Pool Equipment needs???

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36racin

36racin

0
Jul 31, 2009
222
Gonzales, La
In the process of planning a owner built gunite pool and I am looking for information or list of equipment needs for my project. Design is basic rectangle design 16x30 with a 8x6 Baha Deck and 8x6 raised Spa. Pool depth from 4' to 6'. So I am guessing I need the following

Pool pump (size and brand to be determined) Pool return will be plumbed to Spa when it's not in use for spillover affect
Filter (size/type and brand to be determined)
Spa pump ( size and brand to be determined)
Spa heater (size and brand to be determined)
Spa blower (size and brand to be determined) Is this needed??
Cleaner (Like Polaris)
Cleaner Booster (size and brand to be determined)
SWG (size and brand to be determined)
Pool/Spa automation (to be determined)
2 Skimmers in pool (ok or too much?) (Type/Brand?)
Double main drain (Code I believe)
Returns to pool (how many?)
Bubbler on Baha deck (how many?)

1 Skimmer in Spa (Type/Brand?)
Double main drain (Code I believe)
Jets (how many and type?)

Let me know if anything is missing. I'd like to purchase all of this as a package if possible. So if you guys know of a good place to purchase all this for good prices please let me know.

Thanks,
Todd
 
It looks like you have lots of decisions to make :)

You don't always need a blower. Venturi jets will draw air in even without a blower. Sometimes a blower is still nice to have to extreme amounts of bubbles, but most people skip getting a blower these days.

Another decision is to get a separate spa pump or not. With a two speed or variable speed pump there is no need for a separate spa pump in most cases. Spas with very large numbers of spa jets might need a separate spa pump anyway, but that is fairly rare.

Two skimmers is good. With only one skimmer it is too easy for the skimmer to get clogged.

I'd do at least three returns. You see anywhere from one to twelve these days. The more you have the less value there is to adding another, not that that is saying much.

I recommend getting the largest filter you can afford and have room for. Larger filters go longer between cleanings and are slightly more efficient.

Avoid using a single speed pool pump. Get at least a two speed pump. The usual rule of thumb is that a variable speed pump is worth it if your electricity costs $0.20/kwh or higher.

The size of the spa pump very much depends on how many jets you have and what flow rates they require.

Pool cleaners with booster pumps tend to work very well, but keep in mind that they use a little more electricity than cleaners that do not require a booster pump. At the fanciness level you appear to be talking, robotic cleaners are a good choice, though they are a bit more expensive up front.
 
Jasonlion,
Yes we still have a few decisions to make. That's why I keep hanging around these boards. As you can see I am not experienced with what it takes to put together a inground pool package. While we did have a above ground one years ago but had to remove to build our new house. Now mom and the kids want the pool back but the above ground one just would not go with the new house.

As far as the Spa is concerned we are still debating the need for it. Considering the added cost of the Spa, equipment, new gas meter and gas line run are worth what we will have to spend on them. I'd say the spa alone would add an additional $5000 easily to the total pool cost?

Skimmers and returns. I had already decided on two skimmers for the pool, and most probably will go with 3 returns to the pool plus two bubblers on the Baha Deck.

Cleaners and boosters sound pretty complex. While I like the Polaris brand since I am familar with them from our old above ground pool. With or without a booster?? Does the booster just make the cleaner move around the pool? Or can a cleaner be ran off the pool pump to the pool filter? I would guess a dedicated line to/from the pool for this item?

Pool filters. What type is best? Sand, cartridge or DE?

Please be patient with me as I will probably ask alot of questions until I figure all this out.

Thanks,
Todd
 
Divide the total amount of the bill by the total number of kWh used for the entire month. That will give you the cost per kWh.

Cleaners can work off of a booster pump, a suction line, a return line, or operate independently. Suction cleaners tend to be the most limited, booster pump powered cleaners are the most popular and the most reliable but cost more to operate. Return line powered cleaners are more cost effective taking everything into account. Robotic cleaners, which don't depend on a pump at all, are the most expensive and the most effective.

All three kinds of filters have their pros and cons, so there is no clear choice. DE is the most work and the best water quality. Sand is the least work and the worst water quality (though still quite good). Cartridges don't waste any water, as the other two do, and are in-between in both work and effectiveness.
 
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