oh one more thing, as you can see, the concrete pad is not level. Is it better to use gravel to put on top of the concrete to level it more? Not sure if the leaning of equipment would increase the strain on the pvc piping.
Ok. What about the 3-port Jandy valve? Are you using the existing one?
Ordered another 4717 3way valve too. not using the old one.
You should level the pad with sand and/or gravel. I had to go back to your original post to see the pictures again. It appears only the heater was on a cement pad and the filter and pump were on rocks/cinder blocks. A pump does not need to be bolted down unless local code demands it. Just ensure the cinder block is level and does not sink.
The equipment and all pipes were actually on a concrete surface with timber surrounding them (back side is the shed, one side is the fence, two other sides single timber retaining wall). It is the lowestpoint at that side of my backyard, so water tends to go through there bringing dirt and leaves. The whole pad was slanted towards the privacy fence, therefore the cinderblock sitting on it was also not level. I put two pumps (including the booster pump) on cinderblocks to raise them up a bit so that even if backyard water accumulates at that corner during heavy rain, pump won't be flooded. Not sure if cinderblocks are the way to go after using layers of gravel on top of that concrete surface hoping to at least level it a bit more.
Your pump should have threaded female connections so the half union screws into the pump.
My contractor was suggesting using layer of crushed rock on top of the existing concrete slab to help level the equipment (filter mostly) with concern of the extra strain on pipes with a tilted filter. But I feel that crushed rock on top of concrete would not provide stable surface and it might even worsen the situation (i.e. rocks underneath the filter loosen up and hollowed out the space, so filter is "hanging" on the pipes. I'm leaning towards leaving the slope alone. Any suggestions?
I see you started a new post on the pad issues so will not address in this thread.
Problem is that all the pipes coming up through this concrete pad (probably 20 some years old), it is more of a hassle to having to break the concrete and repour. I read the best practice is to not have pipes running through the concrete, but inherited this nontheless. I'm just simplifying the plubming and relocate pump, and filter for easier access now that I have a little bit more space with the shed out of the way and extra space created when building the patio.
My thread is merged here but not much attraction (too long, I know).
www.troublefreepool.com
I'm replacing it with a FNS plus 48, this should be the correct part. Did my photo list the right water direction? Don't want to plumb it backwards. Thanks alot
