A Practical Comparison of Pentair, Aqua Star, and Hayward Filters

Buying a pool is a big decision — and so is Choosing the right pool filter can be overwhelming. With sand, cartridge, and DE filters on the market, how do you know which one is best for your pool?

Here’s the reality: the pool filter is the “home air filter” of your pool’s health. It’s what keeps your water clean, clear, and safe to swim in, just like your home air filter does for your home. Just like you wouldn’t put the cheapest engine in a new car and expect top performance, you shouldn’t overlook your pool filter either.

At Shasta Pools, we’ve worked with thousands of pool owners across Arizona. We know that every pool and budget is different — and the filter you choose will affect how much time, effort, and money you spend maintaining your pool over time.

In this guide, we’ll compare the three main types of pool filters—sand, cartridge, and DE—breaking down their pros, cons, costs, and maintenance needs so you can make the best decision:

• How safe they are
• How easy they are to clean
• How well they keep your water clear
• How much they’ll cost you (upfront and over time)

Let’s make this easy.

What Safety Features Should You Care About in a Pool Filter?

Think of pool filter safety like the braking system in your car — you might not notice it working most of the time, but you’ll definitely care if it fails. A good pool filter should have safeguards that prevent pressure buildup and accidental failure.

Pentair Sta-Rite 450

• Includes a pressure relief valve to protect against dangerous pressure buildup.
• Sturdy casing helps prevent cracks or leaks under high pressure.
• It has 8 individual safety clamps around the filter housing. If the pump happens to be running, even if all but 1 of the clamps are off, you’re safe but you’re going to get a little wet.

Pentair Clean & Clear 420

• Basic pressure relief valve included.
• The smaller, single-cartridge design increases the chance of clogging and pressure buildup if not cleaned regularly.
• It has a single-piece band clamp to secure the filter lid. Proper alignment can be tricky; even if its slightly misaligned, best case you will have leaks but worst case a very dangerous “bottle rocket”.

Hayward SwimClear 425

• Similar to the Clean & Clear, it has a pressure relief valve but not much else in terms of added safety features.
• Its larger size helps reduce pressure issues, but it still requires frequent cleaning.
• Almost identical single-piece band clamp to the Clean & Clear. Take your time and be careful.

Aqua Star PLF 35000

• Includes a pressure relief valve to protect against dangerous pressure buildup.
• Advanced safety lock system features a twist-lock lid that allows for quick and tool-free access to the filter — simply twist to unlock and lift off, making maintenance fast and straightforward.
• High-strength materials resist cracks and stress over time.

Takeaway: All four filters meet basic safety standards, but Aqua Star goes further with extra safety measures to prevent long-term damage and injury risks.

How Easy Are These Filters to Clean and Maintain?

Think of pool filter maintenance like changing the air filter in your car or vacuum — some systems are easy and quick, while others require more effort and time. We will also list the gallons per minute capacity of the filter tank…which you might ask “WHO CARES?!” but the higher the filter tank capacity, the faster the potential cleaning cycle, the higher your pump can run without damaging the filter and overall reduced wear and tear on the equipment. So, the gallons per minute capacity, the better.

Pentair Sta-Rite 450

• Uses a multi-cartridge system — rated for 120 gallons per minute, a large filter with cartridge pleats on the inside and outside of the filter allows for a lot of dirt collection but it takes much longer to clean (about 45 minutes - 1 hour).
• On average, needs cleaning about every 4–6 weeks.

Pentair Clean & Clear 420

• Four single-cartridges design means less surface area, so it clogs faster and doesn’t disperse the dirt proficiently throughout all of the cartridge elements. It is rated for up to 150 gallons per minute.
• Cleaning takes 45 minutes to an hour and needs to be done about every 2–3weeks.
• If the Clean & Clear filter is smaller than the 420, like the 320 or 200, unless its on a small spa, you could be cleaning it daily (especially during monsoon season)...in other words, don’t let someone put that on your pool.

