Hayward Super Pump Review: Cheap to Buy, Costly to Own
A Hayward Super Pump 1 HP review covering the service ease design, extra large debris basket, single speed operation and why a variable speed pump usually costs less to own.
The best selling medium head pump in the world, and the running cost that variable speed made obvious.
The verdict: The Super Pump is the pump the industry was built on: simple, serviceable and available everywhere, with four bolt access to everything inside. Buy it if you need a proven replacement quickly and the pool runs few hours, or if it is a secondary pump for a feature. Skip it as your main filtration pump, because it is single speed, and the electricity a single speed pump uses over a few seasons exceeds the price difference to a variable speed model.
Hayward Super Pump InGround Pool Pump, 1 HP
~$849
A 1 HP single speed inground pool pump from the world's best selling medium head pump family, with an extra large debris basket, swing away hand knobs and four bolt access to internals.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Type | Single speed inground pool pump |
|---|---|
| Horsepower | 1 HP |
| Family | Medium head pump range |
| Basket | Extra large debris basket for added leaf holding capacity |
| Access | Swing away hand knobs for tool free strainer cover removal |
| Serviceability | Four bolt access to all internal components |
Specifications above come from Hayward's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- Every pool professional in the country knows this pump, and every supplier stocks the seals, impellers and baskets for it.
- Four bolt access means a rebuild is genuinely possible rather than theoretical, which extends its life a long way.
- Swing away hand knobs make emptying the basket a tool free thirty second job, which sounds trivial and is not when you do it weekly.
- A large basket means fewer interruptions during leaf fall and less strain on the impeller.
Where it falls short
- Single speed is the fundamental limitation. It runs at full power whenever it runs, and full power on a pool pump is one of the largest loads in a house.
- Efficiency regulations have restricted single speed pumps for many pool applications, so check whether it is a permissible replacement for your pool before ordering.
- There is no scheduling, no soft start and no way to reduce flow for a cleaner or a heater without a valve.
- The lifetime cost is higher than a variable speed pump costing more up front, and by a wide margin over several seasons.
What owners report
Published owner reports are what you would expect for a design that has been in production for decades: reliable, easy to service and easy to find parts for. Owners repairing rather than replacing report success, which is unusual and worth crediting.
The consistent modern criticism is running cost. Owners who moved from a Super Pump to a variable speed pump describe substantial reductions in their electricity bill, and that comparison appears often enough to be the main thing to weigh. The pump is not bad; it is from an era when electricity was the cheap part.
Who it suits
- Anyone needing a fast, proven replacement with parts available everywhere.
- Secondary pumps for water features or booster duty where run time is short.
- Pools where regulations still permit a single speed pump and run hours are genuinely low.
Who should skip it
- Main filtration duty on a pool run daily, where variable speed pays back quickly.
- Anyone in a jurisdiction restricting single speed pumps for this application.
- Owners wanting scheduling or automation.
Alternatives worth considering
Pentair EC-342001 SuperFlo VS Variable Speed Pool Pump, 1.5 HP
~$1,280
Four hundred and thirty dollars more up front and dramatically less to run, because power draw falls steeply with speed. On a daily filtration pump the payback is usually a small number of seasons.
Check price on AmazonAquastrong Variable Speed Pool Pump, 1.5 HP, 8189 GPH
~$509
Cheaper than the Super Pump and variable speed, with four programmable daily periods. A newer brand with a two year warranty, so the trade is service network against both purchase price and running cost.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Variable speed vs single speed pump
- Pump size calculator
- Pool cost calculator
- Pentair SuperFlo VS review
- Hayward ProSeries sand filter review
- Pump turnover chart
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a single speed pool pump still legal?
Efficiency regulations have removed most single speed pumps from sale for standard residential filtration duty, with exceptions for certain sizes and applications. Rules vary by jurisdiction. Check locally before buying, because a pump you cannot lawfully install is an expensive mistake.
How much more does a single speed pump cost to run?
Substantially. A variable speed pump running at half speed for twice as long uses a small fraction of the energy, because consumption falls roughly with the cube of speed. Our pool cost calculator will estimate the difference for your electricity rate and run hours.
Is 1 HP enough for my pool?
For a normal residential pool with standard plumbing, generally yes. Pump sizing follows turnover and pipe size rather than pool prestige, and oversizing is a far more common error. Our pump size calculator works it out from your own numbers.
Can I rebuild a Super Pump instead of replacing it?
Yes, and that is one of its genuine strengths. Seals, impellers, baskets and lids are widely available and four bolt access makes the job practical. Whether it is worth doing depends on whether you would rather put that money towards a variable speed pump that costs less to run.
Why is my pump losing prime?
Usually air entering on the suction side: a loose lid, a failed lid o-ring, a low water level, or a leak in the suction plumbing. The pump basket lid and its o-ring are the first place to look and the cheapest to fix. Our troubleshooting pages work through the causes in order.
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