New pool design in Phoenix

Jump to latest Follow Reply
S

Shadowsprint

Member
Dec 15, 2024
7
Phoenix, AZ
Attached is the design for our 40x20 pool. Here are some highlights:
  • Salt cell
  • Hot tub
  • Baja shelf
  • Slide
  • Diving board
  • Jumping wall
The design shows 3 venturi skimmers, which I think is a good thing. Only one of them has suction hooked up to it though, I wonder if that is normal?

The decking will be artistic pavers and then also fake turf grass (green-shaded part). We're planning to add 3 tall poles to add a triangular shade sail over the shallow end of the pool.

The pool pad of 8'x13' seems a bit large, but I guess it's nice to have space around the equipment.

The design shows 6 returns into the pool, does that sound about right? And for the hot tub, they said the most therapies they could do would be 5, anything more than that then we'd probably start to see issues.

We're open to any suggestions of any kind.

Thank you!
 

Attachments

  • BrownPoolBuild Model (1) (1).pdf
    213.3 KB · Views: 69
Hi and welcome to TFP!

I only see 2 skimmers on the plans. 2 should be just right though so that is not biggy. They should be plumbed separately back to the equipment. They should have their own valves to open and shut them.

I LOVE that you are getting the pebble top channel drains. They look awesome and work great.

I like your placement of the returns. All of the areas of the pool should be covered.

What are the model numbers for all of your equipment? That is VERY important!

Make sure you have a light of some sort by the equipment pad. You will thank me if you ever have to go out there in the dark. That large pad will be a good thing.

What are your water depths?
 
With the size of your hot tub 5 therapies would be an issue for me. We added 8 in ours others have added even more. We just added a seperate pump for the jets with 3" plumbing it has more than enough flow in fact we turn it down as full speed is too much. I do see the 3rd skimmer hiding under the slide :)
 
A few items to consider, adding a third light to the pool, reason for only 5 jets in the spa and none on one wall?, has the builder explained how these two wall returns are going to direct water in a 90 from the wall?, removing the return line located under the diving board and adding spillways to each of the +36” risers, adding an auto-fill on the same wall as the single skimmer.IMG_0259.jpeg
 
Since home insurance companies are no longer fighting each other over customers, and in some States they're trying to get rid of customers, you don't want to do anything to give them an excuse. Some will disavow customers over a diving board, and others won't offer you a policy if you have one. So it might be prudent to run your plans by your current carrier and make sure they're OK with the board and the slide and even the jumping wall.

And if you do get an OK, get it in writing.
 
I wouldn't own a pool without an auto-leveling system. One that both keeps the pool full and drains it off if it gets too full. Inexpensive up front, virtually impossible to add later.

I would want a port in the side of the pool that could be plumbed for either a suction- or pressure-side vac. One with sweep 90 elbows. You may be planning on using a robot to clean your pool, but if you ever want to go vac instead of robot, the plumbing will be in place. Again, inexpensive up front, virtually impossible to add later. Also handy for manual vacuuming, and can be converted to a return should you have one fail someday.

Edit: maybe you already have one of these? Be sure it is NOT of a smaller diameter pipe or flex-hose, just for a pressure vac. You want it able to handle a suction-vac, too (just by replumbing it at the pad). That means at least a 1.5' pipe with sweep elbows.
 
Last edited:
I finally received an Equipment List from our contractor. I'd love to get any input on the EQ he's proposing for 40x20 pool (40K gallons). I'm looking for the best equipment and budget isn't too much of a problem. And does this EQ list include an auto-leveling system?
  • clean and clear 520 - 160322 - Pentair Clean and Clear Cartridge filer, 520 sq ft
  • master temp ng 400k - 460732 - Pentair MasterTemp High-Performance Heater
  • Pentair multicyclone prefilter - 301300
  • Pentair leaf vac - 200210
  • 2 hp silencer air blower - 6320241
  • Pentair intellicenter i8ps w/intellichlor, IC40- 521903
  • Pentair intellipro 3 pump - 11075
  • Rebel vacuum cleaner - 360473
  • (2) 5g intellibrite lights - 601002
  • (2) globrite lights - 602055
  • (2) channel drains - 288101
  • (3) venturi skimmers - 505110
  • autofill - afb101
  • (4) umbrella sleeve - us101
  • (3) skimmer plates
  • (2) 100 watt transformer - 619962
  • valve actuator - 521485
  • (5) deck jets
And SORRY for my slow response on this thread, right after I first posted it I got really sick for 2 weeks and then the holidays were over and I was still waiting on the EQ list.
 
Last edited:
Why are you mixing IntelliBrite and GloBrite lights?

601002 Is a 120V first generation a IntelliBrite light.

You have two low voltage light transformers specified.

You should be getting 12V second generation IntelliBrite architectural Series lights - 602153

www.pentair.com

IntelliBrite® Architectural Series Pool and Spa Lighting

Explore Pentair LED underwater pool lights. IntelliBrite® Architectural Series Pool and Spa Lighting illuminates nighttime pool experiences.
www.pentair.com www.pentair.com
 
Shadowsprint said:
Thanks! We'll go with the second generation architectural series like you recommend! And I believe we have two different sizes of lights hence why the different brands. I'll look into it closer.
Click to expand...
The IntelliBrite lights come in 10” and 6” sizes.

Colors may not perfectly match across models due to different LEDs used, especially blue.

Pentair LED Pool Lights - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
In Phoenix, a 40K pool needs softened water for make up water. You also should consider dual SWCG's. At a minimum an IC60.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PoolStored
In no particular order...

