So I was reading over the manual for my new Intelliflo VS pump (011018) and noticed the part where it states this:
"Do not install 90 degree elbows directly into pump inlet or outlet. A valve, elbow or tee installed in the suction line should be no closer to the front of the pump than five times the suction line pipe diameter (i.e., 2 inch pipe requires a 10 inch straight run in front of the suction inlet of the pump). This will help the pump prime faster and last longer."
Well, I have 2" pipe and there is definitely not 10" of straight pipe to the inlet of this pump. This isn't the first time the plumbers went against manufacturers specs. The first time was when they installed my heat pump right next to the pool pump and up against the wall of my house and then had to come back and move it 12" away from each. I wonder if they ever read the manuals for these devices. Obviously, they did not read the manual for Intelliflo and have installed an elbow 5" from the inlet. They also installed a tee 7" from outlet but I don't know if that's contraindicated as the wording above is a bit vague. But as you can see, the plumbing is tight over there to begin with (How moronic was it of them to block the suction outlet vertically with the return pipe!) If I did insist they re-install the pump with 10" straight pipe to inlet there would need to be some major re-arrangement. I created that little flagstoned space in between the heater and the pump so I can easily get over there to work the timers, switches and pump. If they move the pump into that area, they will need to move the heater again, and then I may have to move my liquidator somewhere very inconvenient). Do I need to worry about this or am I overreacting and I should just forget about it and leave it the way it is? After bleeding air out of the filter it can sometimes take upward of 15-20 seconds to prime. I don't know if that is way beyond what it should be as I don't have anything to compare it to.
"Do not install 90 degree elbows directly into pump inlet or outlet. A valve, elbow or tee installed in the suction line should be no closer to the front of the pump than five times the suction line pipe diameter (i.e., 2 inch pipe requires a 10 inch straight run in front of the suction inlet of the pump). This will help the pump prime faster and last longer."
Well, I have 2" pipe and there is definitely not 10" of straight pipe to the inlet of this pump. This isn't the first time the plumbers went against manufacturers specs. The first time was when they installed my heat pump right next to the pool pump and up against the wall of my house and then had to come back and move it 12" away from each. I wonder if they ever read the manuals for these devices. Obviously, they did not read the manual for Intelliflo and have installed an elbow 5" from the inlet. They also installed a tee 7" from outlet but I don't know if that's contraindicated as the wording above is a bit vague. But as you can see, the plumbing is tight over there to begin with (How moronic was it of them to block the suction outlet vertically with the return pipe!) If I did insist they re-install the pump with 10" straight pipe to inlet there would need to be some major re-arrangement. I created that little flagstoned space in between the heater and the pump so I can easily get over there to work the timers, switches and pump. If they move the pump into that area, they will need to move the heater again, and then I may have to move my liquidator somewhere very inconvenient). Do I need to worry about this or am I overreacting and I should just forget about it and leave it the way it is? After bleeding air out of the filter it can sometimes take upward of 15-20 seconds to prime. I don't know if that is way beyond what it should be as I don't have anything to compare it to.