Double-check me before I order new pump/filter?

[Dr_Data]

Hello all!

We just purchased a house with a 32,000 gallon in-ground plaster pool and am new to pools. Had a pool company come out for pre-purchase inspections. Pool's in good shape, but equipment is old. I am sure after reading a bit on TFP their recommendations are less than optimal (recommend replacing sand with glass for $1,080, a "variable speed pump" for $1,800, and a Clear Comfort AOP for $3,995).

Current setup:
Hayward Super Pump 2.0 hp, single speed
Hayward Pro S310s sand filter
Chlorine floaters -- Previous owner left 200+ pounds of chlorine tabs for me...

Proposed setup:
Pentair Intelliflow VS pump 011028
Pentair cartridge filters 160301 (420 square-feet)... Do I really need the 160332 (520 sq-ft)?
CircuPool RJ60 Plus SWCG (Just ordered last night while its on sale at DiscountSaltPool.com!)

A few questions:

• Any feedback on this proposed setup?
• Are there best practices for installation (pipe distances and such; equipment layout)?
  • The current pad is only 36" x 33"
• What is a good chemical testing setup? The recommendations I saw are many years old--have they changed?

Thanks in advance!
Daniel

 

[wireform]

Hi DR, welcome,
If there's nothing wrong with the sand leave it and forget the glass. Sand lasts forever almost. If you have extra cash to burn get the pentair cartridge and yes get the largest the wallet and space allow. VS speed pump is great and the RJ60 is fantastic choice

 

[Bama Rambler]

Wireform gave you good advice. Forget the glass. If you want to keep the sand filter just deep clean the sand (there are instructions here for doing that). Going to a variable speed pump and an SWCG is a good choice.

The good news is that you have plenty of room to expand the equipment pad if you need to.

Also that equipment doesn't look too old at all. You shouldn't need to change anything right now if you don't want to.

 

[Dr_Data]

Thank you both for the responses! I think a VS pump is wise, considering the energy cost of running that single speed pump. I guess I need to figure out if I should get a cartridge filter now or wait.

Would you recommend building an enclosure (small pump house) over the equipment to keep it out of the sun? I bought a little bit of acreage, so the only HOA is my wife...

 

[Bama Rambler]

Building a cover isn't a bad idea, but there are tons of equipment left out in the elements for years. I would at the very least paint the pvc pipe.

 

[wireform]

Also nobody addressed your request of water testing. I will recommend the This hands down. Stay out of pool stores as all can be had at depots,lowes and walmarts. AND NO, do not use those tabs they left for you. Read pool school here and you'll see liquid chlorine is the way to go ....
Fill in the your signature with all pool information. I don't see a heater in the picture so maybe you want to spend there. It'll prolong the swim season early and late so you can actually enjoy what you have there.

 

[Dr_Data]

Building a cover isn't a bad idea, but there are tons of equipment left out in the elements for years. I would at the very least paint the pvc pipe.

Excellent - will do!

Also nobody addressed your request of water testing. I will recommend the This hands down. Stay out of pool stores as all can be had at depots,lowes and walmarts. AND NO, do not use those tabs they left for you. Read pool school here and you'll see liquid chlorine is the way to go ....
Fill in the your signature with all pool information. I don't see a heater in the picture so maybe you want to spend there. It'll prolong the swim season early and late so you can actually enjoy what you have there.

Thanks for the suggestion on the pool test kit! I'll probably throw the tabs on Craigslist for next to nothing to recoup some of these costs... Want to keep the wife happy, as the one condition she had for us moving to the sticks was she had to have a pool. Done.

Regarding a heater, I am unsure if it necessary. I do not mind cold water, and it really does not get terribly cold in Charleston. Will likely open the pool in March and close in November. I'll keep an open mind on this (and listen to my wife on what she wants after this first season...)

 

[Newdude]

Hey Data !! I just wanted to give you the heads up that ordering the equipment may be a challange for you or the PB.

