Hayward SwimClear Plus Cartridge Pool Filter

Just what I needed after 42 years with the same pool filter. Perfect size for 12,000 gallon in ground pool. If you’re comfortable working with PBC water pipe you will have no problems installing this filter. Works just like it should. Happy customer.

My pool guy was quoting me $1200 for upgrading the filter to a 120sq feet system. I got lucky because I found a used "like new" item here for $350. The filter arrived and it looked brand new to me. I had to change the pipes and redo the plumbing. the tools and supplies cost me about $50 at home depot. In total, I ended up saving $800 from what my pool guy was asking. The filter is of high quality and works perfectly. The water in the pool is very clean. I am a happy customer.

I bought this for my my pool and I have to say within a day of running 8 hours the next day that pool was so clear I didn’t know the floor looked like it is now. Great quality and the guy who service my pool is now recommending it for all of his clients with the similar size pool

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS FILTER. I previously had an identical unit for about 10 years until one day the threads stripped and the whole top blew off it with such force when I turned on the pump that the heavy top shot into the air like a missile higher than the house. It might have gone higher except for the fact that I had my hand on it at the time while I leaned over to reach the pump switch. This resulted in a bloodies hand and trip to the urgent care center for x-rays on my injured hand and wrist. Luckily no bones broken and only a very bad sprain. Stupidly, I replaced that unit with a complete new unit which simply does not work. Following recent winds, I have some leaves from a Poinciana tree in the pool which are about a quarter inch or more in diameter plus a lot of smaller debris. I have been trying to vacuum the leaves and debris out of the pool without success. This puzzled me for a long time until I saw them returning back into the pool through the return inlets. Obviously they are somehow passing straight through the filter. Incidentally, I already had two cartridges from the old previous identical filter unit, plus the new one which came with the unit. The problem occurs with all three cartridges, so the problem lies elsewhere. I never had this problem with the old unit, even though it did attempt to break my arm. I would not recommend this filter unit to anyone. I wish I could give less than one star.

Purchased this Hayward 120 sq ft filter (W3C12002) to replace an older version of this same type of Hayward StarClear filter that was a little smaller at 90 sq ft. The older Hayward filter we replaced (W3C9002) was about ten years old - it still worked fine but some moving parts with the lid screw handle were broken, was pretty sun faded, it was leakinga little around the pressure gauge threads and we wanted a slightly larger and more efficient filter anyway so we went with this larger W3C12002 120 sq ft one. I wont go into how great these old StarClear cartridge type filters are because that fact is well know. But I will say we looked into Hayward's newer style of SwimClear line of cartridge filters and instead opted to stay with this tried and true older style StarClear one as according to some reputable local pool supply vendors and svc techs I've spoken to say they're seeing issues with the big plastic lid fastening bracket breaking on these newer SwimClear type cartridge filters. Lots of problems with this issue they say so the safe bet is to at least for now stay with the older StarClear line filters. The real news I'd like to share about this Hayward (W3C12002) 120 sq ft filter is that I was able to purchase it directly here through Amazon with free Amazon Prime shipping from Hayward for $250-$300 less that any local pool supply business or store will currently sell me one for. So for a DIY installation of one of these Hayward SwimClear filters this is by far the best way to purchase.