What are the points in favor and against the Hayward Aquanaut model 400 PHS41CST pool vacuum? What are the weak points of this four wheel drive pool cleaner? And what would a potential buyer want to know about the unit that isn’t a clear point for or against the unit but could affect your decision to buy it?
Strengths of the Hayaward PHS41CST Aquanaut 400
This vacuum is easy to set up.
This pool cleaner does a better job in deep pools and navigating over anti-vortex pool drains.
This pool vacuum can be used in nearly every type of pool. This pool cleaner is considered safe for concrete, gunite, fiberglass, pebble and tile pools, though if it gets stuck in a corner or drop off, it can rip up vinyl pool liners like any other pool cleaner.
This automatic pool cleaner can maneuver and maintain suction over uneven surfaces like pebble beds and obstacles like pool toys on the bottom of the pool, steps and anti-slip strips.
This vacuum does a good job picking up debris and dirt.
This unit rarely gets trapped in corners.
The Hayward Aquanaut 400 comes with a forty foot hose kit that converts to thirty three to thirty five feet of range when it is in the pool. This unit is much better choice than the Hayward PHS21CST Aquanaut 200 with a 33’ hose that means it can only really handle a less than thirty foot long pool.
You can find extension hoses at a reasonable price from the manufacturer. Additional hose sections cost fifteen to twenty dollars apiece.
This pool cleaner weighs around twenty pounds, so it is one of the few robust models you can take out of the pool and put away for storage without needing a pool caddy to do so.
The unit does a decent job of covering the entire floor of the pool without needing advanced electronics.
Weaknesses of The Hayaward PHS41CST Aquanaut 400
This pool vacuum does not climb the walls of your swimming pool; it can’t go up more than a foot even on high power. It can only cover the entire bottom of the pool. Don’t expect this pool vacuum cleaner to clean the pool’s steps, much less the tile line.
Hayward products have a two year warranty, but the company itself has limited customer service, whether you want to order spare parts from the manufacturer or need assistance figuring out how to adjust settings on the pool cleaner. When you need replacement treads, which is much more common on a pebble bed pool, your best bet for replacement parts is the pool store or an expensive authorized dealer/repair shop.
The treads wear down quickly if your pool has rough surfaces like pebble beds.
Observations About the Hayward Aquanaut 400
This pool cleaner costs around $530 at full price and rarely goes on sale.
The two wheeled version of the Hayward Aquanaut costs about a hundred dollars less. This price is often defrayed by manufacturer rebates, but that depends on where you buy the pool vacuum.
You’ll want to pay extra for the leaf attachment if you want to pick up leaves from the bottom of the pool. A leaf canister costs around sixty dollars more.
This pool vacuum can work with variable speed pumps. However, it does not do a good job on low flow settings.
Summary
This is a versatile and reasonably priced pool vacuum cleaner, even if you need to buy a few accessories. It is one of the few pool vacuums on the market that will adequately clean pebble bed pools, and it is a good choice as long as you don’t expect it to clean the sides or steps of the pool for you.
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