If you have a pool, you understand how much maintenance is required to keep them looking good, and regular vacuuming is one of the easiest ways to make a pool sparkle. Below is our take on the best vacuum heads available for online purchase.
Industrial-grade vacuum head for hard surface pools (not vinyl).
Best Pool Vacuum Heads 2020
The type of vacuum head you choose can make a big difference in how clean your pool will be and how much work it will require on your part. Here a few reviews to help you start shopping and a few tips on what to look for in the best vacuum head for swimming pools.
However, if you’re still wondering whether an automatic cleaner would do the job better, be sure to check out our article on Automatic Pool Cleaners: Robotic, Suction-side and Pressure-side!
| image | title | price | summary | button |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Poolmaster 27250 |  |
BEST OF BEST Industrial-grade vacuum head for hard surface pools (not vinyl). | CHECK PRICE NOW |
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FibroPool Professional Flexible | |
Reliable weighted vacuum head that rolls smoothly on most surfaces. | CHECK PRICE NOW |
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Hydro Tools 8145 | |
Ideal for vacuuming corners of vinyl-lined or fiberglass pools. | CHECK PRICE NOW |
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Milliard Weighted | |
Another triangle-shaped contestant with see-through body. | CHECK PRICE NOW |
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Poolmaster Air Relief | |
EDITOR’S PICK Best value for vinyl-lined pools. | CHECK PRICE NOW |
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Hydro Tools 8131 | |
BUDGET OPTION Good value vacuum head. Could use more weight to it. | CHECK PRICE NOW |
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Swimline Weighted Flex Vacuum Head | |
Quickly cleans a pool, but is less reliable for large debris. | CHECK PRICE NOW |
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Hydro Tools 8110 | |
Half mood shaped head with 1 year of warranty. | CHECK PRICE NOW |
BEST OF BEST Poolmaster 27250 Vacuum Head
For gunite pools that have a hard surface finish, you need a specific vacuum head to remove debris like the Poolmaster 27250. With its extra-wide body, this durable and flexible vacuum head will clean your pool before you know it. Covered in six weights, this vacuum head has a stable design and includes a durable swivel handle that is chrome-plated, plus it has twelve deluxe Nylon wheels that are mar-proof featuring stainless steel axles and ball-bearing action.
If you are looking for professional grade product, the Poolmaster’s Commercial Collection offers durable and high grade materials for both your maintenance professionals and your serious home maintenance buyer. This vacuum head cannot be used on vinyl liners pools, but can be used with any standard vacuum hose or pool pole. Constructed with six weights to keep the head from floating, the Poolmaster 27250 also features a chrome-plated swivel handle for better maneuverability.
- Sturdy and good size
- High-quality materials, solid construction
- Good for large pools
- Wheels loosen and fall off
- Pump needs to be at a high speed to work well
FibroPool Professional Flexible Vacuum Head
Features:
- Cleaning Area: 14.4”x10.5”x2.25”
- Handle: Chrome-plated metal
- Color: Black and White
- Wheels: Urethane with Metal Ball Bearings
- Hose Port: 1.5”
This particular vacuum head is one of the easier to use products on the market for pool owners looking to remove a bit of hassle from their cleaning routine. The weight and wheels have been designed to roll easily and sink to the bottom without the need of a lot of leverage.
Furthermore, the metal bearings in the wheels last for a long time and the body of the vacuum is well-built and rarely suffers from dry rot or cracks as long as stored correctly. The handle fits most aluminum pool poles, it’s standard-sized, and the hose port fits any 1.5” diameter pool hose.
Roller vacuum heads tend to work best on concrete pools. However, for those worried about damaging the bottom of their vinyl pool with this vacuum, this head has actually taken that concern into consideration.
The wheels are made of a long-lasting urethane that will not scuff, mar, or scratch the liner and the gap between the suction port and the ground created by these wheels help with issues such as getting stuck on creases that other vacuum head designs can suffer from.
As of the time of writing this review, this product is sitting at 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon. Many of the reviews come from people who have concrete bottom pools, and they tend to be the happiest with the product. Though most vinyl pool users seem to like the product as well, a few express some remorse about the lack of scrubbers on the bottom of this vacuum head. Click here to see the customer reviews for yourself
- Weighted head
- Durable wheels
- Fits standard poles and hoses
- Lacks scrubbers
Bottom Line:
A reliable weighted vacuum head that rolls smoothly on most surfaces.
Swimline Hydro Tools 8145 Pool Vacuum Head
If you have a vinyl-lined or fiberglass pool, the Swimline Hydro Tools 8145 is designed just for your needs, although it will also work in other pool types. It is perfect for getting into difficult pool corners due to its triangular shape, and its angled brushes make quick work of any debris.
The weighted design of the Swimline Hydro Tools 8145 makes sure that it never floats to the top while it is working. It features easy assembly with its Snap-Adapt handle and will fit a regular 1 ¼ inch and 1 ½ inch vacuum hose.
