Best Pool Vacuum Head for 2023

A sparkling clean and cool swimming pool is the best place to be on hot summer days. As a pool owner, you know how important proper pool maintenance is to the health and safety of the swimmers in your family. You probably also know the hard work that entails.

Leaves, debris, algae, and fungus can make that shimmering dream pool into a murky nightmare. No one likes to have to clean but luckily, with an easy-to-use, reliable, and durable pool vacuum head, cleaning your pool can be a breeze.

Top Picks for Pool Vacuum Heads

What is a Pool Vacuum Head?

A pool vacuum head is an attachment that goes at the end of a hose connected to your filter pump to make cleaning your pool easier than ever. These handy little accessories are designed to sink to the bottom of your pool, allowing you to vacuum up leaves, debris, and even algae.

Pools get dirty fast and sanitizing chemicals aren’t strong enough to do their job and the job of a pool vacuum. As a pool owner, you probably know the struggle of trying to grab the leaves and other floaties out of your pool with the skimmer before they sink to the bottom.

With a pool vacuum head, you don’t have to race out to the backyard every time a leaf falls. You can clean everything up in one go with a strong, flexible, and functional pool vacuum head.

Why You Need a Pool Vacuum Head

Using a pool vacuum head in your pool maintenance regimen is one of the most cost-effective ways to keep your pool looking its best. It’s a great way to do it yourself without paying a bundle for a professional pool cleaning service. All you need is a hose and a pole to do the job.

You can’t beat the effective cleaning power of a pool vacuum head. Forget using your skimmer to fish debris out from the floor of your pool ever again. These units usually come with brushes or wheels, which will help to kick up dirt or algae that can quickly be sucked out of your pool and out of your life. Deep cleaning your pool has never been easier.

These things can even be used to clean the walls of your pool! That’s right, no more scrubbing required. Many models of pool vacuum heads can reach the walls easily and scrub off any gunk that may be lurking there. All you have to do is pick the right vacuum head for your needs to make your pool look as good as new.

What to Consider When Buying a Pool Vacuum Head

Not all pool vacuum heads are created equal and you need to know what to look for when buying a new one for your pool. Each model has different specifications, shape, width, connections, and accessories that make the task-at-hand seem a bit overwhelming at first.

Don’t worry. By keeping the following factors in mind while browsing you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect pool vacuum head for your pool.

Design

Pool vacuum heads come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, each with their own built-in cleaning function. Triangular heads are great for pools with lots of curves and corners and sometimes have bristles on the bottom for a gentler clean on vinyl-lined pools. 

Rectangular heads have wheels for better maneuverability. These types tend to be used mainly for commercial pools or traditionally rectangular-shaped pools. They work great on floors and walls but can miss some spots if the pool has a lot of curves.

You’ll also find other shapes out there such as round, butterfly-shaped, or oblong but it’s not obvious that these designs affect cleaning ability one way or the other. 

Cleaning Surface (Width)

This one might seem like a no-brainer but can actually be a bit tricky. The wider the vacuum head, the more cleaning area you get, right? Why wouldn’t anyone want the largest cleaning surface possible?

Well, if you have a spa or a smaller pool, a larger surface area on your vacuum head might actually negatively affect your cleaning ability. A larger surface area also might mean that the vacuum is heavier and harder to maneuver around. Keep your pool size in mind when looking through your options to make sure you get the right size vacuum head for your needs.

Handle

All pool head vacuums come with a handle that attaches to the telescoping pole used to clean. Handles are almost always made of either stainless steel or plastic. At first glance, it would seem like metal is stronger and would be the way to go. However, stainless steel is prone to rust and corrosion over time, making plastic the stronger option.

On the other hand, plastic can become very brittle and crack if left out in the sun. Make sure to put away your vacuum head between uses if you go with the plastic option to keep it safe from sun and heat. Alternatively, wiping down the stainless steel handle between uses will also mitigate possible corrosion on the metal model.

Weight

A pool vacuum with no built-in weight is no use at all. They’re made to be lightweight for ease-of-use, which means they would inevitably just float to the surface. Make sure to look for a vacuum head design that comes weighted down to keep it on the floor of your pool, which in turn aids with better vacuum suction.

Wheels

Most pool vacuum heads come equipped with either wheels or wheels and ball-bearings on the undersides to keep them moving along the floor of your pool. 

While wheels work fine for smaller vacuum heads, the wheels with ball bearings are a better choice for larger/heavier heads. The ball bearings reduce friction for a smoother glide along the bottom, making the heavier model head almost no effort at all to move around.

Bristles or No Bristles? That is the Question

So here’s the conundrum. Getting a pool vacuum head with bristles is great because you’re basically doing double-duty when you use it. Your pool is getting a bit of a scrub while you suck up all the debris sitting on the floor of the pool. Sounds great, right?

Bristles are great and do provide a nice clean while you’re vacuuming. However… bristles on the bottom of a vacuum head can lower the suction potential of the vacuum and keep you from getting the most suction possible. The bristles can also fall off really easily, meaning you have to vacuum those up too.

