter after only 5-years owning the Waterway. Well, for those of you that have sand filters, you know that at the top of the tank there’s a lip where the multi-port valve is seated. The valve is normally clamped down with a collar assembly and a threaded sleeve assembly that is screwed tight together. So for some reason, I had a fairly bad leak coming from that collar area and I thought that the rubber O-ring had failed as that is most often the reason for a leak in that particular area of a filter.

>> Click here for discounts on this Hayward Filter! <<

However, I came to find out that there was a crack (actually two cracks) in the lip of the tank at the very top where all of those valves and O-rings clamped down. I tried melting some heavy plastic I had laying around to fill the cracks and that didn’t work. My last ditch effort was to use a Bondo Fiberglass Resin repair kit with a few layers of fiberglass but it simply could not withstand the pressure inside the tank and it didn’t work so I was forced to give up and plunk down some cash for a new filter. It was June, the kids wanted to swim, the pool wasn’t very clear, there was air getting into the filter and making the whole thing run pretty badly and it was just time.

Pros and Cons of the Hayward S180T

So, back to why I selected the Hayward S180T Sand Filter. If you have ever read any of my other reviews on pool cover pumps or winter pool covers you know that I sp0714T vari flo control valvenormally break it down to a few bullets as to what I need. In this case, when you know you want a sand filter, it really comes down to brand, durability, reviews and cost.

BRAND – If you search online or on Amazon.com’s marketplace for “pool sand filters” you will normally see a bunch of no-name filters (normally junk), Intex filters (which are made for Intex pools) and Hayward! They have the market pretty much cornered when it comes to brand recognition because they’ve been making these things very successfully for just short of a century now. It doesn’t matter if it’s automobiles, shaving razors, season pool cover pumps or sand filters. The one constant is that the creme always rises to the top and when it comes to sand filters, Hayward is the ‘crème de la crème.’

DURABILITY – Knowing that my Waterway filter lasted only 5-years, I wanted something that would give me at least double that if it was well kept and maintained. In reading reviews online, it wasn’t uncommon to read about people purchasing the S180T as a replacement for other Hayward’s that last them 10-15 years on average. Most buyers were coming back for their second or third Hayward and one thing is for sure….repeat buyers for a brand don’t repeat buy for the heck of it. They know what they got the first time around and it was a no-brainer for them to continue with the Hayward brand. So, I knew I was going to get a product that was going to last and their warranty that said the filter would be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of ONE (1) year from the date of purchase was the icing on the cake.

>> Amazon discount link for the Hayward Sand Filter! <<

REVIEWS – When it comes to reviews, the best place to check them out is Amazon.com. Not only do they have the absolute BEST price out there, you can read over 150 different reviews of the Hayward Filter. Now, I encourage you to READ THE REVIEWS HERE for yourself to prove to you that I’m not cherry picking the best ones. Everyone simply loves the S180T filter and these are some of the things I read:

  • Numerous “Five Stars”
  • “Worth every penny!”
  • “Clear pool in no time!”S180T laterals
  • “Best Deal”
  • “Solved my problems”
  • “Great filter”
  • “Easy to Install”
  • “Great experience”
  • “Great product”
  • “Great product and great price”
  • “Just get this thing!”
  • “BIG Savings and genuine product”

COST – The one thing you will notice after reading some of the reviews on Amazon.com is that the biggest plus that many mention is the PRICE and I can certainly verify this too. If you go to your local pool supply store you will see this very same Hayward S180T for double the price or more….no lie. You will typically see it going for $320-400 at Leslie’s or other local stores and they are selling you the exact same filter you can get on Amazon.com for less than $200 delivered. So you’re probably wondering what’s the catch. How can Amazon sell this same thing for $195.00 and Leslie’s sells it for almost $100 more. The reality is there is no catch as Amazon has a superior deal and it’s the same model you will find at Leslie’s (CLICK HERE TO SEE.) Amazon sells a ton of these every year so it’s easy to see the economics of make a little money on each one, sell a lot of them and profit. So when it comes to cost, trust me that Amazon truly has a sweet deal here.

>> Click here for Amazon’s Best Deal on the Hayward Pro Series Sand Pool Filter <<

Hayward S180T Pro Series Top Mount Sand Filter Details:

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

– 18″ Model
– Durable Corrosion Free tank
– Includes a 7-position Vari-Flo Control Valve (model SP0714T)
– Includes round base for easy installation
– Includes easy to assemble 360-degree Slotted Laterals for super clean pool filtering
– Includes pressure gauge
– Filters 35-gallons per minute
– Size: 18 1/2″ wide, 35″ height
– Max Pool Size – 19,000 gallons

What’s not in the box?

– Sand Needed: 150lbs pool filter sand (three 50-lb bags)
– Pool Filter Pump
– Flex hoses or PVC to connect to your pool filter pump
– Hose adapters to connect the hoses back to pool return or pump

Want to see my Hayward S180T in action?  Check out my video review below…

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