-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BODVKwPMLmRdxud4wvb14smGkVggzRFfIOMdNzzSJzKjZDd599krtu+ECT1AxOs7
 Ay0G/st0uD4xAwoXyWVOpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-10-009259.txt : 20100216
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-10-009259.hdr.sgml : 20100215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100216123341
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-10-009259
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100216
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100216

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURRIS JERRY W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001368731

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-04689
		FILM NUMBER:		10604275

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		123 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			BRISTOL
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06011-0489

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PENTAIR INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000077360
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY (NO METALWORKING MACHINERY) [3550]
		IRS NUMBER:				410907434
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5500 WAYZATA BLVD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			GOLDEN VALLEY
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55416
		BUSINESS PHONE:		763-545-1730

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5500 WAYZATA BLVD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 800
		CITY:			GOLDEN VALLEY
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55416

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PENTAIR INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19790327
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000077360</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENTAIR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PNR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001368731</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURRIS JERRY W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5500 WAYZATA BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GOLDEN VALLEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55416</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units (Deferred Compensation)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>141.812</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.4099</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>141.812</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2737.607</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Plan Agent</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Phantom stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents phantom stock units credited under a deferred compensation plan for non-employee directors over which the reporting person has no current dispositive or voting power.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Settlement of phantom stock units will be in Pentair common stock in accordance with reporting person's irrevocable election.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares acquired under this Plan are purchased over a three-day trading period. The price shown is the average purchase price over the trading period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">End-of-period holdings include shares acquired under a dividend reinvestment plan in exempt transaction not required to be reported pursuant to Section 16(a).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/ Louis L. Ainsworth, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----