I purchased a filter 2 days ago that claimed to be in stock / ready to ship online and it took my order but immediately went into a holding process. I called Discover to verify they didn’t flag it as a large purchase and the said the charge went through.

Because of that unresolved question I called a second place on the phone yesterday (for the pump and SWG) and the girl double checked and confirmed availability and said it would ship in 3 days. Within an hour I got an email from their system saying Pentair was backordered with an expected shipping date of July.

The first place should be fairly reputable but the second place was a tried and true top notch retailer. Yet both are saying one thing and doing another. Or, it’s being done to them AND me. After the sale.

I only went this route because my PB was honest that he couldn’t guarantee anything and I’d be at the mercy of what brand was available when he started my build. So his supply chain is iffy at best as well.

On top of all THAT, I certainly wasn’t afforded the luxury to shop around and get the best deal. It was all costly. Many of the places online claiming availability had each piece marked up $1k at $2500 each.

So, Best of luck to you !!!!

 

[Dr_Data]

Hey Data !! I just wanted to give you the heads up that ordering the equipment may be a challange for you or the PB.

I purchased a filter 2 days ago that claimed to be in stock / ready to ship online and it took my order but immediately went into a holding process. I called Discover to verify they didn’t flag it as a large purchase and the said the charge went through.

Because of that unresolved question I called a second place on the phone yesterday (for the pump and SWG) and the girl double checked and confirmed availability and said it would ship in 3 days. Within an hour I got an email from their system saying Pentair was backordered with an expected shipping date of July.

The first place should be fairly reputable but the second place was a tried and true top notch retailer. Yet both are saying one thing and doing another. Or, it’s being done to them AND me. After the sale.

I only went this route because my PB was honest that he couldn’t guarantee anything and I’d be at the mercy of what brand was available when he started my build. So his supply chain is iffy at best as well.

On top of all THAT, I certainly wasn’t afforded the luxury to shop around and get the best deal. It was all costly. Many of the places online claiming availability had each piece marked up $1k at $2500 each.

So, Best of luck to you !!!!

Sorry to about that backorder situation and price gouging! I just checked on the pump/filter, and it says preparing to ship. I ordered from InTheSwim.com For the SWG I ordered from DiscountSaltPool.com I need to check the status of that order too. Hopefully I do not experience delays, but am prepared for it. Thank you for the heads-up!

 

[Newdude]

Hopefully I do not experience delays, but am prepared for it. Thank you for the heads-up!

Just as many people are getting lucky as they are having problems. Here’s hoping it works out for both of us.

 

[Chad1979]

Everything on the pool world has skyrocketed up in prices since rona started. My little 10 by 30" pool i bought 2 years ago for around 100 bucks wothout pump is going for nearly 3 times as much still. My intex 2500gph pump filter was also around 100 bucks and is going for almost 200. Id love to get a decent sand filter and pump so when upgrade the pool it wont need done, but i cant justify 350 to 500 for it plus needing to get sand that is expensive as well from even the likes of menards. My little filter does what it needs to do, just want to not need to clean the little cartridge filter every couple of days. Good luck on finding and getting what you want when you want it.

 

[Dr_Data]

Just as many people are getting lucky as they are having problems. Here’s hoping it works out for both of us.

Filter and pump showed up today via FedEx... while we were all poolside I was grateful it came, and even early at that. Now just waiting on the SWCG.

 

[bover907]

I Just ordered a Circupool SJ35 from Discount Salt Pool last week, and it came a few days later, so you shouldn't have any problems with them. Glad your other stuff came in.

I am in the process of re-doing my equipment pad too. I have an above ground, but am replacing all the flex hoses with PVC and adding the SWG. I ordered union ball valves from Amazon, and got all the PVC stuff from Lowes. At least PVC hasn't skyrocketed like everything else!

Good luck, and welcome to the forum!