Help Me Understand My Pool Setup

228newbie

Silver Supporter
Jul 5, 2020
29
Mississippi Gulf Coast
Pool Size
6300
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-3)
So I recently bought a house and it came with a pool. Prior to this I have only experience Intex above ground pools and they are pretty simple. I believe I understand what I am looking at, but want to make sure as I am looking to install a Hayward Heat Pump soon and would like to do everything except the electrical myself.

Looking at the thumbnails below, I have two pumps, a 1HP and a 3/4HP, I believe the 1HP which is on the right on the second picture with the filter basket attached is the pool pump and the one on the left is a dedicated pump for some sort of pool cleaner. The pool has two jets and the skimmer, but it also has another orifice that has a threaded pool return line plug currently in place and I have not touched it. If I am right, when I want to use this pool clean out orifice with a vacuum head or whatever, do I just run the pump pictured with the two hoses coming out of it or do you run them both at one?

Looking at the piping, I am assuming the pipe coming out of the filter head with the open valve is for backwashing the sand filter?

IMG_20221122_155711.jpgIMG_20221122_155354.jpg
 
If I am right, when I want to use this pool clean out orifice with a vacuum head or whatever, do I just run the pump pictured with the two hoses coming out of it or do you run them both at one?

Looking at the piping, I am assuming the pipe coming out of the filter head with the open valve is for backwashing the sand filter?
Welcome to TFP!!! :swim:

Close. It is a booster pump for a pressure vacuum (see amazon link). The pressure from the water is used to collect debris into the vacuum head in the pool. Yes, you want to run your pump when you run the booster.

Yes, the pipe with the open valve is for backwashing, and pumping to waste. Don't run in these modes on the multiport valve unless that blue valve is open. Don't turn the multiport unless the pump is OFF.

 
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228,

You have a pretty straight forward equipment pad.

The pump with the basket is your main pool pump,

The other pump is called a booster pump and as you suspected it is for your pressure side cleaner.

You have no valves that allow you to have the ability to select where the water comes from, nor where it goes back to the pool, on the other hand you don't have to worry about those 'missing' valves leaking. :mrgreen:

You have a Sand Filter, which you will have to 'Back-Wash' from time to time as you see the filter's pressure gauge increase. The water will come out of the filter and out the pipe on the far right of your pic.

You have a Saltwater Chlorine Generator or (SWCG), which makes taking care of the pool should be dirt simple.

I have no idea what the open pipe right in front of the booster pump is for. :scratch:

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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228,

You have a pretty straight forward equipment pad.

The pump with the basket is your main pool pump,

The other pump is called a booster pump and as you suspected it is for your pressure side cleaner.

You have no valves that allow you to have the ability to select where the water comes from, nor where it goes back to the pool, on the other hand you don't have to worry about those 'missing' valves leaking. :mrgreen:

You have a Sand Filter, which you will have to 'Back-Wash' from time to time as you see the filter's pressure gauge increase. The water will come out of the filter and out the pipe on the far right of your pic.

You have a Saltwater Chlorine Generator or (SWCG), which makes taking care of the pool should be dirt simple.

I have no idea what the open pipe right in front of the booster pump is for. :scratch:

Thanks,

Jim R.
Thanks for the backup and education guys, I appreciate that. And yes, the pool is super simple. Watch the number, add salt when needed.

Open pipe is one of several. I was told that it was due to the high water table where I am, they keep pressure from building up in the pool? I think when it rains/floods?
 
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So the reason I am here is because I am looking to add a heater. I am thinking of going with the Hayward HeatPro 140K. My current piping seems like it was done by a 10 year old, so I am trying to figure out what would be the best way to route it. I have to pour a new pad for the sand filter and heat pump either way, and I am guessing my PVC piping coming out of the ground is what I want to build around. What would you guys do as far as locating the sand filter and heat pump if you were redoing this setup? I was thinking of leaving the sand filter where it is and placing the heat pump on a pad to the left of the PVC piping coming out of the ground in the second picture. Perhaps this picture from another angle will help:


IMG_20221122_155336_50.jpg
 
228,

Basically, all you need to do is take the pipe going into the salt cell and plumb into the heater input. Then plumb the heater output back to the salt cell input.

As long as you do that, you can lay the pipes out anyway you want.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Check your building codes. You may need 3 feet of clearance in front of any electrical panels on the wall. I can't see exactly what you have to the left of the pool equipment.
 
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Aside from the 3 feet of clearance on the electrical panels, I had read that and should be good for side to side and overhead clearance. The 3 feet from electrical panels should also be just fine with the location I had planned. I have gutters in that area also, so as per the Hayward manual everything should be fine.

Speaking with a local Hayward dealer he is advising me to contact an electrician and a plumber to install the heat pump.
 
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Are either of these connections able to be removed with a wrench or other tool or are they also permanent?
 

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Are either of these connections able to be removed with a wrench or other tool or are they also permanent?

They are both screwed into threaded sockets in the PVC and will unscrew if you get the pipe free.
 
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