Hayward AquaNaut 400 & 200 | Reviewed

Everyone underestimates the work it takes to keep a swimming pool operational. You thought it would be relaxing to have a lovely pool in the garden, but keeping it clean is one job you have to do regularly and it takes some of the fun out of it.

AquaNaut 400 / AquaNaut 200

The Hayward AquaNaut 400 and 200 model were released in the fall of 2014. Beautifully engineered, reliable and very efficient at cleaning your pool and leaving it spotless. Perfectly suited to being powered by a variable speed pump. The AquaNaut 400 is a 4×4 robotic pool cleaner designed for larger pools, while the AquaNaut 200 is a regular 2-wheel cleaner better suited for small pools.

Here’s a quick overview of the Hayward AquaNaut robotic pool cleaners.

We live in age of  advanced digital devices such as smartphones and tablets, so it makes sense that robotic technology is also evolving. I’ve never met anyone who enjoys cleaning their swimming pool. It’s been a necessary chore for homeowners over the years but as technology develops it also becomes cheaper to buy. It’s hard to argue the value of an AquaNaut when you consider how much time and energy these robotic pool cleaners will save you over the years.

Personally, I value my time more than anything else. At the end of our lives the one thing we’ll want more of is time. Time to live. We need to value our time more than we do. It’s a finite resource. A little bit of money in exchange for saved time is money very well spent.

Hayward AquaNaut 400

The AquaNaut 400 is engineered for large pools, traveling 11 to 14 feet before turning — with a turning range of 90 to 540 degrees. You get 40 feet of hose with this model.

Shared features:

• Patented V-Flex variable vane technology eliminates clogs and optimizes power for all flow levels.
• Self-adjusting turbine vanes maximize power at any flow, allowing for easy passage of large debris.
• Multiple pre-programmed internal steering sequences ensures your pool is clean in both the deep end and shallow end. Consistently cleans the entire pool.
• Patented tire treads climb and maneuver obstacles — even main drains. Ideal for a wide range of pool surfaces and shapes.
• 3 interchangeable throats optimize of suction performance and debris passage at lower flow or for larger debris, making it the perfect suction cleaner for use with variable speed pumps
• Patented adjustable roller skirt maintains constant suction on uneven surfaces and obstacles.
• Quick and easy to install. Minimal setup.

Documents for the AquaNaut pool cleaners:

• View or download the MANUAL.
• View or download the BROCHURE.

Hayward AquaNaut 200

The AquaNaut 200 travels 8 to 10 feet before turning — with a turning range of 90 to 450 degrees — and comes with approximately 33 feet of hose.

Now that you’re acquainted with these pool cleaners let’s discuss some details about robotic pool cleaners. We’ll get into all of the specific model details later in the article.

How A Robotic Pool Cleaner Works

Your swimming pool can be the relaxing garden feature you dreamed it would be, and it’s all thanks to the breakthrough in robotic pool cleaner technology. We’re going to look at the benefits you’ll receive from buying a robotic pool cleaner, but like everyone else I’m sure you first want to know how they actually work.

Suction and pressure pool cleaners have been around for a lot longer, and I presume you know what they do even if you don’t know the exact details of how they work. Instead of getting into the robotic pool cleaner technical details, it might be easier to explain in basic terms how they work compared to their rival cleaners. After all, by this point I’m sure you’ve guessed they clean your pool. The only difference is, robotic pool cleaners are capable of doing it in a very unique way.

Video Review | AquaNaut 400

They’re connected to a power source outside the pool, but they use a built-in transformer to lower the voltage making it much safer. There is a motor inside the unit to pull in water, and it shoots out of the other end to help it propel forward as it cleans the pool. They automatically navigate their way around the swimming pool scrubbing, cleaning, and sucking in water as they go, and the biggest benefit they have is an in-built filtration system to collect all the debris.

Benefits Of Robotic Pool Cleaners

We’ve just touched on the basic way in which they work compared to their rivals to make it easier to understand, but now we’ll look in more detail at the exact benefits of owning one and why their features are much greater than any suction or pressure cleaners supposed to do the same job.