If by "autofill - afb101" it means an "Aquastar Fillstar Water Level Control | AFB101," then yes that is an auto-leveling system (not just an auto-fill system).

I don't have an Aquastar, I have a PoolMiser. The Aquastar has the auto-fill float mechanism I wish I had. The "toilet tank valve" of the PoolMiser is a real p.i.t.a. But the PoolMiser has an adjustable overflow leveler, where the Aquastar doesn't seem to. It's just a hole, and the overflow level will be what it'll be.

I wish you could have both: the float valve and an adjustable overflow, but if I had to choose, I'd want the float valve.
--
Don't install that 120V IntelliBrite. Mine is fine, but I wish I had only low-voltage lighting.
--
I have the Pentair Rebel. I like it a lot. I wouldn't want a robot even if it was free. I would want 90° sweep elbows for that suction line (NOT two 45s to make a 90).
--
I wouldn't want any umbrella sleeves, and certainly not one in the pool. Shade sails are the way to go, or a movable umbrella. (We Offer the Best Shade Sails on the Market - Shade Sails LLC) Or both. I've never had any sleeves, but I would not want holes in the deck or pool surface, and it seems they would just fill up with crud. Maybe someone with a pool with sleeves can counter.
--
I don't know much about how the Pentair lights sync together, but I would want the wire of every light in my pool to home-run back to my pad. That way, I could tie them all together, or have each on its own transformer/switch. I would want complete control over the lighting, to be able to choose the look that fit my mood. Just the spa, or just the pool, or both, or a white spa and red pool, or vice versa, or just one light on in the pool for some ambient glow while sitting around, or light 'em all up to land the space shuttle. I definitely wouldn't want them all on one switch, where it's all or nothing. Now if Pentair's lighting control means you can control what each individual light is doing, including on or off, then that'd be ideal. I suggest you study up on what your lights are going to be able to do, then imagine the different scenarios you'll experience with your pool at night, and plan accordingly. If any of your lights point at your house or the area of the deck where you'll be sitting around at night, then you definitely want to be able to turn off just those lights. I'm very fussy about lighting, so maybe all that is just me. But give it some thought.
--
Each skimmer and each return should home-run to the pad, on it's own dedicated valve.
--
If I was building a pool from scratch, it wouldn't have any drains. They're not needed anymore, and only serve to add plumbing that can fail, and ugly covers that can mess with your Rebel and/or your toes. Ditch 'em.
 
Do pool sleeves for volleyball net and umbrellas if you don't want to do a shade sail. I have sleeves but want to do a shade sail though I haven't had one for 20+ years. Knowing what I know now I would have placed my umbrella sleeves differently. I question the value of the multicyclone gizmo. I would still do floor drains and have them run to a leaf basket that feeds the pump basket. Now maybe that works well for me because I have in floor cleaning and a venturi skimmer but my leaf basket gets a ton of debris in it. This is the valley and the dust storms bring tons of debris with them.
 
Thank you @mknauss , @Dirk , and @TinFoilHat . Very helpful! I want to go with 2 SWCG's. And we're looking into shade sails...I like that.

And we'll add this: "Each skimmer and each return should home-run to the pad, on it's own dedicated valve" as well as 90 sweep elbow on suction line.

For the cartridge filter, the Pentair Clean and Clear Cartridge filer, 520 sq ft is the largest one they offer. Should I consider upgrading to an even larger one?...like the HCF Series Filter (700 sq ft) from Hayward? That is a commercial filter. Or would that be overkill?

And should I be considering another pump besides the Pentair IntelliPro 3HP?
 
Shadowsprint said:
Very helpful! I want to go with 2 SWCG's.
Click to expand...

The Intellicenter bundle comes with one IC40. See if your builder will swap it for an IC60. Even better see if he will substitute the new IntelliChlor Plus cell.

If he will not, then run the IC40 until it dies and get an IntelliChor Plus cell.

The IntelliCenter can only control one legacy IntelliChlor cell and should control multiple IntelliChlor Plus cells. You will need a Power Center for the second cell.

www.pentair.com

IntelliChlor® Plus & LT Salt Chlorine Generators

The IntelliChlor® Plus & LT Salt Chlorine Generators are new and improved designs that use ordinary table salt to help make pools cleaner, clearer, and silkier.
www.pentair.com www.pentair.com

Pentair Intellichlor ICXX SWG - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

Shadowsprint said:
And should I be considering another pump besides the Pentair IntelliPro 3HP?
Click to expand...
011075 is the IntelliFlo3, not the IntelliPro3 pump. Identical pumps in almond or black color.

I would get the model with the optional touch screen so you can control the pump directly without needing a phone and app.

  • IntelliFlo3 VSF 3HP with Touchscreen - 011077
013077IntelliPro3 VSF 3.0HP with touchscreen
 
I understand that going with a larger filter is ideal assuming you can pay for it. We are building with Pentair plumbing equipment and I'm wondering if we should do the Pentair largest cartridge filter size (520 sq ft) or if we should go with even larger one from Hayward (700 sq ft).

Pentair Clean and Clear Cartridge fiter 520 sq ft - part 160332
vs.

HCF Cartridge Filter 700 Sq. Ft. - part HCF7030C
hayward.com

HCF Cartridge Filter 700 Sq. Ft.

Commercial-grade single element cartridge filters capture more dirt for superior water clarity without the need of supplemental media or backwashing, while the industry's lowest head loss reduces energy costs.
hayward.com hayward.com
​


My pool will be 40,000+ gallons plus and I'd like to minimize how often I have the clean the cartridge filter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply