Hello Everyone!
Long time listener - first time caller.
Some pertinent info: I bought the home about 5 years ago (inground gunite installed 2002) and am a first-time pool owner. I was very quick and eager to learn how to maintain the pool and keep the water precisely balanced. Pool is a little less than 20k gallons and is 'double' kidney shaped. Almost entirely 4' feet deep but drops very quickly near the main drain and is about 8' deep at the main drain. Pool has two skimmers, a poolsweep (with separate pump), slide, inline chlorinator, 4 element cartridge filter and a 266k BTU Raypak Natural gas heater.
I have replaced the main pump with a variable speed pump and did some PVC work in that area while installing.
I do not use the poolsweep or inline chlorinator - I prefer to manually brush and vacuum the pool daily and add liquid chlorine nightly to keep levels precise.
I decided that it was time to replace my Natural Gas Pool Heater. I am replacing my 266k Raypak with a 250k Hayward and will be replacing some of the plumbing as well.
As mentioned, my current setup has a poolsweep (with extra pump) and an inline chlorinator. I want to remove both of them as they periodically leak and I do not use either. A picture would serve well here, but I do not have one handy...
CURRENTLY - After the heater, the water is carried through a 2" PVC pipe to the chlorinator then directly underground where it splits (somewhere) into 5 return jets for the pool. On the way to the chlorinator, a separate PVC line (1/2" maybe) is tapped into the PVC and runs into the sweeper pump then into a 1/2" PVC line underground and into its own return jet which is designed for the poolsweep.
My question is simple - do I 'plug' the odd 1/2" return or include it in the new plumbing. I am leaning toward including it because it does help with circulation - I have a directional return eye installed where the sweeper would connect. If I include it in the new plumbing, should I rig some type of jandy valve or simply tap somewhere off the 2" PVC before it goes underground?
Would love some professional opinions and thank you in advance!
Looking forward to opening next weekend and hopefully this is the beginning of a long and hot Michigan summer,
John
Long time listener - first time caller.
Some pertinent info: I bought the home about 5 years ago (inground gunite installed 2002) and am a first-time pool owner. I was very quick and eager to learn how to maintain the pool and keep the water precisely balanced. Pool is a little less than 20k gallons and is 'double' kidney shaped. Almost entirely 4' feet deep but drops very quickly near the main drain and is about 8' deep at the main drain. Pool has two skimmers, a poolsweep (with separate pump), slide, inline chlorinator, 4 element cartridge filter and a 266k BTU Raypak Natural gas heater.
I have replaced the main pump with a variable speed pump and did some PVC work in that area while installing.
I do not use the poolsweep or inline chlorinator - I prefer to manually brush and vacuum the pool daily and add liquid chlorine nightly to keep levels precise.
I decided that it was time to replace my Natural Gas Pool Heater. I am replacing my 266k Raypak with a 250k Hayward and will be replacing some of the plumbing as well.
As mentioned, my current setup has a poolsweep (with extra pump) and an inline chlorinator. I want to remove both of them as they periodically leak and I do not use either. A picture would serve well here, but I do not have one handy...
CURRENTLY - After the heater, the water is carried through a 2" PVC pipe to the chlorinator then directly underground where it splits (somewhere) into 5 return jets for the pool. On the way to the chlorinator, a separate PVC line (1/2" maybe) is tapped into the PVC and runs into the sweeper pump then into a 1/2" PVC line underground and into its own return jet which is designed for the poolsweep.
My question is simple - do I 'plug' the odd 1/2" return or include it in the new plumbing. I am leaning toward including it because it does help with circulation - I have a directional return eye installed where the sweeper would connect. If I include it in the new plumbing, should I rig some type of jandy valve or simply tap somewhere off the 2" PVC before it goes underground?
Would love some professional opinions and thank you in advance!
Looking forward to opening next weekend and hopefully this is the beginning of a long and hot Michigan summer,
John
