Hayward W3S166T ProSeries Sand Filter 16 In., Top-Mount for Above-Ground Pools

I purchased this filter to replace my existing cartridge filter. The new filter cartridge was going to cost over $100, so I decided to spend a little more and get a backwashable sand filter for my 10'x16' KD above ground pool. Available w/ Amazon Prime, it was at my door in two days w/ free shipping. Well packaged and complete. Can't beat that.After getting it plumbed in, I stood back and admired my professional looking plumbing job. I started the pump and the pool got pretty cloudy and after a few hours the valve popped up and began shooting water out of the discharge port. As you can imagine, I was pretty PO'd. I remember reading one of the other reviews which had mentioned just this problem with this valve. "I knew it", I said to myself. I sat down full of anger and emailed Hayward Pool Products, and was prepared to be blown off, as the same review had mentioned. To my surprise, early the next day my phone rang. I did not answer because I didn't recognize the number. It was Hayward's service dept calling about my issue. How's that for a quick response? It did take me another two days of phone tag with Hayward before I actually spoke with a rep. He was very nice and professional, and asked me if I was home and could take a look at the filter. When I did, he asked me very nicely to follow the plumbing line from the pump to the filter. As soon as I did, my jaw dropped and I felt like a complete idiot. I had plumbed the pump to the discharge port, and the intake to the return to the pool. Completely backwards!! Apparently I am not the only one to do this, and I suspect that was the problem in the earlier review. The Hayward rep was very nice and said this happens sometimes. I would not have blamed him if he had laughed at me. After redoing the plumbing, this time correctly, the pump works fine and has done an admirable job of keeping my pool water sparkling clean. It was a bit of a pain to get all the sand vacuumed up, but after I did, all is well.The point of this long winded review is that this is a quality product, it works well and as advertised, and my impression of Hayward's service is nothing but outstanding. Just make double sure of your plumbing connections, or have it installed by a professional. I refuse to pay someone to do something that I can do myself, but this requires extra dilligence where necessary. I hope this helps.

works well all parts were there an a fast delivery

We have used this brand in the past and our last tank lasted 14 years. Naturally, we replaced it with the same. Went together without any problems and NO LEAKS!!!! Hopefully, this one will outlast me.

Bought this to replace my exact filter that failed. It turned out more cost effective ($123.99) to replace the whole filter than to just buy the valve that went bad ($89.99) and other parts that "may" be bad in the old. I also purchased the Hayward fittings for my hoses. I purchased the sand (100 lbs) #20 silica at ACE which was 1/2 the price of anything offered on Amazon. Installed easy. It came with the filter tank with the lateral assembly already inside, the base for the filter and an add on base for your pool pump. The valve and brace was packaged separately. The valve fittings + nylon tape (purchased separately) were easy to screw in and only needed 1 tight screw with a wrench. I watched a Youtube video to be sure about installation and new use. I read the reviews and people complaining about the still cloudy pool should read the instructions carefully and watch the videos on Youtube. I first rinsed the the sand, then back-washed the filter (as directed) before operating in the pool. My above ground pool was greenish and cloudy from the failing filter and 3 days without a filter. I shocked the pool over 2 days & added clarifiyer. It took a full day for me to run the filter, back wash it at least 3 times to get the dead algae out of the sand from the filtering water. The pool is now crystal clear. The valve is much easier to move position to position since my old valve must have had a bad spider gasket that is built into the valve.

I bought the S 180T 18 inch for my 24 foot diameter round above ground pool, water is 4 feet high.This filter is pretty great. Setup is very easy. The problem I had is that the fittings were leaking a little at the pump in and pool out connections, even after several attempts with the teflon tape, but it does seem like it's down to a very small occasional drip at this point. I have been using for 3 weeks now and it works great. The pool is extremely clean. This filter really circulates the water well. I swapped out my cartridge filter for this one and couldn't be happier.I'll answer a few questions that I had, and that I find on here.The 18in filter will work with any above ground pool, regardless of size. It's a big filter.It takes 150 pounds of filter sand.Here's what was included: Filter, base (which does fit on the pump/filter base combo), 2 fittings, teflon tape, all equipment necessary to put the top switch assembly on. So if you already have hoses and all that, then you just need the sand.

It's a good value for the money as it cost the same as the box stores. Do. It fit right in place and my existing hoses buttoned right up to it.

Worked like a charm and easily installed!!!