Very new to pools...Need advice (build started 5/30/20)

[jimim]

Broke ground.

at 12:51 AM! but it's light out in the pictures? I know I know. lol. Good luck! post everything. like everything with pics and the guys and gals here will break it all down for you as you go so nothing is missed! that's what I did. every angle play by play. ask Kim, Jim, and others here they will tell you. lol

that way it will be the best it can be when all is said and done!

try to enjoy the process so when you look back you can smile on it all!

 

[carnivalday]

This will be fun to watch!

 

[chris8725]

Jimim,

We are going with a salt system. During the pricing we found out this PB includes a pentair prowler 920 (non bluetooth) at no extra charge. Im not sure if most PBs do this but it was a nice suprise to me.

Also we chose this PB because he checked off all the boxes of building the pool that we wanted, including price. Being a smaller company they dont do the fancy 3D renderings but thats fine with us.

One thing that im not sure about is the PE pad. Its shown here on the left side. But i believe it would be better on the right side of our home. The problem im having is that if we did put it there would the noise of it running be something i should be concerned about being right next to our bedroom?

 

[zea3]

PE is the equipment pad? If you are using varriable speed pumps then noise should not be a factor, however you may have utilities or easements on the right side of the house that prohibit pad placement there. You can always ask the builder to explain if it matters which side of the house the pad is located. Is there a particular reason why you think the right side of the house would be a better location?

 

[chris8725]

PE is the equipment pad? If you are using varriable speed pumps then noise should not be a factor, however you may have utilities or easements on the right side of the house that prohibit pad placement there. You can always ask the builder to explain if it matters which side of the house the pad is located. Is there a particular reason why you think the right side of the house would be a better location?

Yes. Its because the spacing and the amount of windows we have on the left side. Our ac units are on the right side and we would like to keep it somewhat organized. We did talk to the PB and he said we could move it. He also said the same about the variable speed motor and that we wouldnt hear it. Thanks!

 

[zea3]

Your a/c is probably noisier than the pump would be even if it was a one speed!

 

[chris8725]

Your a/c is probably noisier than the pump would be even if it was a one speed!

Although i can hear the ac they are further away. But that good info. Thanks

 

[jimim]

Yup I agree ac way more noisy than a variable speeds my pump increases its speed from 830 to 1030 pm and again at 830 to 1030 am. And it’s not even much louder. Whatever u want I would go with. Don’t worry about the noice. U will be good if variable speed or setup ur higher run time when not sleeping.
Sweet deal on robot. Good guy he is! U should have seen my drawings. I did them and then my builder finecruned them with a draining just like urs. Ended up fine. Even when I built my house my dads buddies never looked at my plans except when they framed. I paid all that money and after it was framed they said throw them pretty drawings away. Lol

 

[chris8725]

Opinions on adding more lights? The one being installed is an intellibrite LED.

 

[chris8725]

Rebar complete. They knocked it out in less than 4 hours.

 

[kimkats]

Where will this light be going? That is a long pool for one light in the wrong spot.

Did you get to see them doing the work? It is amazing to see them do it. It is like art work in motion!

 

[chris8725]

Where will this light be going? That is a long pool for one light in the wrong spot.

Did you get to see them doing the work? It is amazing to see them do it. It is like art work in motion!

I did and its definitely a skilled labor and for them to do it so fast, I was amazed.

The one light is down is in the deep end shining longways. It might be late to add another but maybe not, whats your opinion?

 

[Dtkokay]

Opinions on adding more lights? The one being installed is an intellibrite LED.

I think it would look nicer to have two lights that are facing away from your house. That way you see the light, but not where it's coming from unless you're on the other side of the pool. If you put just the one light in the deep end facing sideways, you'll see a bright spot there.

Having said that, I have six LED lights in my pool due to its length (65'), but I rarely turn them on because they seem to attract bugs. They look fantastic though.

 

[chris8725]

They just dropped off 2. Is that a sign?

 

[chris8725]

Here is the rest of the equipment they dropped off. About the vsp the model number ends in 56. I think i read to stay away from that one?

 

[kimkats]

Let me call @Jimrahbe as he knows equipment better than I do.

Yeah I would say you are getting two lights! I think that is for the best.

 

[Jimrahbe]

About the vsp the model number ends in 56. I think i read to stay away from that one?

Chris,

There is nothing wrong with the VSF pump except how you might use it... It has both the VSpeed functions and the VFlow functions. The problem that I see is that for some reason, new pool users tend to think "flow" is important, and they get all wrapped up into trying to figure out how much flow they need, and trying to figure turnovers, and dynamic head, and it just make things so much more complicated than it needs to be.

I suggest that you have the installer set it up using only RPM (VS)... After you use the pump for a while, you can always use the VF function if you find you need it.. 99% of pools only need the VS function.

I also see an SWCG power center and the IC40 SWG, as well as the CCP-420 filter. A prowler Robot an Intermatic Timer. All good stuff.

Did you, or your pool builder, discuss an automation system?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[chris8725]

Did you, or your pool builder, discuss an automation system?

Thanks,

Jim R.

I didnt even think of automation. I assume that is something you recommend?

 

[Dtkokay]

Automation is sooooo convenient, not just for controlling your pool but to see what’s going on. Is the equipment on? What speed is your pump running? How many watts is the pump using? What’s the water temperature?

Rather than go outside, do all this from your phone:
You’re in bed and want to run the heater overnight.
Change the time when your pump runs.
Turn on the pool lights.
Change the color of the pool lights.
Change the % of your SWCG.

I can’t remember if you have a spa, but if so, I would consider automation to be a requirement.

 

[chris8725]

Automation is sooooo convenient, not just for controlling your pool but to see what’s going on. Is the equipment on? What speed is your pump running? How many watts is the pump using? What’s the water temperature?

Rather than go outside, do all this from your phone:
You’re in bed and want to run the heater overnight.
Change the time when your pump runs.
Turn on the pool lights.
Change the color of the pool lights.
Change the % of your SWCG.

I can’t remember if you have a spa, but if so, I would consider automation to be a requirement.

That does sound nice. Is that something that can be added later or does it need to be done now?