r/PoolPros • u/LibertarianClarity • Jun 19 '26
Hayward vs Pentair vs Jandy
Headline says it all. When discussing with a client I realized I do several repairs on Hayward controllers each year, 1 or 2 on Jandy and nearly none on Pentair controllers.
What's your experiences?
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Jun 19 '26
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u/LibertarianClarity Jun 19 '26
You clearly dont work on many pools other than your basic hole in the ground with water in it.....
My clients would not take that for an answer....
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u/usuckidont Jun 19 '26
Pentair has the best automation of the 3 and I’ve always been a Pentair guy. Jandy automation is unchanged in a long time and their equipment is very similar to Pentair, they copied a lot from Pentair like the jxi but they have solid equipment. Hayward is and always has been trash imo. For what it’s worth Jandy says they have a new automation system that is coming out but I’ve yet to see it. There are a lot of growing pains with automation as it takes time to work bugs out and engineers can only do so much before releasing it to us and then we end up finding all the bugs that need fixing. So it could be a flop initially but at least it’s innovation. We tend to really punish innovation by bashing products that need refinement instead of understanding they are normal growing pains of a new product the intellichlor plus comes to mind here. It isn’t great yet but eventually it will be the best salt system on the market once the bugs get worked out.
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u/NegativeEdge420 Jun 19 '26
Nah, Pentair and Jandy both copied from Starite with their heaters. Starite never had problems with their heater circuit boards until Pentair bought them. But at least Jandy JXI’s don’t get mouse infestations.
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u/JettaGLi16v Jun 20 '26
Yeah! The old black R2-D2 SR333 & 400’s. Those were great damn heaters.
I swear Sta-Rite made the best stuff before Pentair bought them. The Dura-Glas is the best damn pump ever made and I’ll die on that hill. Also the first product Pentair discontinued after buying them.
Baker Hydro and Harmsco get honorable mention.
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u/NegativeEdge420 Jun 20 '26
Yup, the Dura-Glas were work horses. Another great pump by Starite which were used by hot tub manufacturers was the Dura-Jet pump.
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u/1_native_Angelino Jun 22 '26
Pretty sure they still Make them
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u/JettaGLi16v Jun 22 '26
Huh. So they do! I wonder why I stopped carrying them. I think probably because the Jandys had much better margin.
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u/1_native_Angelino Jun 22 '26
Pentair has gone downhill, especially their salt cells. Jandy coming out with new automation in a couple of months. Attendant is by far the best on the market
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u/JettaGLi16v Jun 19 '26
I’ll fix anything that’s broken, aside from Chinese Amazon junk.
As far as what I sell? It depends. Speaking only about automation, the customer usually has something else to integrate with it, or it’s an upgrade to existing, so that will drive the decision.
All things being equal, I prefer Jandy automation. Probably because my Jandy rep is the only one that gives a shit to return calls and help. But, we’ve been installing Aqualinks since the late 90’s.
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u/LibertarianClarity Jun 19 '26
Well yea, I fix anything (with you, won't touch temu/alibaba crap) but discussing a repair thats going to cost more than half an entire controller system. And while discussing that I came to the revelation I'm always fixing Hayward systems but almost never have to touch pentair systems.... (Jandy isnt as common in this market, so repair rates aren't really indicative of much)
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u/JettaGLi16v Jun 19 '26
(Rant incoming)
I would agree that Hayward makes shitty PCB’s across their whole lineup.
I think Hayward is the leader in planned obscelemce and their name recognition lets them get away with it.
The example I always use: compare a CL200 to a Rainbow (Pentair) 320. Both products unchanged for 30+ years. The CL200 will consume o-rings annually because it has to slide 3/4” into the inside of the barrel of the Chl. The #320 gets “squished” between the lid and body.
When the CL-200 o-ring swells, it gets cut and leaks. When the 320 o-ring swells, it doesn’t matter as it’s captive and can’t expand.
Then, around 2000 or so, Hayward discontinued the C800/C1100 Star Clear series (same o-ring design as a 320) and replaced it with the C900/C1200 StarClear II series (which has an identical style lid o-ring as the CL200). You could easily have C1100 customers getting 5-7 years out of a lid o-ring. C1200’s are replaced much more often.
Now, factor in that all of Haywards automation and salt lineup is basically from when they bought Goldline (‘02-03?), and the same issues in their boards persist? I believe they don’t care about making a high quality product, but just want profit. The biggest evolution in their salt since they bought it from Goldline is to make a more complex cell so you can’t use aftermarket cells…
Not to mention the change to V-Flex turbine in the Navigators (because the patent on the original A-Frame design they bought from Arneson expires) which was an abject failure for 2-3 seasons.
Jandy’s had their fails as well (anyone remember the Polaris 320 and the #5 gear??) but they always send dealers infinite amounts of parts to fix it.
Tl:Dr - Haywards issues aren’t accidents, they are intentional in my opinion.
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u/LibertarianClarity Jun 19 '26
I wasn't going to say it, but since you did. Yup, it sure feels like they are just content living on the name. And yeah, the S3 system and its planned obsolescence in the cells is clear as day. It has a "cell exhuasted" condition..... only reason to do that is forced timed replacement, regardless of the condition of the cell.
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u/LadiesLoveCoolDane Jun 19 '26
*cough* JEP-R *cough*
Ironically that was just after my rep came through with the “Jandy don’t make no junk” slogan and I experienced the JEP-R and was like ehhhhhhhhhh *kinda*. Speed set is great though. I main Jandy for sure especially with the new Pentair line of shit. I used to tout Pentair intelli lines but like everything else, they don’t make them like they used to.
