New Pool Construction - Leander, TX

[srikantheee84]

I’m planning to build a rectangular pool 36*18 from 4ft to 8ft deep and spa 7*7 without any water feature. Separate pump for pool and spa. I’m leaning towards Pentair equipments. I’m looking for recommendations on what size pump, filter and heater ? Thanks!

 

[cowboycasey]

Welcome to TFP

VSF pump in the 3hp version.. the biggest filter you can afford, preferably the 320 to 520 size, the bigger the better.. if you have natural gas get the 400k heater..

Clean & Clear Plus

Pentair IntelliFlo VSF Variable Speed & Flow Pool Pump

MasterTemp

Right now the equipment is still in short supply, hopefully by spring we will be back in normal supply..

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

Are you building this pool yourself, or is a pool builder going to do it??

Will the Spa be completely separate from the pool, or will it be a spillover spa?

Do you plan to have an automation system?

I ask because things can be different, depending on your answers?

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[srikantheee84]

Welcome to TFP

VSF pump in the 3hp version.. the biggest filter you can afford, preferably the 320 to 520 size, the bigger the better.. if you have natural gas get the 400k heater..

Clean & Clear Plus

Pentair IntelliFlo VSF Variable Speed & Flow Pool Pump

MasterTemp

Right now the equipment is still in short supply, hopefully by spring we will be back in normal supply..

Thank you. I believe I’ll need two 3hp pump. One for pool and another for spa. I forgot to mention there will be infloor cleaning system as well.

 

[srikantheee84]

S,

Are you building this pool yourself, or is a pool builder going to do it??

Will the Spa be completely separate from the pool, or will it be a spillover spa?

Do you plan to have an automation system?

I ask because things can be different, depending on your answers?

Thanks,

Jim R.

Hi Jim, I’m building it myself. It will be spill over spa similar to the attached diagram. I forgot mention there will be infloor cleaning system as well.

 

[ajw22]

You don’t want your skimmers to be on top of a bench or steps. Move the skimmers to where it has more clear water flow.

 

[cowboycasey]

And you really do not want an in floor cleaning system.. they work great for a couple years and then have so many problems... We get someone per week asking how to fix them... A robot works so much better and it scrubs the floor and walls and tile line... Ohh, and it only costs 20 cents to run for 2 hours, way cheaper than running your pumps at high RPM for 6 hours or more a day..

You do not need 2 pumps, you need automation to change valves to move it from pool to spa and turn on the heater...

IntelliCenter® and IntelliCenter Lite Pool Control Systems

The IntelliCenter Pool Automation system works with the IntelliCenter2 app to put total pool control right in the palm of your hand.

www.pentair.com

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

If you liked the 80's, you will like your IFCS...

With robots they no longer make sense to install.. They make the plumbing very complicated and harder to repair later.

They often are integrated into the pool operation so you can't just shut them off.

We don't recommend them... I would suggest you get a low voltage robot.. Like this..

If you do decide on an IFCS, make sure you still have 4 wall returns and that the ICFS is plumbed with a valve so that you can shut it off and still run the pool if something goes bad.

Most people that have pools with spillover spas, have an automation system that switches between the pool mode and the spa mode.. If you get automation, then you need to get the same brand of VS pump as the automation, to ensure they can talk to each other.

Why do you think that you will need two pumps???

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[srikantheee84]

S,

If you liked the 80's, you will like your IFCS...

With robots they no longer make sense to install.. They make the plumbing very complicated and harder to repair later.

They often are integrated into the pool operation so you can't just shut them off.

We don't recommend them... I would suggest you get a low voltage robot.. Like this..

If you do decide on an IFCS, make sure you still have 4 wall returns and that the ICFS is plumbed with a valve so that you can shut it off and still run the pool if something goes bad.

Most people that have pools with spillover spas, have an automation system that switches between the pool mode and the spa mode.. If you get automation, then you need to get the same brand of VS pump as the automation, to ensure they can talk to each other.

Why do you think that you will need two pumps???

