Hi, my family is building a pool for the 1st time and could use some help from the knowledgeable folks on this forum to finalize plumbing and equipment plans.
Since we’ve started working with our pool builder, we’ve come to learn it’s important to double-check their plans as there often isn’t much thought behind those plans other than, “this is what we did on the last build where no one asked questions”
. And so as we’ve started to look into details and recommendations in forums like this, we’ve become worried that the pool builder’s plumbing plan is not a deeply-thought-out one…
For example, the pool– 15.5 x 35’, IG fiberglass, 3.5 - 6’ in depth, approximately 16.5k gallons – is oriented with the deep end to the north and the shallow end to the south. Local summer winds come from the NW (pushing surface debris to the SE); in other seasons, the winds come from the S (pushing surface debris to the N). But the builder planned a single skimmer on the NE end of the pool ("since it will be easy to install there"), which seems like a suboptimal location (and not a good reason)…
The rest of the builder’s plumbing plans include:
Here's a drawing (by us) showing our understanding of the builder’s plumbing plans. Concerns include:
And here's an adjusted drawing showing what I’m thinking we should push for instead (after reading various forum posts and articles):
Are we on the right track? Anything major that looks off here or that we might regret not asking for?
When I follow pool plumbing guides, I think we should be fine in terms of flow rates (11-45 GPM for 24-6 hr turnover rates) and water velocities (1.77 inch pipe at 45 GPM + 6 fps). I’m less sure on TDH and pump sizing, though. It seems difficult to get an accurate TDH number without knowing all the fitting details, but maybe a TDH in the 40’ range (at 45 GPM) would be a reasonable assumption with our planned equipment and longer plumbing runs (?).
If so, then with up to 45 GPM flow rates and 40’ TDH, looking at Intelliflo3 pump curves, that looks like ~65% speed on the 3HP model, or ~80% speed on the 1.5HP model. Is there a way to go from pump chart speeds to energy usage and in turn decide which would be a more cost effective pump over a few years of operation?
If we went with Hayward instead, the Tristar XL looks like one of their top 3HP models, where it’d run at 2400 RPM. For 1.5HP models, the MaxFlo VS 500 (with a claimed >10 WEF) would run closer to 3000 RPM. It’s also unclear how to evaluate the relative cost effectiveness of these options…
Can others with some more pool ownership experience help guide us in a good direction here?
I’d sincerely appreciate any feedback you can share. Thank you so much!
Since we’ve started working with our pool builder, we’ve come to learn it’s important to double-check their plans as there often isn’t much thought behind those plans other than, “this is what we did on the last build where no one asked questions”
. And so as we’ve started to look into details and recommendations in forums like this, we’ve become worried that the pool builder’s plumbing plan is not a deeply-thought-out one…For example, the pool– 15.5 x 35’, IG fiberglass, 3.5 - 6’ in depth, approximately 16.5k gallons – is oriented with the deep end to the north and the shallow end to the south. Local summer winds come from the NW (pushing surface debris to the SE); in other seasons, the winds come from the S (pushing surface debris to the N). But the builder planned a single skimmer on the NE end of the pool ("since it will be easy to install there"), which seems like a suboptimal location (and not a good reason)…
The rest of the builder’s plumbing plans include:
- All 2” hard PVC pipe
- 2 main drains in the deep end wall + 3 returns
- IntelliCenter + IC40 SWG + Intelliflo3 VSF 1.5HP
- Clean and Clear Plus 420 SF cartridge filter & 400k BTU NG heater
Here's a drawing (by us) showing our understanding of the builder’s plumbing plans. Concerns include:
- Only 1 skimmer in a location that doesn’t match any season’s wind directions
- Long (>100’) plumbing runs + 1.5HP pump-- will 2" pipes + a 1.5 HP pump be sufficient?
- 3 returns -- will that be enough for good circulation with the length of the pool?
And here's an adjusted drawing showing what I’m thinking we should push for instead (after reading various forum posts and articles):
- 2 skimmers, 1 on each end of the pool to handle both seasonal wind directions and offer some redundancy
- Upsize to 2.5” pipes for at least the suction lines
- Add some more returns on at least 2 separate lines
- Maybe upsize to a 2.5-3 HP VS pump? (more notes on this below)
Are we on the right track? Anything major that looks off here or that we might regret not asking for?
When I follow pool plumbing guides, I think we should be fine in terms of flow rates (11-45 GPM for 24-6 hr turnover rates) and water velocities (1.77 inch pipe at 45 GPM + 6 fps). I’m less sure on TDH and pump sizing, though. It seems difficult to get an accurate TDH number without knowing all the fitting details, but maybe a TDH in the 40’ range (at 45 GPM) would be a reasonable assumption with our planned equipment and longer plumbing runs (?).
If so, then with up to 45 GPM flow rates and 40’ TDH, looking at Intelliflo3 pump curves, that looks like ~65% speed on the 3HP model, or ~80% speed on the 1.5HP model. Is there a way to go from pump chart speeds to energy usage and in turn decide which would be a more cost effective pump over a few years of operation?
If we went with Hayward instead, the Tristar XL looks like one of their top 3HP models, where it’d run at 2400 RPM. For 1.5HP models, the MaxFlo VS 500 (with a claimed >10 WEF) would run closer to 3000 RPM. It’s also unclear how to evaluate the relative cost effectiveness of these options…
Can others with some more pool ownership experience help guide us in a good direction here?
I’d sincerely appreciate any feedback you can share. Thank you so much!
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