Hayward SwimClear 425

• Four single-cartridges design, much like the Clean & Clear line, still requires frequent cleaning. This filter is also rated for up to 150 gallons per minute.
• Takes about 45 minutes to an hour to clean and should be maintained about every 2–3 weeks…don’t go smaller.

Aqua Star PLF 35000

• Single-core design allows for maximum surface area, equal distribution of dirt over the cartridge element and significant hydraulic flow efficiency. This filter is rated up to a 200 gallons per minute capacity, the largest of the residential filters.
• Cleaning takes 10–15 minutes and typically needs to be done every 6–8 weeks.

Takeaway: If you value your time, Aqua Star’s design makes maintenance quick and easy. Clean & Clear and SwimClear will need more frequent attention.

What is a Turbidity Test and Why Should You Care?

Turbidity is a fancy word for how clear your pool water looks. It’s measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) — the lower the number, the clearer your water. This is a standard that the NSF, National Sanitation Foundation, requires to certify a swimming pool filter (NSF also covers industries like medical equipment, food and beverage, consumer goods and water and plumbing). The NSF requires that a swimming pool filter take no more than 5 pool turnovers to get to a minimum of 70% water clarity (a pool turnover is the total gallons of your entire pool passing through the pool filter in a given time).

Think of it like your car’s windshield — if it’s dirty, it’s harder to see through. If your pool water is cloudy, that means the filter isn’t catching fine debris.

Pentair Sta-Rite 450

• Reduces turbidity to about 15–20 NTU — decent clarity for everyday use.
• It takes just under 5 pool turnovers to reach the required 70% water clarity.

Pentair Clean & Clear 420

• Reduces turbidity to around 20–25 NTU — you might still notice cloudiness, especially after a pool party or monsoon.
• It takes 5 full pool turnovers.

Hayward SwimClear 425

• Similar to Clean & Clear — turbidity of 20–25 NTU.
• It’s sufficient for basic use but may leave your pool looking less than perfect.
• It takes 5 full pool turnovers.

Aqua Star PLF 35000

• Fewer chemicals needed because of improved filtration.
• Only takes 1 pool turnover to achieve 70% clarity. This is the same level that D.E. pool filters achieve but without near the maintenance.

Takeaway: If you want that sparkling "vacation-pool" look, Aqua Star delivers the best clarity.

Why Does Hydraulic Efficiency Matter in a Pool Filter?

Hydraulic efficiency is like your car’s gas mileage — the better the flow, the less work your pump has to do, which saves you money on energy costs. Going with an inefficient pool filter plumbed into a variable speed pool pump motor, is like buying a Ferrari and only driving it 25 miles per hour…you’d have serious buyers’ remorse.

Pentair Sta-Rite 450

• Provides moderate hydraulic efficiency.
• No major energy savings, but won’t drive up your energy bill either.

Pentair Clean & Clear 420

• Poor hydraulic efficiency due to high back pressure on the pump.
• This leads to increased strain on the pump and higher energy costs over time.

Hayward SwimClear 425

• Similar to Clean & Clear — higher back pressure means the pump works harder, which increases operating costs.
• This leads to increased strain on the pump and higher energy costs over time.

Aqua Star PLF 35000

• Low back pressure and improved flow efficiency.
• Can reduce energy costs by up to 90% when paired with an energy efficient 3 hp pump— which could save you $700–$1000 per year.

Takeaway: Aqua Star wins here — better flow means lower bills and less wear and tear on your pump.

Pros and Cons Summary

What’s the Best Filter for Your Pool?

• If you want the lowest upfront price → Pentair Clean & Clear or Hayward SwimClear
  
  
• If you prefer a balance of cost and performance → Pentair Sta-Rite 450
  
  
• If you’re thinking long-term and value low maintenance,  balance of cost and performance, and energy savings → Aqua Star PLF 35000

If you’re still unsure which filter fits your pool and budget, reach out to Shasta Pools — we’ll help you weigh the options and make the right call.