Thanks,

Jim R.

I was told it’s better to have separate pumps for different functionality like for pool, spa and water features each running its own pump. Not sure whether that’s a better design given that we can same functionality using automation and valves.

 

[ajw22]

If you want a good number of spa jets and high water pressure from the jets then a dedicated spa jet pump that is not going through the restrictions of the filter and heater plus the proper large size pipes is needed to get the necessary GPM flow.

 

[srikantheee84]

If you want a good number of spa jets and high water pressure from the jets then a dedicated spa jet pump that is not going through the restrictions of the filter and heater plus the proper large size pipes is needed to get the necessary GPM flow.

Could you please recommend a spa jet pump for a 7*7 with 8 jets and pipe sizes ? Thanks!

 

[ajw22]

With 8 jets you want to be able to flow 120 GPM. That requires at least 3" suction and 2.5" return to spa jets although I would do 3" to spa jets.

You want to keep the water velocity below 6 ft/sec on the suction and below 8 ft/sec on the pressure side of the pump.

Pipe Size	6 ft/sec	8 ft/sec
1.5"	38 GPM	51 GPM
2"	63 GPM	84 GPM
2.5	90 GPM	119 GPM
3.0"	138 GPM	184 GPM

Pentair IntelliFlo VS pump

Construction Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

How to select pool equipment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[srikantheee84]

With 8 jets you want to be able to flow 120 GPM. That requires at least 3" suction and 2.5" return to spa jets although I would do 3" to spa jets.

You want to keep the water velocity below 6 ft/sec on the suction and below 8 ft/sec on the pressure side of the pump.

Pipe Size	6 ft/sec	8 ft/sec
1.5"	38 GPM	51 GPM
2"	63 GPM	84 GPM
2.5	90 GPM	119 GPM
3.0"	138 GPM	184 GPM

Pentair IntelliFlo VS pump

Construction Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

How to select pool equipment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks. This is really helpful. What is your option on IFCS ? Aye or Nay

 

[ajw22]

Thanks. This is really helpful. What is your option on IFCS ? Aye or Nay

Nay!

Unneeded complexity when a robot cleaner cleans better.

 

[srikantheee84]

@ajw22 @Jimrahbe @cowboycasey Where do y'll recommended me buying pool equipments near Austin, TX area ? Thanks!

 

[ajw22]

@ajw22 @Jimrahbe @cowboycasey Where do y'll recommended me buying pool equipments near Austin, TX area ? Thanks!

Welcome to Polytec Pools

 

[srikantheee84]

Welcome to Polytec Pools

Thanks! Most of stuff seems to be out of stock.

 

[cowboycasey]

It is hit and miss still from the Mar freeze and COVID.. almost all the stock is gone.. This winter the stock SHOULD come back but who knows.... Most are searching high and low and when you find what your looking for buy it right then, in an hour it may be gone...

Inyo has a little higher prices but they have some things in stock still..

Pool Parts, Equipment & Supplies - INYOPools.com

Your Choice for Swimming Pool Supplies including... Above Ground Pools, Inground Pools, Pool Parts, Swimming Pool Pumps, Pool Pump Motors & Pool Pump Parts.

www.inyopools.com

here is the pump..

Pentair 011056 3hp 230v Intelliflo Vsf Variable Speed & Flow Pump

Buy Pentair 011056 3hp 230v Intelliflo Vsf Variable Speed & Flow Pump online at DKHardware.com. Our Pool & Patio category offers a great selection of Pumps - Variable Speed products at the best price!

www.dkhardware.com

You also may be able to find a local pool installer and get them to buy the equipment and install it for the 3 year warranty.. If not the warranty for Pentair is 30 days...

 

[srikantheee84]

Looking for licensed master pool plumber and electrician in Austin, TX area for a new gunite pool build.

 

[Texas Splash]

Did you ever find a contractor? If not, I'm going to update your thread title in hopes of getting more views. It might also help to describe what work you need performed. Feel free to post back as much as needed until you get your issues resolved.