New Construction - Granbury, Texas

[Zamspa]

Hello

This will be our first pool and we are so excited but I'm afraid I will make the wrong choices or forget something important.

We had to do a retaining wall first but are also adding a garage/storage, pergola, pool/spa, and firepit.

Our pool will be 16 X 32 with an attached spa. I believe our pool will be approximately 18,000 gallons.

I am hoping to get some suggestions on the best pumps available as well as horsepower and variable vs single speed pump.

I would like your opinions on sand vs cartridge filters as well, please.

I have attached a picture of the design of our pool, what are your opinions on adding a seating bench to the bottom corner of the deep end?

The picture does not show this but the spa will have an overhang into the pool with a bench underneath where the water pours down.

Is there anything you would add to the design of this pool? They are supposed to start digging today or tomorrow. Thank you in advance for any help and suggestions!

I have attached a picture of our yard (sorry it was taken from an upstairs window) as they are working on the retaining wall and an image of the plans for our back yard.

 

[ajw22]

How to select pool equipment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Pool Filter Comparison

Your pool's filter is a vital part of your equipment pad. We'll take a look at each type of filter and list the pro's and con's of each.

www.troublefreepool.com

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Construction Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

If it were my pool I would get a Pentair Intelliflo VS 011028 pump, and a CCP420 cartridge filter, and an IntelliChlor IC40 bundled with the IntelliCenter automation which would include two actuators. Get all diverter valves, no ball valves.

I would have 6 spa jets on a separate pump and an air blower bubbler.

You going to have a heater for the spa?

 

[JJ_Tex]

+1 on the suggestions from Allen.

It is hard to tell from the picture of the screen, but does your yard back up to the lake? If so, will that raised spa block your view?

 

[Zamspa]

How to select pool equipment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Pool Filter Comparison

Your pool's filter is a vital part of your equipment pad. We'll take a look at each type of filter and list the pro's and con's of each.

www.troublefreepool.com

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Construction Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

If it were my pool I would get a Pentair Intelliflo VS 011028 pump, and a CCP420 cartridge filter, and an IntelliChlor IC40 bundled with the IntelliCenter automation which would include two actuators. Get all diverter valves, no ball valves.

I would have 6 spa jets on a separate pump and an air blower bubbler.

You going to have a heater for the spa?

Thank you so much for all of the information. My concern with a cartridge filter is all the leaves that will be falling into the pool, it was suggested that we do a sand filter for this reason but I would love to know if this is not really a concern. What would be your suggestions for a sand filter if we went that way? I have heard great things about the Pentair pumps.

I will be asking our contractor about the spa jets on a separate pump and air blower bubbler and let you know.

Yes, the spa will be heated by natural gas and the contractor said that the system would also heat the pool (but that is not recommended because would be very expensive).

 

[Zamspa]

+1 on the suggestions from Allen.

It is hard to tell from the picture of the screen, but does your yard back up to the lake? If so, will that raised spa block your view?

No, there will be the retaining wall and a fence behind the spa, we are close to the water but our view is from the front and right side of the house pool and spa.

 

[ajw22]

My concern with a cartridge filter is all the leaves that will be falling into the pool, it was suggested that we do a sand filter for this reason but I would love to know if this is not really a concern.

I don’t understand why you think a sand filter will work better with leaves then a cartridge filter.

 

[JJ_Tex]

I would go with a cartridge or DE filter over sand. Any leaves should be caught by your skimmers and your pump basket and not reach your filter.

My mom lives there on the lake. I understand the inspector(s) there can be challenging if you use a pool builder "from the big city" instead of someone local. Gotta love small town politics. Good luck on your build and keep asking away on the questions.

 

[Zamspa]

I don’t understand why you think a sand filter will work better with leaves then a cartridge filter.

I had a friend of mine who owns a pool cleaning business say it would be better. I am hearing different options on which was better, that is why I was asking for all opinions. It sounds like the cartridge might be the better option. Thank you

 

[ajw22]

I had a friend of mine who owns a pool cleaning business say it would be better.

If you were in the pool cleaning business you would prefer it also. When the filter needs to be cleaned he can easily do a quick backwash and it will be good until his next visit.

With a large cartridge filter you should only need to clean it once or twice a year. When it does need to be cleaned you breakdown the filter, remove the cartridges, clean them, and reassemble. Lots more work for the pool care guy. Easy and less work over the year for the homeowner.

Pool care guys recommendations are from a different perspective then a pool owner. You want to get what is easiest for him or you?

 

[Zamspa]

I would go with a cartridge or DE filter over sand. Any leaves should be caught by your skimmers and your pump basket and not reach your filter.

