In-floor pool cleaner

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Granted it is an industry with little regulation, but I was looking for some sort of consensus on what minimums an IFCS should include...or more precisely, the actual statistics.
 
Who is the manufactuer of your IFCS? Paramount? Look at their installation manual or call them and ask.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Green Krusty
@ajw22 pretty much covered it.... the industry is unregulated. Pool builders do some really weird things.

I've never actually seen an infloor cleaning system without a control valve. But that's not to say they don't exist.

A few pics of your equipment pad and pool might help.
Do all pop-ups pop up at once?
Are you the original owner?
Do you know who the PB is and are they still in business? Maybe contact them.
Contact Paramount and ask if they have record of your install and/or can explain how it's supposed to work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Green Krusty
Unfortunately it seems the pool industry is an industry of opinion, when it comes to the plumbing, and rightfully so. Inspectors only care if the water stays in the pipes. However it is manipulated is not their concern. There are multiple ways to skin a cat. None is wrong, but if you want it done a specific way, the client has to determine that. I will say that my PB installed my IFCS with no control other than the pump. If my pump was running, the IFCS was running. I don't fault them... That's the way they did it and I didn't know anything. Had I known what I do now, I would have insisted on a bypass to isolate the IFCS should I not want to use it. From what I have seen in the past year of reading others posts on IFCS systems, I think that most PB's will not install an isolation/bypass unless requested/demanded. And I think that most IFCS companies do not design the system with a bypass. They expect the system to be in operation any time the pump is in operation.

I took it upon myself to replumb my system to have a bypass for the IFCS. If I do a future build, that will be a requirement of the system, should I continue to believe an IFCS is a necessary feature.

--Jeff
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Green Krusty
proavia said:
@ajw22 pretty much covered it.... the industry is unregulated. Pool builders do some really weird things.

I've never actually seen an infloor cleaning system without a control valve. But that's not to say they don't exist.

A few pics of your equipment pad and pool might help.
Do all pop-ups pop up at once?
Are you the original owner?
Do you know who the PB is and are they still in business? Maybe contact them.
Contact Paramount and ask if they have record of your install and/or can explain how it's supposed to work.
Click to expand...
1. Pool and pad pics have already been posted
2. pop-ups work well in sequence (already posted, but thread moved possibly)
3. I am not the original owner, but I have a copy of the contract (lacking detail on this item)
4. I know how it works...I'm trying to get it to not work (sometimes...when swimming and solar on)
5. I know who the PB is,,,will try to get ahold of Paramount Installation manual, thanks
 
TWIMC,
Someone posted, asking what was under the insulated cover in front of my pool pad...it is anti-siphon valve for the auto-filler plumbing.
Sorry, but I can't seem to find your post now (it may have been moved?)
 
Green Krusty said:
TWIMC,
Someone posted, asking what was under the insulated cover in front of my pool pad...it is anti-siphon valve for the auto-filler plumbing.
Sorry, but I can't seem to find your post now (it may have been moved?)
Click to expand...
It's in post 25

Is the PB still in business? If so, contact them and ask if they know how the system works. Chances are Paramount won't have a clue how it was installed.

Show us pics around the pool - maybe someone will see something that may provide a clue.

If the heads are cycling, there has to be "something" causing the cycling. That "something" is usually the water valve. It may be buried someplace in the yard - close to the pool. Most PB don't add separate returns when an infloor is installed. If this is your case, you can't shut off the infloor as you have no other way to return water to the pool.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Green Krusty

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
proavia said:
It's in post 25

Is the PB still in business? If so, contact them and ask if they know how the system works. Chances are Paramount won't have a clue how it was installed.

Show us pics around the pool - maybe someone will see something that may provide a clue.

If the heads are cycling, there has to be "something" causing the cycling. That "something" is usually the water valve. It may be buried someplace in the yard - close to the pool. Most PB don't add separate returns when an infloor is installed. If this is your case, you can't shut off the infloor as you have no other way to return water to the pool.
Click to expand...
It does have 4 wall eye-balls which I believe are connected to the geared water valve doo-dah, but I still can't figure out why they set a schedule for the IFPC on the EasyTouch. If I had been here when they installed, I think I would have had them hook the cleaner up to the 2nd pump instead of my waterfalls... but there is a down-side to that too...need another jandy valve or water feature runs too much.
 
Sounds like they hooked the wall returns into the infloor. Are these regular wall returns or are they some kind of jets that is supposed to work in conjunction with the infloor? Show us some pics.

Any idea where the water valve is located? Anything around/near the pool area that you dont know what is does? I would contact the PB and ask - there is some type of water valve somewhere. Show us some pics around the pool area.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Green Krusty
Green Krusty said:
View attachment 172267
Here's another view, Jim
Click to expand...
proavia said:
It's in post 25

Is the PB still in business? If so, contact them and ask if they know how the system works. Chances are Paramount won't have a clue how it was installed.

Show us pics around the pool - maybe someone will see something that may provide a clue.

If the heads are cycling, there has to be "something" causing the cycling. That "something" is usually the water valve. It may be buried someplace in the yard - close to the pool. Most PB don't add separate returns when an infloor is installed. If this is your case, you can't shut off the infloor as you have no other way to return water to the pool.
Click to expand...
proavia said:
That "something" is usually the water valve.
Click to expand...
Correct...behind pool ledger wall along with (3) 2" valves for water features.
 
I think the moral of the story is that there are PBs and there are PBs. In the end, I think "caveat emptor" and "due diligence" rule. A good PB though should lay out the options and charge accordingly rather than try to get a vague contract signed quickly. The consumer should probably be just as concerned about the mechanicals as the pebble finish. Rant complete...please move to pool build thread if more appropriate there.
 
ralphsyv said:
Look here for Paramount manuals:

I have Paramount PCC2000. In our case there's no way to shut off or bypass it.
Click to expand...
Thanks, have already looked at Paramount's installation guide, etc. and plumbing blurb...did find out there is a check valve required on raised water features (or spas), but think it's only a requirement of you have a single pump. They also "recommend" solar systems be operated independently with a booster pump (probably only applies to pools with gas heaters)
 
Jimrahbe said:
Krusty,

Your first post says your goal was to be able to take a dip without having to trip over the pop-up heads.. So tell us why shutting off the pump, while your are "dipping" is such a problem???

Jim R.
Click to expand...
No solar heating, pump must run for solar heating
 
Last edited:
Jimrahbe said:
Krusty,

That makes sense, but how much could your pool possible cool down in an hour?

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Not much... but it won't be gaining heat either...in the spring and fall it can gain 10-15 *F easily during the hours it is on 9am-3pm (I don't/won't use a solar cover.) The cleaner also wastes energy and results in premature wear... I've already replaced it (the water gear valve) once
 
Last edited:

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply