Pentair

Pentair traces its roots to 1966, when founders Winslow Partridge and Murray Harpole started the company in St. Paul, Minnesota. The name combines penta, a reference to the five original investors, with air, reflecting the company's early line of air-filled novelty products. Over the following decades the company moved away from novelty goods and built a portfolio of industrial businesses through a series of acquisitions.

A turning point came in 1997 with the acquisition of the water treatment and pump businesses of General Signal. The 2004 purchase of WICOR followed, which brought the Sta-Rite and Hypro brands into the Pentair family. After spinning off its electrical business in 2018, Pentair narrowed its focus to water-related products, with operations centered in the Minneapolis area.

Product Lines

Pentair's portfolio carried by SupplyHouse spans water treatment and conditioning equipment. It also includes pumps for residential and light commercial applications, plus pool and spa equipment. Well pumps, sump and effluent pumps, and booster pumps make up the core of the lineup that contractors source for potable water and drainage projects. Water filtration and softening components are also part of that lineup. Pressure tanks and control valves round out the systems used to deliver consistent water pressure and quality in homes and small commercial buildings.

Why Contractors Specify Pentair

Plumbing and water treatment contractors choose Pentair for its pump and filtration lines. These lines draw on engineering expertise from acquired companies such as Sta-Rite and Hypro. A broad lineup covering pumps, tanks, and filtration also lets contractors source matched system components from a single brand rather than piecing together parts from multiple suppliers.

How to Choose Pentair Products

Selecting the right Pentair pump or filtration component starts with matching flow rate and pressure requirements to the specific application. Typical applications include a private well, a sump pit, or a booster system for a multi-story building. Water chemistry and intended use, such as potable water versus irrigation, determine whether a filtration or conditioning unit is the better fit. Confirming voltage, horsepower, and tank capacity against the existing plumbing layout helps avoid a mismatched installation and a return trip to the supply house.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of pumps does Pentair manufacture for residential use?

Pentair makes well pumps, sump and effluent pumps, and booster pumps for residential and light commercial water systems. Its engineering draws on acquired brands such as Sta-Rite and Hypro.

Are Sta-Rite and Hypro the same as Pentair?

No. Sta-Rite and Hypro are brands that joined the Pentair family through the 2004 acquisition of WICOR.

Does Pentair still make pool equipment?

Pentair continues to manufacture pool and spa equipment alongside its water treatment and pump lines, following the 2018 spinoff of its separate electrical business.

How long has Pentair been in the water treatment business?

Pentair entered the water treatment and pump space in a significant way with its 1997 acquisition of General Signal's water treatment and pump businesses. It has built on that foundation with further acquisitions since.

Where is Pentair based?

Pentair's operations are centered in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. The company was founded in nearby St. Paul in 1966.