- Looks good and is really sturdy
- Weighted features works really well
- Affordable and works well
- Not a very practical design
- Hose tends to pull off the base
Milliard Weighted Vacuum Head
If you are looking for a traditionally shaped vacuum head with the weight of a concrete head, the Millard Weighted Vacuum Head should be on your list. It has locking clips that are spring-loaded that attach to standard extension poles. Its triangular plastic body is almost see-thru almost and makes it easier to move around with more accuracy. It also has intelligently placed weights on the sides, so your vacuum head won’t float but it will stay on the bottom of the pool the entire time.
When it meets algae and debris, this specially designed vacuum head just sinks down to attack it. It easily maneuvers its triangular body to twist and swivel into corners and crevices that other vacuum heads can’t reach. It also climbs along walls with ease, and if you need extra reach, the spring-loaded handle will give you that little extra length you need.
- Good for cleaning up algae
- Good weighted head, picks up well
- Cleans silt of the pool stairs well
- Can be difficult to push around
- Bristles are a little stiff
EDITOR’S PICK Poolmaster Air Relief Vacuum Head
The Poolmaster’s Air Relief Vacuum Head was created to work on vinyl liner pools, but it can remove debris from pretty much any type of pool because of its easy-to-maneuver design. This vacuum head features a durable ABS body that is 13” wide and comes with adjustable air-relief valves that give you suction control and its weighted sides provide positive control. Perimeter brushes give the Poolmaster Air Relief vacuum a low-profile design that will work with almost any type of hose.
It you are looking for products that give you great performance and are built-to-last, the Poolmaster’s Classic Collection are made from components that are resilient and that are designed to keep your pool clean and sparkling. If you have either a fiberglass or vinyl liner, the Air Relief Vinyl Liner Vacuum includes a spring handle with stainless steel tension that helps in spring handle which aids in keeping the vacuum level to the pool floor and submerged.
With two air relief valves that are self-adjusting, you can control how much suction the vacuum creates, and the hose adaptor features a swivel-function that keep the hose from kinking during operation. The Poolmaster Air Relief Vinyl Liner Vacuum works with either a 1.25″ or a 1.5″ vacuum hose.
- True to size description
- Works great with vinyl liners
- Great price, works well
- Need to cut out slots around the front so it doesn’t just push dirt around
- Doesn’t have much weight to it
BUDGET OPTION Hydro Tools 8131 Vacuum Head
A butterfly design is often said to have more efficiency than other pool vacuum head designs since it can clean a larger area at any time. The Hydro Tool engineers agreed with this idea when they designed the Hydro Tools 8131.
Since a butterfly shape is similar to the Hydro Tool’s existing rectangular head, they designed a user-friendly but sturdy design that works with either a 1.25 inch or 1.50 inch vacuum hose. Swimline, the maker of Hydro Tools, is known as a leader in the pool equipment industry and uses the highest quality materials for its products.
- Good value, easy to use
- Good weight and placement of bristles
- Works well, lasts for years
- Needs more weight
- Doesn’t sweep up going front and back
Swimline Weighted Flex Vacuum Head
Features:
- Handle: Plastic
- Tapered Vacuum Port: 1.5” at the base and 1.25” at the top
- Head Width: 14”
This Swimline vacuum head is a classic product that has shown up on pool store shelves across the country for decades now. It’s ideal for pool owners looking for a budget vacuum head that can handle light debris on smooth bottoms.
The weighted head helps keep the vacuum close to the bottom of the pool, even without optimal suction, and makes priming the hose fairly easy. Generally, this is best for cleaning up quickly on concrete bottom pools.
For vinyl pools, there may be better choices on the market, simply because these wheels aren’t necessarily the best thing in the world for sensitive liners. Furthermore, the lack of bristles and a slight gap underneath make it difficult to vacuum up larger objects such as leaves consistently.
Still, this vacuum head does do a good job for quick cleanings when there isn’t a large amount of difficult debris to deal with. Plus, the flexibility to use either 1.5” or 1.25” and the low price give it a large market appeal for many different owners.
The Swimline Weighted Flex Vacuum head is rated at 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon with 1,259 ratings. Most people who have issues with it are somewhat frustrated with its inability to pick up debris such as large leaf clumps as well as installation issues with the spring inside the butterfly clip. Beyond this though, buyers seem to agree that it is a durable vacuum head that works well for quick cleanings. Click here to see the customer reviews for yourself
- Budget vacuum head
- Weight sinks to bottom nicely
- Good for quick cleans
- Misses large debris frequently
- Spring-loaded butterfly clip is difficult to deal with
Bottom Line
Quickly cleans a pool, but is less reliable for large debris.
Hydro Tools 8110 Vacuum Head
The half-moon design of the Hydro Tools 8110 vacuum head is weighted to make sure that you get the best clean possible. The Hydro Tools 8110 is weighted so that it stays at the bottom of the pool while in operation, and it comes with a quick snap pole adapter that will fit any kind of vacuum pole. A replaceable brush allows you to change it when needed, and the half-moon shape gives you a better forward-pushing motion while you are cleaning.
