Follow my owner build pool in AZ

Dog,

75% of people with waterfalls and large sheers almost never use them.. They are really cool until the fun wears off and the noise drives you crazy. Be careful what you wish for.. :mrgreen:

Let's see what Matt has to say about powering the sheers.. Calling @mas985

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Dog,

I would suggest the new Pentair IntelliCenter that comes with a built-in SWCG power Center and an IC60..


An IntelliFlo VSF or an IntelliFlo3, with a display.



A large cartridge filter..


Pretty easy for me to spend your money.. :mrgreen:

Thanks,

Jim R.
Hi Jim, I looked at the Pentair IC60 and it looks to be double the price of this other brand. Do you have any feedback on this?

 
Hello! I read quite a few posts that talk about prevailing wind in relation to skimmer placement. How would one know what direction that is? Thank you!

Edit: I found this website online. If this is my closest airport, does this suggest my prevailing wind is SE?Screenshot_20240416_215529_Chrome.jpg
 
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Good question. Can you hang up a light piece of fabric (gramps hankie?) and note the direction over a period of time? Weather reports? Are there any windows in your home that get dirtier/dustier faster than others? That can be a clue.

What we hope to do when placing the skimmers is that we take advantage of the daily breezes and let them help push any surface debris towards your skimmer.

If you are doing more than one skimmer (which seems pretty obvious with your sized pool) take into consideration also the direction of your water returns. You can take one and face it upward so that it aims toward a skimmer, too.

Maddie 🇮🇹
 
Good question. Can you hang up a light piece of fabric (gramps hankie?) and note the direction over a period of time? Weather reports? Are there any windows in your home that get dirtier/dustier faster than others? That can be a clue.

What we hope to do when placing the skimmers is that we take advantage of the daily breezes and let them help push any surface debris towards your skimmer.

If you are doing more than one skimmer (which seems pretty obvious with your sized pool) take into consideration also the direction of your water returns. You can take one and face it upward so that it aims toward a skimmer, too.

Maddie 🇮🇹
Hi Maddie. Right now we have a dirt lot so every window is equally dirty 🤣 I found a website online and just edited my post at the same time you commented. Can you please look at it again and tell me if I am reading it correctly? If my yard (top of the drawing) faces North, where would the ideal skimmer placements be?
 

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Take a look at this- https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/arizona/wind-flow

Study that for different times/days. For a pool your size I'd put 3 skimmers in. Perhaps 2 on 60' wall evenly spaced, and the 3rd possibly on the short wall that you wrote 19' on.

Got any neighbors with pools? Go ask them how they're set up and if they have any problems with where their skimmers are?

Keep us posted to the entire pool build!! We adore pix.

Maddie 🇮🇹
 
Hello. I have seen that Pentair Microbrites are most often recommended in this group, but even these can fail frequently and replacing them isn't an easy task as all the wiring back to the transformer needs to be replaced. These Brilliant lights came up in my search for a better product. Has anyone used them? Any information on their reliability? Are they going to be easier to replace when they fail as the marketing leads me to believe? Can they be used with Intellicenter? Thank you!

 
Thanks, Jim. I had one plumber recommend 2 of everything (two pumps, two filters, two vac lines, two skimmers). I am not sure if I actually need all that or he is just trying to sell me on stuff. Do you think I need two of everything?

I was considering putting in two 4 or 5 ft sheer descents on the back wall. He said he'd plumb one to each of the pumps.
With 2x5' sheers you will need at least two pumps if you want to run the sheers and anything else at the same time. Recommendations for sheers waterfalls are at least 12 GPM/ft. So a 5' sheer needs at least 60 GPM and two would be 120 GPM but some like the look at higher flow rates so having margin is a good idea. Plus sheers require filtration which is probably why the PB recommended two of everything.

So basically, the requirement for the sheers is what is driving the equipment recommendations. They look great but cost a lot for both equipment and pump energy.

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Hello. Is there anyone here who can help confirm what the pool elevation should be set to? I have received mixed information. We intend to use 1.5" stone pavers for coping and the same pavers on top of the existing concrete patio. The coping company suggests the elevation should be +1.5" and the excavating company suggests +3.5"
 
I would suggest following the excavators recommendation they have more experience digging pools. The biggest concern is pool must be higher than surrounding landscape for drainage. Standard slope for drainage is 1/4"per ft. My excavators had to adjust my pool height due to one corner of yard was slightly higher. I trusted their advice because they dig pools every day.
 
Hi All. Pool is dug. Now onto plumbing. For anyone that is reading this as they contemplate doing an owner build pool, I will share tips as I go.

Lessons learned after excavation:

Know your pool elevation! Confirm that at least one member of the crew sent speaks English. Confirm whether taxes will charged. Have rebar company check the dig before you approve completion. Mine offered to do this and I was lucky because he pointed out a few issues that needed correction.