Guides & cross-reference notes
Fitment guides, cross-reference charts and repair notes for Hayward, Pentair, Jandy, Sta-Rite and Zodiac equipment — written by the people who mould the parts, not by a copywriter.
61 guides
Latest · October 29, 2026 · 12 min read
A wet heater is three different repairs wearing the same symptom. Here is how to tell a gasket from a cracked header from a finished tube bundle, why the exchanger failed in the first place, and the point at which a new heater is the cheaper answer.
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October 27, 2026 · Repair & service · 11 min read
Pentair's Hi-Flow six-way valves come in two sizes with different internals. Here is how to tell which one you have, what each leak points to, the full parts stack for a rebuild, and where the gasket is bonded to the diverter.
October 22, 2026 · Repair & service · 14 min read
A cartridge that has stopped holding pressure is either dirty or finished, and the two look alike from the outside. Here is how to tell, and how to match Pentair's single-cartridge, four-cartridge and DE-cartridge filters to the right element by length.
October 20, 2026 · Repair & service · 12 min read
The Magnum family is still on thousands of pads and still very rebuildable. Here is the teardown in the order the pump comes apart, the seal-housing and impeller choices by horsepower, and the 2003 basket split that catches people out.
October 16, 2026 · Sourcing & trade · 5 min read
The first question is not whose fault it is. It is which of four things went wrong, because each has a different fix and three of them are preventable.
October 15, 2026 · Repair & service · 13 min read
Four generations of Laars heaters are still on pads across the country. Here is how to tell them apart, decide whether one is worth saving, and which water-side, vent and blower parts keep it running — and which ones must come from the equipment brand.
October 14, 2026 · Sourcing & trade · 5 min read
Using your suppliers' part numbers as your own works until you have two suppliers. Then it fails permanently, and fixing it later costs far more than doing it now.
October 13, 2026 · Repair & service · 13 min read
A Dolphin that will not climb, stops after a few minutes or drives in circles is telling you which of four systems has worn. Here is the order to check them in, what worn looks like, and which parts fix it.
October 12, 2026 · Sourcing & trade · 5 min read
You can verify most of what a factory visit would tell you from your desk — if you ask for evidence that is hard to fake rather than evidence that looks impressive.
October 9, 2026 · Sourcing & trade · 5 min read
Most listing problems are data problems that started at the factory. Ask for the right eleven fields up front and the listings write themselves.
October 8, 2026 · Repair & service · 13 min read
The Earthworks EW75–EW150 is the Jacuzzi DE filter still on thousands of pads. Here is how to read DE in the pool, match the mixed-width grid set to your model, service the bottom dial valve, and tell an EW apart from the CFR cartridge and Laser sand filters that share its parts listings.
October 7, 2026 · Sourcing & trade · 5 min read
The standard 30/70 deposit exists for a reason, but a first order is exactly when it should not be the only protection you have.