My mom lives there on the lake. I understand the inspector(s) there can be challenging if you use a pool builder "from the big city" instead of someone local. Gotta love small town politics. Good luck on your build and keep asking away on the questions.

Thank you, it sounds like the cartridge filter may be the better option. We are using a local contractor and we already have all of our permits from the city. We live in the historic district (that was fun while building our house) and had a few issues with underground electric lines (they needed to be moved) but other than that it went pretty smoothly.

 

[Zamspa]

The list my contractor just sent me and what is included with our bid

Pentair
Whisper flo pump
400k btu heater
Cartridge filter
Led color lights
Dolphin M400 robotic cleaner
Easy touch PSL4 automation
2 skimmers
2hp air blower
6 jets in spa
Equipment on pad

Compared to the suggestions provided earlier, should I ask about upgrading to

Pentair
Intelliflo VS 011028 pump
CCP420 cartridge filter
IntelliChlor IC40 bundled with the IntelliCenter automation

What major differences are there in this equipment and what do you think the price difference would be?

 

[Zamspa]

Retaining wall complete ? they will start digging the pool either tomorrow or Monday.
Still unsure about the equipment they have picked out. I believe is is a great system but is it what is best for us?
The Whisperflo I cannot find much information on (is it an older pump?) but I don’t believe it is a variable speed pump and not quite sure if that is important (from what I read it is but why?).
Any suggestions on changes I should request?

 

[ajw22]

Retaining wall complete ? they will start digging the pool either tomorrow or Monday.
Still unsure about the equipment they have picked out. I believe is is a great system but is it what is best for us?
The Whisperflo I cannot find much information on (is it an older pump?) but I don’t believe it is a variable speed pump and not quite sure if that is important (from what I read it is but why?).
Any suggestions on changes I should request?

WhisperFlo® High Performance Pump

Pentair WhisperFlo High Performance Pool Pump is perfect for your inground pool, delivering high water flow and quiet performance. Shop pool pumps here.

www.pentair.com

Whisperflo pump is more appropriate for spa jets and pools that have an Infloor Cleaning system.

You will see a lot of models of Wisperflo pumps listed.

I would get the IntelliFlo pump and just installed it in my pool.

 

[Zamspa]

WhisperFlo® High Performance Pump

Pentair WhisperFlo High Performance Pool Pump is perfect for your inground pool, delivering high water flow and quiet performance. Shop pool pumps here.

www.pentair.com

Whisperflo pump is more appropriate for spa jets and pools that have an Infloor Cleaning system.

You will see a lot of models of Wisperflo pumps listed.

I would get the IntelliFlo pump and just installed it in my pool.

Okay, I just talked to my contractor again and he said he will give me the IntelliFlo and that will run the pool and spa.

 

[Zamspa]

As far as animation, he has the Easytouch but is the IntelliCenter a big improvement? If so, why?

 

[ajw22]

The Intellicenter system is modular, expandable, gets regular software updates, will support Intellivalves someday, has 100 schedule/programs, has PC/app/internet connectivity built in and does not need the Protocol Adaptet and ScrrenLogic add ons.

IntelliCenter is the future of Pentair automation, EasyTouch prime time has past

 

[Zamspa]

The Intellicenter system is modular, expandable, gets regular software updates, will support Intellivalves someday, has 100 schedule/programs, has PC/app/internet connectivity built in and does not need the Protocol Adaptet and ScrrenLogic add ons.

IntelliCenter is the future of Pentair automation, EasyTouch prime time has past

Awesome information, this is what I could not find in trying to research it myself. Thank you so much. Would you know the approximate cost difference between the two systems?

 

[JJ_Tex]

Thats a much better pump and your electric bill will thank you for it. Intellicenter upgrade should be a few hundred dollars, over Easy Touch + Screen Logic.

 

[Zamspa]

Thats a much better pump and your electric bill will thank you for it. Intellicenter upgrade should be a few hundred dollars, over Easy Touch + Screen Logic.

I was quoted $2,400 difference from the EasyTouch PSL4 to the IntelliCenter for upgrade and programming...do you think it is worth the difference in cost?

 

[masterofnone48]

I was quoted $2,400 difference from the EasyTouch PSL4 to the IntelliCenter for upgrade and programming...do you think it is worth the difference in cost?

That will be up to you regarding your budget. I recently installed the Easytouch and Screen Logic and it does everything I need to do. My project costs were snowballing so I chose to stick with the Easytouch. From my research, the intellitouch is more like using an iphone versus a flip phone. lol