You’re Life Will Become Much Easier

I know this benefit isn’t exactly technical, but it’s the main reason why you would spend money on one in the first place. If you thought cleaning a pool was tough, you’ll think differently once you use something like the AquaNaut 400 robotic pool cleaner as it will do all the cleaning for you. You’ll be able to spend more time swimming in the pool instead of cleaning it, and you won’t resent having to clean the pool when it’s not in use. It will even give you more free time compared to other pool cleaners, and we’ll look at one of the major reasons now.

Hayward AquaNaut Installation Video

Self-Contained Filtration System

Robotic pool cleaners like the AquaNaut 400 are magical because they have a self-contained filtration system. It means whenever your cleaner collects debris, it has the means to store it inside the unit to be emptied when you pull it out of the pool. A suction pool cleaner won’t afford you such luxury, and everything it collects will need to go through your pool’s own filtration system. This can compromise the filtration system of your pool, and it will also mean it needs to be dealt with more regularly creating extra wear and tear.

In-Built Motor

The in-built motor isn’t the main benefit of a robotic pool cleaner. The real reason it’s so good is because at no point does any part of it need to be connected to your pool pump in order to work. Suction and pressure cleaners both need to be connected in your pool in order to work, and in the case of pressure models they might even require an additional booster pump to function correctly. Along with bypassing the pump completely, you can clean the pool any time you want which will be useful if you only run it for a certain amount of hours depending on the time of year.

Video Review | AquaNaut 200

Stunning Cleaning Abilities

Robotic vacuum cleaners will clean every single corner of your pool, with one small exception. If the angle of your pool isn’t right it might not be able to clean the walls as it won’t be able to climb up, but this will only happen if you have a really weird angled pool. In the majority of cases it will scrub the pool floor until it’s spotless, it will clean the walls so you don’t need to wash them with a brush, and it will swim along the surface of the pool collecting any debris in its path sitting on the top of the water.

Large And Small Pieces Of Debris

Once again, it’s only fair to quickly point out an obvious exception. If something is too big there is no way it’s possible for the robotic pool cleaner to suck it up, but I’m sure you could have guessed that. If you exclude large objects sitting in your pool, the unit will take care of everything else no matter how big or small. The top models are known to pick up the finest pieces of debris, so you can be extra sure your pool will end up cleaner than it’s ever been once you start using a robotic cleaner.

Fast, Efficient & Powerful

We talked about how a robotic pool cleaner will save you time, but we never spoke specifically about how long it will take to clean your pool. This will depend on the size and shape so it’s impossible to give a definitive time, but it’s quicker than both suction and pressure cleaners will ever be able to achieve. That isn’t even taking into consideration things like hooking those units up to your pool pump or cleaning out the filters separately. They are simply quicker at doing their job effectively.

Different Modes

Every swimming pool will be a different size and shape, even if a lot of them will almost be the same. It’s the reason why all the best robotic pool cleaners will have various pre-programmed steering sequences built into them. You also get a few you’ll be able to control using a remote control, but it’s much easier when it’s able to be left on its own to clean the entire pool. They’ll work a little like the robotic vacuum cleaners capable of going around cleaning the floors of your home without you needing to be there to look after them.

No Need For Lots Of Chemicals

Whenever you can use less dangerous chemicals it can only be a good thing, and that will be the case when you start using a robotic pool cleaner. The reason why you need less chemicals is obvious once you know robotic cleaners will be able to clean the pool more thoroughly than other cleaners by collecting even the tiniest pieces of debris. When your swimming pool is a lot cleaner you will be able to use lower quantities of the chemicals you use right now, and as an added bonus the chemicals you have will last longer.

AquaNaut 200

Energy Efficient

Do you know how much energy it takes to run a normal pool filtration system? It’s impossible to give an exact figure without knowing the size of your pool, but what might be surprising is that robotic pool cleaners are around 93% more energy-efficient. When your pool runs on less energy it will play a small part in helping the environment, but it will also offset the cost of buying your cleaner as your energy bills won’t be as high in the future.

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Hayward | The Revolutionary Pool Company

Even though robotic vacuum cleaners are a modern invention, Hayward have been hard at work for over 80 years keeping customers happy with the newest advancements in pool technology. Their company mission is to ensure everyone can enjoy their swimming pool in the most hassle-free way possible, whether it’s for residential or commercial purposes. They supply customers with many great products, but their AquaNaut 400 and AquaNaut 200 robotic pool cleaners are the newest technological masterpieces already making a big splash on the market.