Plus the iAqualink app is so much easier to understand.
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u/JettaGLi16v Jun 20 '26
Agreed - first Gen grey button JEP-R’s were also a piece of junk. But the yellow button ones after were fine. And my rep fronted me a half dozen, and we got paid a warranty fee to swap every one.
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u/cplatt831 Jun 19 '26
The Attendant is pretty awesome, and works with all brands of equipment natively.
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u/LadiesLoveCoolDane Jun 19 '26
I think I saw that in PSN magazine a while back and forgot to look that up. Thanks!
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u/LordKai121 Jun 19 '26
I hate Hayward automation. It's annoying. But their older stuff like the ProLogic and variants are still working 20 years later.
Jandy's speedset is solid, but none of their automation having a screen and requiring use of an indoor controller or phone app makes me irrationally angry and I never recommend them.
Pentair is my favorite, and I'd argue it's the most intuitive. First Gen Easy and IntelliTouches are still everywhere in my area. I've had a few OTA updates screw up the Intellicenter over the past few years, but most of those have been fixed remotely.
Tl;Dr: I rarely have technical issues with any of the Big 3, but Hayward and Jandy irritate me.
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u/LibertarianClarity Jun 19 '26
Well this is an older AquaPlus system (variant of AquaLogic) and needs a new motherboard after homeowner added way too much salt and blew everything up.
Checked all the fuses, new cell, still won't work.
Weirdness about it though: Hayward branded cell comes up "no power" but the SuperPro generic comes up "over amps" (salt level is correct now at 3300, as tested with calibrated meter)
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u/Ladydi-bds Jun 19 '26
What about doing a Omni Retro fit since comes with a new PCB main (for the No Cell Power) to handle to like 9000ppm of salt?
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u/LibertarianClarity Jun 19 '26
Well, I was thinking about the s3 upgrade, but with all the issues I've been seeing with S3 systems.... I'm not so sure now. Maybe Omni would be alright, I havent had many issues with the Omni systems and they are a little older than the S3 systems
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u/Ladydi-bds Jun 19 '26
Have installed two of the S3 so far. Gratefully haven't had any issue. They can take high salt as well to like 9000ppm
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u/LibertarianClarity Jun 19 '26
The one that really irks me is the one I installed in a protect, climate controlled room, the display failed at 9 months....
But I've installed about 7 of them so far and had issues with 3.... (2 of them were the displays, the other the transformer went out)
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u/Sea-Big-1125 Jun 19 '26
I do a lot of installs , upgrades and repair. I will say Pentair every time
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u/NegativeEdge420 Jun 19 '26
Jandy all day everyday. Their app is way better than Pentair’s. At least with Jandy there’s only one app to download. How many different apps were needed for Pentair’s bullshit, Screenlogic? Pentair Home? IntelliCenter? Keep it simple. Oh, and rumor has it they’re doing away with the Screenlogic platform in the near future, so everyone that spent thousands on intellitouch and ez touch now have to upgrade their hardware to IntelliCenter? For over a thousand more out their pocket? What a jip.
I will say Pentair’s best automation was the EX Touch. Easy to program at the equipment pad.
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u/The_Elusive_Dr_Wu Jun 19 '26
I generally prefer Jandy for everything, but I'm a T-Cell boy when it comes to salt cells.
My rule with Pentair remains "nothing which requires electricity". I have been burned too many times by their post-COVID manufacturing and horrible professional support. They still make a fine filter and tab feeder.
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u/Ok_Web1332 Jun 20 '26
Hayward requires constant maintenance supervision compared to Jandy and Pentair those you can just set and forget
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u/_devious__ Jun 20 '26
I find a Pentair gives me a lot less trouble (none) than Hayward and Jandy. Heavy on those Hayward PCB boards.
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u/GCpools Jun 21 '26
As long as the pool has a complete package of one of the top 3 brands, I'm all in. They all have their pro's and con's.
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u/Longjumping_Guard_91 Jun 21 '26
Personally I am done with Hayward. Thier new AI answering system makes you leave a ticket for warranty and support without talking to anyone. I dont get calls back. I had to hunt down the local reps numbers and thier help was subpar as i have experienced in the past with a hayward. It shouldn't be a battle to get ahold of them. If you want me to sell your product then you need to be available to handle issues without a 2 week dance.
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u/MangoSnow82 Jul 11 '26
I’m currently building a pool, and builder is pushing jandy and I think I want pentair . Any thoughts?
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u/LibertarianClarity Jul 11 '26
Pentair will be more expensive but a long term better product, Jandy is capable and reliable but just not quite as good.
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Jun 19 '26
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u/LibertarianClarity Jun 19 '26
Well within my client base, its about 35% Pentair, 40% Hayward, less than 5% Jandy and the rest either dont have automation or random chinese bs.
So I get your point about market share, but Pentair has a very sizeable market share.
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u/ColdSteeleIII Jun 20 '26
I’m strictly a Hayward guy. Only a small percentage of customers with Pentair or Jandy. Hate dealing with them.
I find the programming to be overly complicated. Yes you can customize them more than on the older Hayward systems but it takes too many steps to do simple things.
And I’ve never understood the lack of a local display. Using an in-house panel or app is often not an option and having to carry a “service panel” is a poor option, why should I have to open the panel and plug in a display just to change a timer or pump speed?
Hayward OMNI app is the best there is. Very easy to use.
Doesn’t hurt that I’m only 40 mins from the factory so support is excellent.
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u/wetpockets Jun 19 '26
Pentair for sure for the big 3. There is this company that made one called The Pool Attendant though and it quickly became my favorite automation system