How to Locate & Read Pentair Serial Numbers (to Determine Equipment Age)
Knowing when your Pentair equipment was built helps with warranty coverage, service planning, and upgrade decisions. Use this quick guide to find and decode serial numbers across pumps, filters, heaters, heat pumps, automation, sanitizers, lights, water features, and cleaners.
🧭 Step 1: Locate the Serial Number
Each product has a label or plate with a model and serial number. Look in these spots:
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Pumps — On the wet end, base, or motor end of the pump housing (not the removable motor tag). Pentair Serial Number Locator – Pumps › (Pentair)
Tip: Use the serial on the pump housing, not the motor’s separate serial. (Inyo Pools) -
Filters — On the tank body near the data label; some models also have molded/stamped info on the shell. Filters › (Pentair)
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Heaters — On the front of the unit (often lower-left) or inside the cabinet/rating plate depending on model. Heaters › (Pentair)
Example: MasterTemp® lists the serial on the rating plate inside the heater. (Pentair) -
Heat Pumps — On the exterior housing near the service panel. Heat Pumps › (Pentair)
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Automation / Controls (EasyTouch®, IntelliCenter®, etc.) — Inside the load center/control panel door on the data label. Automation › (Pentair)
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Sanitizers (IntelliChlor®, iChlor® & power centers) — On the cell housing or the power center/enclosure label. Sanitizers › (Pentair)
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Lights — On the rear of the light assembly or product packaging; some models include a cord tag. Lights › (Pentair)
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Water Features / Valves — On the product body or enclosure label. Water Features › (Pentair)
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Cleaners — On the underside or back of the cleaner body; also on packaging/warranty card. Cleaners › (Pentair)
Example: Dorado® lists it on the back of the cleaner and warranty card. (Pentair)
Important: For pumps, don’t use the motor serial number to date the whole pump—the motor can be replaced independently. Always use the equipment housing serial. (Inyo Pools)
🔎 Step 2: Decode (Read) the Serial Number
Pentair uses a few date-coding schemes. Match your label to one of these common patterns:
1) Julian Day + Year embedded in the serial
Many Pentair labels include a five-digit block where the first three digits = day of year (001–365) and the last two digits = year.
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Example:
… 21511 …→ 215th day of 2011 (August 3, 2011). -
Sometimes this block is preceded by four digits identifying a product line (e.g.,
1118 21511…). (activepoolsupply.com, poolsupplyunlimited.com)
2) Month + Year at the start (Tagelus® filters)
For Tagelus sand filters, the first four digits = month & year.
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Example:
0318xxxx→ March 2018. (Pentair)
3) Legacy Sta-Rite® “Code” (letter for month + two digits for year)
Some older Sta-Rite nameplates use a letter to denote the month (A=Jan, B=Feb, …) followed by two digits for the year.
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Example:
B09→ February 2009. (howtolookatahouse.com)
Pentair training materials also note Sta-Rite serial codes encode month, year, and day on certain nameplates. (Pentair)
If your label doesn’t match these: snap a photo of the full serial/model tag and we’ll help confirm the manufacture date.
📎 Quick Links: Official Pentair Serial Number Locators
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Pumps → https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/enterprise/app-support/SerialNumber-Pumps.pdf
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Sanitizers → https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/enterprise/app-support/SerialNumber-Sanitizers.pdf
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Heaters → https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/enterprise/app-support/SerialNumber-Heaters.pdf
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Water Features → https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/aquatics/pentair-partners/business-documents/SerialNumberLocation_waterfeatures.pdf
🧰 Need a Hand?
Not sure which format you’ve got, or want us to decode it for you? Premier Pools is happy to help.
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Reach Out to Us » https://premierpools.com/pages/contact-us
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Book a Service Appointment » https://book.servicem8.com/request_service_online_booking?strVendorUUID=e1a2980e-10f7-4680-afd5-20dea661dfdb#select-service
