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Pool Inventory & Equipment ID

Identify what you have on the pad, pull the manuals, and build the reference list that prevents bad maintenance guesses.

Hub: Start Here · When to use: You inherited a pool or are documenting a system before opening, repairs, or upgrades.
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Pool Inventory and Equipment ID

Document what you actually have on the pad before you trust generic advice, seasonal checklists, or troubleshooting trees.

Manuals beat folklore

Filter cleaning triggers, heater winterization, salt ranges, and automation behavior vary by equipment family. Record exact model numbers first, then use the matching manual.

1

Photograph and label the whole system

Start with a permanent record before anything is taken apart or reprogrammed.

Take wide photos of the pad, plumbing layout, and breaker area.
Photograph every nameplate, sticker, serial number, and valve position.
Record which breaker or disconnect controls each major component.
2

Identify the core equipment

At minimum, identify the pump, filter, sanitizer system, and any heater or automation controller.

Pump: record model, motor label, and any speed/controller information.
Filter: record type, model, clean pressure baseline, and valve arrangement.
Sanitizer system: identify manual chlorination, tablet feeder, or salt system with cell/control model.
Heater and automation: record model numbers and where manuals or error-code references live.
3

Create the reference sheet you will actually use

A usable equipment record prevents panic troubleshooting later.

Save PDF manuals or owner guides for each component.
Note clean filter pressure at the pump speed used to measure it.
Document normal valve positions for filtration, spa mode, waste, and winterizing if applicable.
4

Add safety checkpoints while you are there

Inventory work is the right time to catch hazards that get ignored for years.

Confirm drain-cover condition and record the make/model if accessible.
Check for obvious leaks, damaged bonding wires, corroded terminals, or missing equipment covers.
Identify any gas shutoff, disconnect, or emergency power switch you may need quickly later.
Stop conditions / cautions
  • • Do not open electrical panels or gas-train assemblies unless you are qualified to do that work safely.

Standards & Resources

Equipment pad labeling and handoff

Use the pad-labeling guide to turn your inventory into a working valve map, breaker map, and seasonal handoff packet.

Manufacturer manuals and model-family index

Use the manufacturer-reference index to map model families before you pull manuals or order parts.

Codes and standards playbook

Use the safety and drain-cover checks there as part of your equipment inventory.

Checklist

  1. 1Photograph the pad and record every model number before you troubleshoot anything.
  2. 2Identify pump, filter, heater, sanitizer system, and automation from labels and plumbing layout.
  3. 3Pull manuals now so winterization, startup, and repair steps match your equipment.
  4. 4Record clean filter pressure, valve positions, and breaker labels for future reference.
  5. 5Add drain-cover and entrapment-safety checkpoints while you are documenting equipment.

Related Playbooks

Pool Chemistry 101

Understand FC/CYA, pH, alkalinity, calcium, and CSI without turning pool care into folklore.

Manufacturer Manuals and Model-Family Index

Map Pentair, Hayward, Jandy, Raypak, AquaCal, Paramount, Polaris, Dolphin, and similar families before you trust any equipment guidance.

First 30 Days - Establishing Your Baseline

Use the first month to learn your pool’s normal chlorine demand, pH drift, and equipment behavior.