Tracking pool equipment, warranties, and maintenance schedules

The Pool dossier's Equipment tab is where every piece of your pool's hardware lives — pump, filter, heater, salt cell, automation, robotic cleaner, in-floor cleaning system, light fixtures, anything in or around the pool that needs attention over its life. Tracking it here means warranty claims actually work, replacement timing is predictable, and service companies don't have to ask you "what model is your pump?" every time.

What's tracked per equipment item:

- **Make / model / variant** — full manufacturer designation. Drop-down typeahead from a catalog of common pool equipment.
- **Serial number** — for warranty claims and recalls.
- **Install date + installer** — who put it in (you, the pool builder, a service company, a previous owner).
- **Purchase price** (optional) — for replacement budgeting.
- **Warranty terms** — parts coverage period, labor coverage period, warranty start date, expiry. Auto-computed reminders fire 90 days before expiry.
- **Maintenance schedule** — manufacturer-recommended service intervals per the catalog (pump shaft seal annually, salt cell inspection every 6 months, heater anode rod every 2 years, etc.). The platform reminds you when a service is due.
- **Service history** — every maintenance event, repair, parts replaced. Time-stamped, with photos and receipts.
- **Documents** — owner manual PDF, original receipt, warranty card, installation instructions.

Why model number tracking matters:

- **Parts ordering** — when the pump's shaft seal fails, the platform knows the exact seal kit number. You order without hunting through the manual.
- **Recall checks** — the platform monitors manufacturer recall feeds (Hayward, Pentair, Jandy, Zodiac) and notifies you if your model is recalled.
- **Service company quoting** — they don't have to bring out a tape measure to size a replacement. They quote off the existing equipment.
- **Resale value** — accurate documentation of major equipment investments raises the pool's documented value when you sell the home.

Common equipment categories the platform pre-populates:

- **Pump** — variable-speed vs single-speed, HP, voltage, manufacturer, warranty.
- **Filter** — cartridge / sand / DE; manufacturer; cartridge model number; backwash valve type.
- **Heater** — gas / electric / heat pump / solar; BTU rating; manufacturer; venting type.
- **Salt chlorinator (SWG)** — cell model; output rating; install date (cells degrade — average life ~5 years); current cell hours.
- **Automation** — Hayward Omni, Pentair IntelliCenter, Jandy iAquaLink, Zodiac AquaLink. Lets you map the controller's circuit names to the platform's equipment list.
- **Robotic cleaner** — manufacturer; model; warranty.
- **Lights** — count, type (incandescent / LED), color-changing capability, manufacturer.
- **In-floor cleaning system** — manufacturer; head count; control valve location.

The maintenance reminder engine:

Every equipment item with a maintenance schedule contributes to a unified reminder feed. You see "Due this month" and "Coming up next month" on the dossier home. When a service company is connected, they see the same reminders and can pre-schedule.

Replacement budgeting:

Most pool equipment has a known lifespan: pump motor ~7 years, salt cell ~5 years, filter cartridge ~3 years, heater 8-12 years. The platform tracks "year installed" against the typical lifespan and shows a depreciation curve in the dossier's "Long term" tab — useful for budgeting major replacements before they break and force an emergency repair.

Warranty claim flow:

1. **Equipment fails or shows signs of fail.**
2. **Open equipment record** → "File warranty claim."
3. **Platform pulls** serial number, install date, purchase receipt, maintenance history (proving you serviced it per manufacturer spec — required for most claims).
4. **Generates a claim packet** as PDF or pre-filled web form for the manufacturer's portal.
5. **Tracks claim status** until resolved; logs the outcome on the equipment record.

If you bought the house with the pool:

The Pool dossier ports through the property dossier at closing (see [project_closings_module]). If the previous owner used Turtini, the equipment history transfers to you. If not, you do an initial survey — usually with help from a service company on the first connection visit.