Hayward SP071621 VariFlo Top-Mount Control Value, Black

This Hayward top mount filter valve SP071621 fit perfect as a replacement filtration valve for my old Hayward top mount valve (SP071620T) which was nearly 20 years old and began to start leaking at the base and above the O-ring line. I have a 20-year-old 17,000-gallon inground pool that was renovated a couple of years ago with PebbleTec which we love. I think the valve housing began to start cracking from exterior weather and sun conditions over time. Prior to purchase, I changed out the interior O-ring where the old valve and sand filter lip meet, but that did not stop the leak since it was from pinhole cracks which the leaks were getting worse. I even changed the interior spider gasket, but that didn't help stop the leak either.I was losing several gallons of water from the top of the valve each day and it seemed to be getting worse. The middle of the summer in metro Atlanta heat (mid 90s) is not a great time for pool filtration and water circulation to fail and potentially have yellow or green algae build up in a hurry. I was minimizing pump circulation time to reduce water loss.I decided to replace the old valve immediately. I double checked the Hayward sand filter and parts manuals (I have a large Hayward S310T2 Sand Filter (500 Lb sand capacity) with a 31" folding lateral assembly. I only needed to replace the valve which Hayward said was a SP071621 model which replaced my older leaking valve. I shopped around for valves online and found some lower prices than Amazon through Pool stores. Also, mid-summer prices for pool parts are typically higher than off season periods. But most of them were going to take longer delivery. I paid more to go with Amazon, but the delivery was fast in two days. The right valve was delivered. The only negative on shipping was that the valve came in a box taped up but there was not any shipping paper or bubble guard around the valve t help protect it further. I didn't see any damage as the valve was tight fit in durable cardboard.I did a lot of pool research and followed DIY guides to replace and change the valve myself. I was able to reuse the same 2" PVC fittings from my old valve which had been replaced 2-3 times with sand and pump changes in the recent past. It took me about 3 hours to remove the old valve and install the new valve taking a lot of precautions following manual and online DIY videos meticulously to avoid any major problems. In the end, all went well. It wasn't all that complicated, I saved several hundred dollars in getting a pool company to do the job as well time which would have been 2-3 weeks at best to get someone to come out.After a week from the repair, the new valve is working well with no leaks and my pool is back to full water circulation with filtering. The water is balanced, nice and clear and great for family swimming.I am happy with the Amazon purchase and replacement filter.

After our old Hayward Variflo cracked due to this winters cold snap, and the fact that it was 9 years old we called the original installer of our pool. They quoted me a price of $169.99 for this item. As usual they markup their parts a great deal so I ended up on Amazon, where I normally end up anyway. And low and behold they had the same thing at a much lower cost. Same product, Same Part Number from Hayward.I just installed it yesterday and it works perfectly!A quick heads up for people who want to do this install themselves. First cut off all power and unscrew the plug from the bottom of the sand tank. Its easy to find and its hand tightened. Then make sure you take off the backflow pipe along with the other shorter pipes first leaving the long pipe that goes to the Water Pump connected for the time being. That will be the last water pipe you will remove.Next, Undo the locking ring at the bottom of the Hayward Variflo unit where it sits on the Sand Filter. Remove this old locking ring and discard as you should have bought a new one.Next, Undo the locking ring holding the PVC water pump pipe that connects to the upper variflo unit at the Water Pump. Do NOT attempt to remove this pipe from the head unit at this time.After these three pipes are unfastened as described above very slowly begin to rotate the Variflo Unit back and forth counter clockwise to clockwise while VERY SLOWLY and VERY GENTLY pulling up on the unit itself. You do not want to pull up the pipe inside your sand filter or you will have a huge mess on your hands that will call for professional help. As long as you are patient you will get the Variflo head unit off. Once it's off you will see inside the white PVC pipe for your filtration system.Next, After you have removed the head unit from the filter tank you will need to hold the Variflo steady while someone turns the long pvc pipe that was connected to the pump to totally remove it from the Variflo. Once this pipe is off the old unit you are now you are ready to install the new unit and put it all back together.Have Plumbers Tape ready you will need 8 rounds on each PVC pipe connection to the Head Unit.Take the Rubber O Ring ( purchased separately from Amazon, again the same as OEM equipped but cheaper, and roll it over the bottom of the unit itself until it seats against the bottom flange. Don't worry if it doesn't seat all the way down. It will once you put it back on the sand filter connection.Now before you are tempted to put the head unit back on make sure you use 8 rounds of plumbers tape around the bottom of the long pvc pipe you removed last from the head unit that will connect to the pump later.If you dont do this FIRST you will have to start all over again, unless you want to cut your pipe and use connectors and such.So put on new plumbers tape after stripping the old off and slowly get the long PVC pump pipe threaded onto the new Variflo head unit. Screw it all the way in until your pipe is about 1/4 inch from the units female connector. Make sure its facing down towards the pumps connector also.Now you can replace the Variflo Head Unit onto the top of the filter connection fit it over and onto the PVC pipe inside the unit as seen in the pictures provided above. Make sure to line up the Variflo and the pipe then slowly start twisting it on while pushing down to seat the unit as close to the lip of the filter connection as you can get it.If you are over 1/2 inch and can go no further that means you have slightly pulled up the PVC pipe inside the filter while you were removing it and you will have to make some cuts to the pipe as so the unit can be safely installed.If it fits and slides down almost touching the flange on the filter you are ready to start re assembling the unit.Now will be the time to make sure to re connect your long PVC pipe to the pump itself. Just get it lined up and screw the connector on loose for the time being. You may need to adjust.Now you can put on the backwash PVC pipe and the other one of which I dont remember the name, but see the pictures above. Get these two on straight and again loosely connect them. Now put on your new Flange Bracket, again bought from Amazon at a cheaper price and tighten the head unit to the sand filters flange. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN!After you have done this tighten the PVC pipe at the Water Pump first, and then the other 2. Hand tighten them as tight as you can get them.If they leak, as ours did. We used a flat head screwdriver to put on the notches and with a hammer we slowly tightened them up that way a little at a time, while alternately turning on the system to check for leaks. We had leaks 3 times until all the pipes stopped leaking and were sealed. Its been running for 2 days now and no leaks.Please buy a new pressure gauge and it should come with plumbers take applied and screw it on as tight as you can get it. But don't overdo it. Look at the old one for reference.I hope this helps you solve your installation and if you have a problem just ask me.

Update: After the initial leak, the valve began leaking at every bolt around the top. I contacted the seller and their response was to contact the manufacturer. I contacted Hayward about the leak and asked how tight could I tighten the bolts without damaging the valve. They said there are no tightening specifications and that I should not need to tighten them. They told me the valve was defective and I should return it to the place where I purchased it.I contacted the seller again about replacing the valve. I asked for a replacement to be sent so that I could change out the valve without shutting down the pool for however many days it would take to get a replacement valve. The response was that I must send them the defective valve before they would process and ship the replacement. This is not acceptable to me and I have ordered a new valve elsewhere and will be returning this one when it arrives.This product installed easily and fit perfectly. It worked great for a few days now it is leaking at a bolt in the top. I have tightened it as much as I dare. (There are no tightening specs provided). I am contacting seller to determine solution.

Good product. Fitted well and there’s no leaks. Worked well. The old one had the base cracked from where water spilled out. Hope this one will not have the same problem. Only time will tell.

Works good

So far so good, easy to replace and fit like a glove

Muy bueno

Excellent product

Great replacement unit. Easy to install.