Shared Features | AquaNaut 400 + AquaNaut 200

Although separate models, the AquaNaut 400 and AquaNaut 200 robotic pool cleaners contain some of the same special features you won’t find anywhere else. Before we get down to the individual purpose of each model, we’ll first look at the wonderful technology you’ll find inside both of them.

Patented Tire Treads

The patented tire treads found on the AquaNaut 400 and 200 will guarantee the robotic pool cleaner will be able to maneuver around any swimming pool with ease. The robust tires have extreme climbing power to help them move all around the pool walls, and they also have top-notch maneuverability for overcoming any obstacles in their way.

V-Flex Vane Technology

Their patented V-Flex variable vane technology allows them to adjust depending on the size of the debris passing through the cleaner. This is vital if you want a robotic vacuum cleaner capable of cleaning your pool without getting clogged up all the time. It also maximizes the amount of power they have at nearly any flow, which will keep them running efficiently no matter how dirty your pool is.

Adjustable Roller Skirt

The adjustable roller skirt is also built using patented technology, and its purpose is to help the AquaNaut 400 and 200 maintain constant suction at all times. Not only will it help when they’re running normally, but it’s almost essential when they’re working on uneven surfaces to make sure they keep doing their job where other pool cleaners would fail.

AquaNaut 400

Pre-Programmed Steering Sequences

If they’re to clean every corner of the pool, they will need pre-programmed steering sequences to achieve maximum pool coverage. To make sure they go end-to-end no matter what, there are also a multitude of steering sequences to choose from. Once you’ve found one that fits your swimming pool you won’t need to change it again.

Easily Interchangeable Throats

Some swimming pools will have variable speed pool pumps, which means it will affect the water flow. To ensure there is optimal suction and debris passage no matter what the circumstances, there will be three interchangeable throats you can switch between easily so you end up with a spotless pool every time you use your AquaNaut 400 or AquaNaut 200 robotic pool cleaner.

Self-Cleaning Swivel

You need your pool cleaner to keep working at all times, which means making sure the hose doesn’t get in the way. In order to achieve this goal, the self-cleaning swivel stops any debris from getting caught up in the swivel nose cone. Your hose will be unable to coil up and the unit will keep going until the job is done.

Differences Between The Two

As was mentioned before, there are obviously some differences between the AquaNaut 400 and AquaNaut 200. These differences will mean you’ll need a different one depending on the type of swimming pool you have, so we’ll look at them now and you’ll know which one you should go for.

AquaNaut 400

The AquaNaut 400 gets its name because it’s a 4-wheel drive model, and the biggest difference between the two is the ability of this one to work in bigger and deeper pools while still maintaining full power and balance. The AquaNaut 400 only has 3 programmed turns, but they range from 90 to 540 degrees. It will travel for around 11 to 14 feet before it turns.

AquaNaut 200

Although the AquaNaut 200 won’t be able to maintain power and balance in pools with a deep end as it’s only 2-wheel drive model, it’s still perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a large swimming pool. The AquaNaut 200 also has 5 different programmed turns, although they only range from 90 to 450 degrees. The 2-wheel drive model will travel a distance of around 8 to 10 feet before it turns.

Which AquaNaut Pool Cleaner Should You Choose?

You’ll find all of the special features inside both the AquaNaut 400 and AquaNaut 200, so the only question left is which one is perfect for your pool. If you have a large pool with a deep end you should choose the AquaNaut 400, and your decision doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that. Robotic pool cleaners will definitely improve your life and they’re the greatest piece of swimming pool technology to come out in a long time, so you should really consider the impact of owning one. Cleaning your swimming pool manually should be a thing of the past, so let the robots get on with it from now on.

Learn more by visiting the Hayward site.

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Preparing your Pool for the AquaNaut

From the Hayward AquaNaut 400/200 manual.

• Manually remove large and excessive debris from pool ( IE. After a storm, spring cleaning and/or pool openings).
• Perform a backwash. Clean your filter, skimmer baskets and pump basket.
• Check to make sure your chemical balance is correct. If not, correct it before using your robotic pool cleaner. If you chemically shock the pool, wait a couple days before continuing.
• Point all your return fittings downward.