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Hayward vs Pentair D.E. Filters

This page is for someone who has already decided on a D.E. filter and now has to pick a brand to standardize on — for a single install or for a shop stocking spares across multiple pools. The spec sheets show that "D.E. filter" is not one mechanism: Hayward's line runs from a flex-tube design with no backwash cycle to standard vertical grids to a pleated-element tank, while Pentair's line runs from vertical grids to a modular tool-free tank to two cartridge-style D.E. filters. Each architecture implies a different service routine.

The other real variable is filtration area and the clearance the tank needs to sit in your equipment pad. Hayward's five listed models top out at 72 sq ft; Pentair's line goes up to 120 sq ft but that top model also needs the most vertical clearance of anything on this page. Match the numbers below to your pad before you match them to your pump.

Side by side

Spec Hayward Pentair
Filtration Area 27-72 sq ft 36-120 sq ft
Max Flow Rate 67 GPM (listed for the Perflex 27 Sq Ft model only) 160-180 GPM (listed for the Quad D.E. and FullFloXF Q120 models only)
Filter Type D.E. (Extended-Cycle, No Backwash), Vertical Grid D.E., or Pleated Element D.E. — varies by model Vertical-Grid D.E., Modular D.E. (Single Module), D.E. Cartridge (Quad), or Cartridge-Style D.E. — varies by model
Tank Material Injection-Molded High-Strength Polymer (Perflex 27 Sq Ft) or Thermoplastic (ProGrid and DEP500 models) Fiberglass-Reinforced Polypropylene (FNS Plus and Quad D.E.) or Dura-Glas Glass-Reinforced Composite (System:3 PLD); not listed for the FullFloXF Q120
Product Weight 45-93 lb 70-150 lb
Shipping Dimensions 19.4 × 17.4 × 31.9 in to 24.6 × 23.1 × 53.8 in, depending on model 22 × 22 × 33.5 in to 26.75 × 26.75 × 41.5 in, depending on model
Energy Efficient Yes (Perflex 27 Sq Ft only; not listed for other models) Yes (Quad D.E. only; not listed for other models)
Warranty 1-2 Years 2 Years
Vertical Clearance Required 16-25 in (not listed for the Perflex 27 Sq Ft) 76 in (FullFloXF Q120 only; not listed for other models)

Hayward

Hayward Perflex® 27 Sq Ft Modular D.E. Filter

The Perflex 27 Sq Ft Modular D.E. Filter (EC65A) is the outlier in Hayward's line: it uses 120 Dacron flex-tubes instead of grids, and its Filter Type is listed as D.E. (Extended-Cycle, No Backwash) — meaning it is not built around a routine backwash cycle the way the grid units are. It's also the smallest and lightest filter on this page at 27 sq ft and 45 lb, with a Max Flow Rate of 67 GPM.

The ProGrid line (DE3620, DE4820, DE7220) covers 36, 48, and 72 sq ft on Vertical Grid D.E. architecture, each with a 1.5 in full-size integral drain, a Max Pump Size of 3 HP, and a Max Working Pressure of 50 PSI. Side clearance is 18 in across all three; vertical clearance runs from 16 in on the 36 Sq Ft up to 25 in on the 72 Sq Ft. These are the models to standardize on if your pad is used to servicing standard D.E. grids.

The DEP500 (DEP60) breaks from grids again: its Filter Type is Pleated Element D.E., its control valve is described as "No Separate Valve Required," and it carries only a 1-Year warranty versus 2 Years on the rest of the Hayward line. It needs 25 in of vertical clearance, same as the 72 Sq Ft ProGrid.

Pentair

Pentair FNS® Plus 36 Sq Ft D.E. Filter

The FNS Plus models (180007 at 36 sq ft, 180008 at 48 sq ft) are Vertical-Grid D.E. filters in a Fiberglass-Reinforced Polypropylene tank with a 7-1/2 in bulkhead centerline and a 1-1/2 in bottom clean-out port. The 180008 additionally lists a Filtration Micron Rating of approximately 3-5 microns. Both are ANSI Standard 50 Certified.

The System:3 PLD (S7MD72) is a 72 sq ft Modular D.E. filter with a single module, a two-piece Dura-Glas glass-reinforced composite tank, and Posi-Lok tool-free clamps instead of a bolted band. It also has dual drains — a 1-1/2 in NPT side direct-discharge plus a bottom drain — and is the heaviest filter on this page at 150 lb.

The Quad D.E. (188593) and FullFloXF Q120 (188616) are both cartridge-style rather than grid: their Filter Type is listed as D.E. Cartridge (Quad) and Cartridge-Style D.E. respectively, not Vertical-Grid. The Quad D.E. is 80 sq ft, takes an 8 lb D.E. charge, flows up to 160 GPM, and is Energy Efficient (Green Certified). The FullFloXF Q120 is the largest filter on this page at 120 sq ft, takes a 12 lb D.E. charge, flows up to 180 GPM, and lists pool sizes of up to 86,400, 108,000 and 129,600 gallons across the three turnover rates it publishes, from the fastest to the slowest. It also needs 76 in of vertical clearance — by far the most of any model here — and has a 21.5 in tank diameter.

The verdict

If you're standardizing a pad that already services standard D.E. grids and want a mid-size, straightforward vertical-grid tank, Hayward's ProGrid line (36-72 sq ft) or Pentair's FNS Plus (36-48 sq ft) are functionally the same category of filter — pick whichever brand your other equipment already matches. If you want to avoid a routine backwash cycle on a smaller pool, the Hayward Perflex 27 Sq Ft is the only flex-tube, extended-cycle model on this page. If tank access without tools matters, Pentair's System:3 PLD is the only model here with tool-free Posi-Lok closures. If you need the largest filtration area and want documented turnover-gallon figures to size against your pool's volume, the Pentair FullFloXF Q120 is the only model that publishes them — but confirm you have 76 in of vertical clearance before you commit to it. And if you're moving away from D.E. grids entirely, both the Pentair Quad D.E. and FullFloXF Q120 are cartridge-style D.E., not grid — a different consumable and service routine than the rest of either brand's line.

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