We’ve found some great pool vacuum heads both with and without bristles, leaving the choice up to you and your personal preference. There are benefits to both types but worth considering before you make a purchase.

Best Pool Vacuum Head Reviews

#1 Milliard Sea-Thru Triangle Weighted Pool and Spa Vacuum Head

The Milliard Sea-Thru Pool Vacuum is shaped for maneuverability so it can swivel and twist through corners, along walls, and into crevices. Made from ABS plastic, this vacuum is resistant to pool chemicals and weighted enough to sink to the bottom of the pool. With a cleaning surface of 11 inches wide, the spring-loaded handle also fits standard extension poles for extra reach. 

Pros:

• Weighted design keeps it at the bottom of the pool
• Perfect shape for cleaning spas and smaller pools
• Rubber bumpers prevent scratching

Cons:

• Bristles get brittle quickly and may disintegrate after awhile

#2 ATIE PoolSupplyTown 90455 Pool Vacuum Head

The ATIE model from PoolSupplyTown is a professional grade pool vacuum head for pool owners and pool professionals and works best with plaster or concrete swimming pools. Its wheels are made of strong urethane with ball bearings for smooth rolling and the weighted head maintains constant contact with the floor for good suction. The cleaning base is 14 inches wide and fits a 1-1/2 inch vacuum hose.

Pros:

• Great suction for removing dirt and debris
• Durable construction 
• Very maneuverable despite the strong weight

Cons:

• Metal slightly prone to rust – make sure to wipe down after each use
• Doesn’t have bristles, so scrubbing is still required

#3 U.S. Pool Supply Flexible 12″ Weighted Pool Vacuum Head with EZ Clip Handle

The U.S. Pool Supply Flexible Weighted Pool Vacuum is an easy to maneuver pool vacuum head with a flexible body and durable nylon cleaning bristles that quickly cleans walls, corners and slopes. With a wide 12-inch base, its handle contains EZ clips, so you can safely, quickly, and easily connect or disconnect to standard 1-¼ inch and 1-½ inch size telescopic poles.

Pros:

• Lightweight and easy to maneuver
• Quick and easy to connect with telescopic pole

Cons:

• Bristles fall off rather quickly
• Doesn’t slide well on a pebble-finished pool floor

#4 HydroTools 8110 Weighted Half Moon Pool Vacuum Head (2-Pack)

The HydroTools vacuum head by Swimline is designed to work with all types of swimming pools. It attaches to any standard size telescoping swimming pool pole and works with either 1-1/2″ or 1-1/4″ vacuum hose. Its quick-snap pole adapter fits 99% of vacuum poles, making your pool cleaning experience a breeze.

Pros:

• Very lightweight for maneuverability but does not float
• Easy to assemble
• Has replaceable bristles for a better clean

Cons:

• The half-moon design is a bit unbalanced

#5 Milliard 14” Flexible Spa and Pool Vacuum Head

The Milliard Flexible Spa and Pool Vacuum head Its flexible plastic body curves to the contour of the pool floor to reach any non-flat areas at the bottom for a full cleaning. Just attach the vacuum hose from your pool’s filter-pump to the 1.5-inch suction port, clip a standard pool tool extension pole to the included pole adapter, and you’re ready to go!

Pros:

• Easy-to-use with a reliably strong suction
• Lightweight design makes for easy maneuverability
• Flexible head conforms nicely to any contours in the pool

Cons:

• May ship with missing pieces. Be sure to order from a trusted seller.
• Hose may come loose easily

#6  Poolmaster 18510 Triangle Vinyl Liner Vacuum

The Poolmaster Triangle Vinyl Liner Vacuum is weighted for easy maneuverability while submerged, with a low-profile design that makes it a great choice for cleaning any vinyl liner pools. Its 10-3/8-inch wide surface is great for removing debris from vinyl liners and its polypropylene brushes are durable and replaceable. Works with standard pool poles and vacuum hoses. 

Pros:

• Very sturdily built, long-lasting
• Vacuum head stays flat in the bottom when in use
• Replaceable brushes available

Cons:

• May leak some sand that’s used to weigh it down
• Hose may come loose while in use

#7 Fibropool Professional Flexible Swimming Pool Vacuum Head

The Fibropool Professional Flexible Swimming Pool Vacuum Head has a flexible thermoplastic body and a generous cleaning area measuring 14.4×10.5×2.25in that provides a more efficient cleaning experience to reach every nook and cranny of your pool. Its stainless steel hardware, urethane wheels, and stainless steel ball bearings ensure ease of maneuverability along all pool surfaces regardless of material or contour. Connects to a standard 1.5″ hose for convenience, no proprietary accessories necessary.

Pros:

• Sturdy and well-constructed
• Flexes to reach difficult corners
• Can even be used on the walls for a great clean

Cons:

• Wheels may come loose occasionally

Conclusion

Cleaning your pool is an important part of pool maintenance to keep your pool a safe and sanitary space for your family and friends. No one said it was a fun job, but with a great pool vacuum head, it’s literally never been easier.

Getting the right pool vacuum head for your type of pool is the first step and you’re well on your way to a sparkling, clean pool all season long.