Retractable, Removable Pool Equipment Cover / Sun Shade / Protection

[jonpcar]

When I recently was working on my pool equipment pad (I replaced my old Fiberstars fiber optic lights with SR Smith Treo LED lights), I realized that my pool equipment and plumbing that I put in 4 years ago as part of our pool remodel was getting pretty beat up by the Arizona sun. So, last week I decided to give the equipment some shade.

From this view it looks like the equipment would get a lot of shade, but surprisingly it also gets much sun. On the wall are my pvc "hinge" and latches for the contraption that I had planned. The hole in the background is exploratory for a future project (buried bleach tank for stenner pump).

Material and Needle/Thread:

Amazon.com : Gale Pacific, USA 302245 6X15 90% Uv Wheat Shade, (6' x 15') : Outdoor Sunscreen Fabric : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Gale Pacific, USA 302245 6X15 90% Uv Wheat Shade, (6' x 15') : Outdoor Sunscreen Fabric : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com: Coolaroo 301408, Lacing Needle Attachment and Placement, (1 Set, 80' Cord) Shade Fabric Accessories, Black: Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com: Coolaroo 301408, Lacing Needle Attachment and Placement, (1 Set, 80' Cord) Shade Fabric Accessories, Black: Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

- - - Updated - - -

I built a PVC frame (to attach sun shade material to) around the piping and motor.



Here's how it "retracts"



- - - Updated - - -

And here is the finished project:

With the screen removed:



With the screen shade on:



With the screen shade retracted:



- - - Updated - - -

And finally, I bought a "TV cover" and and "smoker cover" to protect the control panel and filter respectively. I need to put in a zipper on the filter cover to access pump pressure and relief valve easily. The TV cover will be slightly modified as well to make it easier to simply slip on and off.

 

[Costas > DownUnder]

Awesome, simple and functional - Looks great and still allows you easy access for maintenance purposes.

People underestimate the damage that UV will do over time to plastic components - Apart from the cosmetic fading commonly seen with pool equipment, items can become brittle etc which then can lead to damage when you want to work on something.

We get quite a bit of sun DownUnder so I ended up housing my pool equipment within a small room built into my existing shed.

 

[jonpcar]

Hey Costas, thx! I will see how often I have to replace the sun shade material, hopefully only every few years.

You are right about the sun's harmful effects on the pipes and equipment (especially in our climates). I obviously painted all the pvc pipes but still saw deterioration on my valves, filter, etc. To give you an idea about how bad it gets...here is my old equipment before remodel from this post: COMPLETED: DIY Travertine Pool and Patio Remodel in AZ - Page 2



By the way, I am jealous of your pool equipment mansion...it look so clean! I wish I had more room for my equipment.

 

[Arizonarob]

I did the same on my equipment, except I covered the whole pad with a hinged top.

 

[Costas > DownUnder]

To give you an idea about how bad it gets...here is my old equipment before remodel

Wow that looks really weathered....!

The new gear should fair a lot better now that it will be under cover.

At least now you will only need to replace the screen material every now and then rather than the equipment...

 

[jonpcar]

Rob, yours was easier and just as functional! If I had thought of it I might have done something similar...now I feel like I wasted $30 on pvc fittings building my fancy pvc frame when I could have done it with 4 elbows, haha.

 

[Arizonarob]

Rob, yours was easier and just as functional! If I had thought of it I might have done something similar...now I feel like I wasted $30 on pvc fittings building my fancy pvc frame when I could have done it with 4 elbows, haha.

Yeah, but yours looks a lot more fun to build.
I have a couple of mods I want to do to it this fall, one of them is adding a gas shock(s) to hold it open without a prop. But yeah, when I replaced all the equipment last year, there was no way I was going to have all that money baking in the sun!!

P.S I had read your remodel thread some time ago, real nice work you did there.

 

[enhinaz]

Jonpcar,
I'm also in Arizona and have been thinking about how I was going to protect my equipment. What you've built is exactly what I was looking for. Have you made any changes to your design since this post.
Thanks.
Eric

 

[jonpcar]

Eric, no I haven’t made any changes. The sun shade looks almost as good as new. Sadly, the smoker/filter cover and tv/equipment panel are showing a lot of sun fading.

 

[joepaiii]

Eric, no I haven’t made any changes. The sun shade looks almost as good as new. Sadly, the smoker/filter cover and tv/equipment panel are showing a lot of sun fading.

Even through the shade material?

 

[jonpcar]

Even through the shade material?

Joe, take a look at the first post pictures…the sun shade material does NOT extend over the filter and panel covers, so they get direct sun.

 

[ddpolo]

I did the same on my equipment, except I covered the whole pad with a hinged top.

Thanks Rob - I also live in Chandler - my old equip was as bad or worse than your pics! Equipment pad was original - broken down concrete that had wood shims supporting the motor - everything was out of alignment and leaking.
I had a complete pool equip rebuild done this week by B&B - also made the switch from sand filter to Hayward cartridge - no more backwashing!
I already have the 1/2 block wall around the equip on 3 sides and will use your idea to build a shade cover this weekend - appreciate the visual on how to attach to the block wall and secure to 1/2 wall.