Hayward AquaRite T-3 (W3AQR3)
#11 in In-GroundFull review
The cheapest Hayward salt system you can buy online for small in-ground pools, best for owners who install it themselves and accept a 1-year warranty.
Amazon $1,799$1,799
The Hayward AquaRite T-3 (W3AQR3) rates 2.9 among in-ground salt chlorinators; the Hayward AquaTrol rates 2.4 among above-ground ones. The Hayward AquaTrol costs $630 less ($1,169 vs $1,799).
Hayward AquaTrol
#8 in Above-GroundFull review
Hayward’s salt system for above-ground pools up to 18,000 gallons, easy to install yourself but costly for its size and short on warranty.
Amazon $1,169$1,169
Prices were last checked October 27, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Scores side by side
These two sit in different pool type classes (in-ground and above-ground), and each is scored against the reference points for its own class, so a rating says how well each does among its own pool type peers. How we rank explains each factor.
| Factor weight | Hayward AquaRite T-3 (W3AQR3) | Hayward AquaTrol |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 2.9/5 | 2.4/5 |
| Value 30% | 0 $1,799 for 0.6 lb of chlorine a day ($2,998 per lb/day) | 32 $1,169 for 0.8 lb of chlorine a day ($1,559 per lb/day) |
| Cell cost 20% | 24 Replacement cell $699 ($1,165 per lb/day) | 27 Replacement cell $829 ($1,105 per lb/day) |
| Warranty 20% | 50 3-year cell, 3-year control center warranty | 0 1-year cell, 1-year control center warranty |
| Features 20% | 75 Salt level readout, works with hayward pro logic, pentair intellitouch, polaris eos, cold-water shutoff, flow sensing, boost mode | 55 Salt level readout, cold-water shutoff, flow sensing, boost mode |
| Certification 10% | 100 Certified to NSF/ANSI 50 | 0 Not certified to NSF/ANSI 50 |
Specifications
| Hayward AquaRite T-3 (W3AQR3) | Hayward AquaTrol | |
|---|---|---|
| Output | ||
| Pool type | In-ground | Above-ground |
| Rated pool size (maker) | 15,000 gal | 18,000 gal |
| Chlorine output | 0.6 lb/day | 0.8 lb/day |
| Salt level | 2,700 to 3,400 ppm (ideal 3,200) | 2,700 to 3,400 ppm (ideal 3,200) |
| NSF/ANSI 50 certified | Yes | No |
| Cell | ||
| Replacement cell | W3T-CELL-3 | W3GLX-CELL-5 |
| Replacement cell price | $699 | $829 |
| Self-cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Plumbing size | 2 in | 1.5 in |
| Controls | ||
| Salt level readout | Yes | Yes |
| Flow sensing | Flow switch | Flow switch |
| Cold-water shutoff | Yes | Yes |
| Boost mode | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Automation compatibility | Hayward Pro Logic, Pentair IntelliTouch, Polaris Eos | - |
| Voltage | 120/240 V | 120 V |
| Warranty and models | ||
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 years |
| Warranty terms | 3 years on the dealer-sold versions (AQR3XLCUL and siblings) bought from and installed by a pool professional; the online-sold W3AQR versions carry 1 year (manual, effective 03/01/12; Hayward's W3AQR15 page: 1 year parts, no labor). A replacement W3T cell bought alone carries 3 years parts. | Manual (effective 03/01/12): AquaTrol 1 year, residential; Hayward's product page: 1 year parts, no labor. A replacement GLX-CELL-5 bought alone carries 3 years (TurboCell sell sheet). |
| Also sold as | AQR3 (Hayward Expert Line, dealer-sold) | - |