This Hydro Tools Swimming Pool Weighted Vacuum head can work with any type of swimming pool, and it will attach to any regular sized telescoping pole and any to either a 1 1/2″ or a 1 1/4″ vacuum hose. Swimline Hydrotools is known for providing some of the best supplies and best swimming pool replacement parts on the markets. They are designed to be easy to assemble and guarantee durability.
- Is easy to get curved surfaces clean
- Good suction, affordable price
- Bristles are good quality
- Doesn’t work well on leaves and algae
- Doesn’t work well on walls
How to Choose The Best Pool Vacuum Head
One of the most important parts of pool maintenance is the pool vacuum head. When considering which to buy, there are a few key things to keep in mind. They may seem all the same, but they do differ in size, width, wheels and bearing, and ports, all of which determine how the vacuum head works.
Manual Pool Cleaning Using Vacuum Pool Heads
Manual pool cleaning is the basic method of lowering both the pole and vacuum head into the pool and then pushing the pole around to pick up the debris.
There are two types of vacuum heads:
- Vinyl Lined Pool Head – this head is created for vinyl lined pools and instead of wheels, it has brushes.
- Concrete Pool Head – this head is weighted and has wheels instead of brushes.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Pool Vacuum Head
Width
The width of a pool vacuum head should be somewhere between 14 to over 40 inches depending on the brand you choose. A single glass pass will cover less surface area than a broadhead, and a wider head will include more drag.
If you choose a full vacuum, you will find that they are harder to push and are more labor intensive, but they clean the pool very quickly. Other broad vacuum heads will come with larger or multiple ports that give them greater suction. A small vacuum head will only cover a small area, but you will have less drag with it.
When choosing a size vacuum head, you should consider your level of physical ability. You should also think about how much space you have to store it.
Wheels
Vacuum head may have several wheels on their underside, and higher-end vacuum heads have ball bearings with their wheels for a smooth movement. Ball bearings have a rolling motion that lessens friction and lets the wheels slide smoothly making it easy to push the vacuum. This also makes them more durable since they reduce friction and strain on the wheels. Large vacuum heads should have wheels with ball bearings which help in dragging.
Design (shape)
Don’t forget to consider how your pool is designed. If it has a lot of curves, a triangular design will work best and will fit in any part of the pool to clean it.
Handles
A consideration you may not have thought of is the handle where the pole attaches. A handle is either made of stainless steel or plastic. Steel is stronger and doesn’t crack as easily as plastic, but plastic withstands chemicals and corrosion better as steel can become pitted if exposed to salt.
Time Management
Depending on the type of vacuum head you buy, it can take a long time to clean your pool. A traditional vinyl liner vacuum head is the triangle shaped head that has brushes along the side instead of wheels. If you have used one, you know they usually push a cloud of dirt or algae in front of it instead of sucking up all the debris. They also tend to be too light and float up as you are using them.
If you are looking for a faster vacuum head, a concrete vacuum head uses wheels like small roller skate wheels, so it can roll over dirt and debris and not push it. They are also weighted so they don’t float off the bottom of the pool and smoothly and quickly roll over the swimming pool bottom to pick up dirt and debris.
Benefits of Manual Swimming Pool Vacuuming
A manual swimming pool vacuum is a lot cheaper than an automatic cleaner since it connects a hose from the intake pipe to the pool filter. It is operated with a vacuum head on wheels and a telescopic pole that is connected to a hose. The whole apparatus is placed in the pool and moved over the steps, sides, and bottom to suck out all the dirt and debris.
Since it has no moving parts, a manual pool vacuum is a cost-effective way to keep you pool clean, but it may take several hours to complete the task depending on the size of the swimming pool. Also, backwashing the filter after vacuuming can add more time to the cleaning process. Remember, if you pool’s filtration system is already clean it will help the pool cleaner work more efficiently.
Make sure you purchase a vacuum head that is maneuverable and durable. It is always a good idea to do some research and read reviews of potential vacuum heads before you buy. Since the creation of pool vacuum heads has made it so much easier to maintain your pool, they have grown in popularity and there are a lot of options on the market to choose from.
Other Cleaning Methods
Below are the most common types of automatic pool cleaners – the more sophisticated (and more expensive) approach to pool cleaning.
We’ve actually written an article dedicated to Automatic Pool Cleaners, be sure to check it out!
Suction Side Pool Cleaners
Pressure Side Pool Cleaners
Robotic Pool Cleaners
Conclusion
Remember, cleaning your pool doesn’t have to be the daunting chore it once was and you don’t have to call in a professional if you prefer to do the cleaning yourself. You need to make sure to purchase equipment that will help you clean fast and without scratching your pool. Just make sure you get a good quality pool vacuum head that will work well for the type of pool you have and you’ll be done before you know it.
