Help! New pool owner planning equipment pad remodel/replumbing

[codymitchell90]

I recently purchased a home with a ~50 year old concrete pool in west michigan that has had multiple owners over the years. The former owner left no instructions/guidance, but I had their pool guy show me around during the purchase (before I knew what questions to ask). I'm mostly figuring it out on my own. I'm looking to install a new variable speed pump and salt water generator before opening the pool for the season.

Below is a picture of the current setup, it's all 1.5" plumbing. I'm not sure where the pipe with the broken red ball valve goes, but it looks like it hasn't been in use for a long time. Also, don't be alarmed, I took the dead front off the electrical panel so I could see how everything was wired, but everything is off.

As a newbie, I was just hoping for some feedback on my plan (positive or negative) and any additional considerations I should have. Here are my goals:

• Repipe skimmer and main drain pvc after ball valves, adding Jandy 3-way valve and repositioning new pump to ensure the minimum ~10" of straight pipe before intake (Is it overkill to repipe the return lines and should I just reuse the existing pump location? There's currently a tee right before the intake which seems bad)
• Repipe after heater with check valve > flow switch > swg and remove chlorine inline feeder
• Remove booster pump, add another Jandy 3-way valve after the swg to split between original return line and repurpose cleaner/polaris return
• Should I consider adding unions to the pipes exiting the sand filter to allow for replacing the media? Is it safe to assume that's never been done since there currently aren't unions?

One of my concerns is that the polaris jet seems to be at the waterline (see below) so I'm not sure that can actually be repurposed as an effective return jet? It seems like a waste to just abandon it, maybe I could just make it into one of those diy pvc "fountains" for the kids to enjoy?

 

[ajw22]

• Repipe skimmer and main drain pvc after ball valves, adding Jandy 3-way valve and repositioning new pump to ensure the minimum ~10" of straight pipe before intake (Is it overkill to repipe the return lines and should I just reuse the existing pump location? There's currently a tee right before the intake which seems bad)

Adding the 3-way is good. 10" of straight pipe is nice to have but many pumps operate fine with less. I would not go to extremes to make that happen.

• Repipe after heater with check valve > flow switch > swg and remove chlorine inline feeder

Good and add a Heater Bypass - Further Reading

• Remove booster pump, add another Jandy 3-way valve after the swg to split between original return line and repurpose cleaner/polaris return

Understand that can divert up to half your return flow to the cleaner return and significantly reduce your return flow.

Overall I do not think it is worth it.

• Should I consider adding unions to the pipes exiting the sand filter to allow for replacing the media? Is it safe to assume that's never been done since there currently aren't unions?

Yes, and the sand level in the filter is probably low. A bit of sand is lost after every backwash and after a few years the sand level is below the recommended full level.

One of my concerns is that the polaris jet seems to be at the waterline (see below) so I'm not sure that can actually be repurposed as an effective return jet? It seems like a waste to just abandon it, maybe I could just make it into one of those diy pvc "fountains" for the kids to enjoy?

That Polaris jet will not make a good return. It will cause aeration which will cause your pH to rise unnecessarily.

 

[codymitchell90]

Adding the 3-way is good. 10" of straight pipe is nice to have but many pumps operate fine with less. I would not go to extremes to make that happen.



Good and add a Heater Bypass - Further Reading


Understand that can divert up to half your return flow to the cleaner return and significantly reduce your return flow.

Overall I do not think it is worth it.


Yes, and the sand level in the filter is probably low. A bit of sand is lost after every backwash and after a few years the sand level is below the recommended full level.


That Polaris jet will not make a good return. It will cause aeration which will cause your pH to rise unnecessarily.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, I really appreciate it! I didn't understand the importance of a heater bypass, but the reading you linked convinced me. Easy enough while I have everything apart.

Any recommendations on what to do with the polaris jet? Just cap it off?

 

[ajw22]

Any recommendations on what to do with the polaris jet? Just cap it off?

Cap it off with removable plugs at both ends so you can clean it out if it gets water and algae in it.

Or you can make it a fountain like this and turn it on when kids want to play in it.

 

[codymitchell90]

What do you think of this layout? Mind you nothing is square yet as I just wanted to see the rough positioning of everything. I was a bit disappointed not to use the jandy 3-ways in their original configuration (with the "inlet" in the middle of the tee) but I opted to try and keep it simple and minimize 90s/fittings.

 

[PoolStored]

I would absolutely replace those ball valves now. If, not when they go bad.
Why have a diverter on the return?
What is the purpose of the one diverter on the input side?

 

[codymitchell90]

I would absolutely replace those ball valves now. If, not when they go bad.
Why have a diverter on the return?
What is the purpose of the one diverter on the input side?

Replace the internals of the ball valves?

You can’t see it well in these pictures (pictures of the old plumbing are in my original post) but there’s an old Polaris/cleaner return line behind the pump. The diverter on the return is splitting between that and the main return jet. I plan to keep the old Polaris return line turned off most of the time and just make a pvc water fountain for the kids to play in.

There is also diverter before the pump between the main drain and skimmer lines (blue ball valve lines)