Equipment and Plumbing layout help please

[daverph]

I need to have the filter sand replaced, along with my multiport gasket (although pool co says to replace the whole multiport). Also want to have a SWCG put in, not sure if there is enough room in existing layout to do it, figured it has to go where the chlorinator line is currently located. My equipment is located in my garage about 150’ from the pool, pool is about 35 years old though I had new pebble tec surface and tile installed 2 years ago. With the sand out of the filter this might be the best time to make any changes to the layout

Looking at the plumbing inside the garage, there are 26 90 degree elbows when water flows through the heat pump, 20 when heat pump is bypassed, plus whatever goes on underground on the way to and from the pool.

There is a section on the main drain where someone put in 2 90s to drop the pipe onto the floor to get around the waste line, which seems dumb. There is also a bolt of some kind on top of the pipe that returns to pool, any ideas on why it is there?

Assuming I have 2 x 1.5” lines from skimmer and main drain, and it looks like 1 x 1.5” line back to pool as I can’t get behind to actually see. Pipes for heat pump pass through a flood vent opening in the wall out to the heat pump and back when running, with a check valve installed on outside pipe.

Could anyone please tell me if this mess of pipes and 90s should be simplified by rearranging the layout of the equipment? Would it help the flow and efficiency to rearrange it? I’m not able to do it myself so would cost make it not worth doing?

There was a water fill line installed at one point but it had been cut out, is it worth adding back in and would it go on the suction side? I’m also going to have some unions put on while we’re at it to make service in the future easier.

Any recommendations, or suggestions for things that I may not even know about asking?
Thanks for your help!

 

[ferretbone]

That bolt is an improvised plug from a UV light, chlorinator, or what ever that no longer fed into your line.

I can't see anything that stands out on your plumbing, in fact it's much better that what I'm used to seeing.

Just replace the lid/cover of that multiport valve and gasket if you dont change the sand.

If you do change that sand out make them add three high temp unions on the multiport, or inline unions on each pipe to that multiport. Replumbing that thing every few years is just stupid.


Auto fills work OK anywhere. I dont have the correct answer for where they work best, but I think they are more usefull for those like me on the suction side. I have one that drive me nuts on the return side because it creates air pockets before the filter. So there is that.

The pics of your plumbing look fine, don't over engineer that pad. You will not notice any flow or efficiency.

 

[daverph]

That bolt is an improvised plug from a UV light, chlorinator, or what ever that no longer fed into your line.

I can't see anything that stands out on your plumbing, in fact it's much better that what I'm used to seeing.

Just replace the lid/cover of that multiport valve and gasket if you dont change the sand.

If you do change that sand out make them add three high temp unions on the multiport, or inline unions on each pipe to that multiport. Replumbing that thing every few years is just stupid.


Auto fills work OK anywhere. I dont have the correct answer for where they work best, but I think they are more usefull for those like me on the suction side. I have one that drive me nuts on the return side because it creates air pockets before the filter. So there is that.

The pics of your plumbing look fine, don't over engineer that pad. You will not notice any flow or efficiency.

Thanks for your reply, just looking at the mess of pipes going back and forth and seeing pictures here of people's pads where there's only a few pipes visible I thought there might be a reason to have it laid out pump-filter-heater-swcg to improve the flow and make it easier to access where the swcg has to go. Will try to get fitting with old bolt plug replaced at least.

Changing the sand is part of the plan cause I've had the pool for 3 years and don't know when it was last changed. Didn't know you could replace the multiport cover and gasket, pool repair co said to replace the entire thing as the old gaskets don't come off easily and the replacement won't last if the whole multiport wasn't replaced. Will definitely get them to add the unions, will look up and learn about high temp unions vs inline to know the differences.

Anyone else care to comment?