About to drop major coin on all new pool equipment. Please help!

[rjdoc74]

Need help from pool gurus!

New house needs all new pool equipment. Got several bids from several local reputable companies and settled (I think) on mostly Pentair system:

Pentair whisper flow pumps 2HP (axillary pump and water feature pump)
Pentair intellaflow VSP 3HP, main pump
Pentair master temp 400,000 BTU Heater
Filter, New 60sq ft filter plus backwash valve
Iaqualink; Jandy main board and antenna/smartphone devices- controller will remain Jandy.
Salt cell replacement

Questions:

1. Does anyone know if installer company needs to be Certified Aquatic Equipment Installer to get Pentair rebates and extended 3 year warranty?
2. Any thoughts in general on going with all Jandy system vs Perntair. I heard good things about both.

Thanks in adnace!

 

[Jimrahbe]

74,

I never recommend mixing brands when dealing with automation... I'd go all Pentair or all Jandy, when it comes to anything you want the automation to control.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[rjdoc74]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your response. Could you please elaborate as to why?

Thanks.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

From this page: Pool Product Warranty Information

"*Note: Qualified Installer - Defined as a licensed professional who charges a fee for his services, and possesses a business license, contractor's license and/or resale permit. Common examples of a "qualified installer" include: Swimming Pool, Home Repair or Landscape Professional; Plumber or Electrician; General Contractor; Heating and Air Conditioning Specialist."

I think a better question is why do you want to mix equipment from different manufacturers? Is the controller something that's already installed?

 

[rjdoc74]

Yes, Jandy controller would remain from all old system as well as the salt cell controller. They would upgrade the Jandy controller to iAqualink. This is done to save on costs.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

That makes sense. @Jimrahbe is the guy to talk to about compatibility.

 

[Jimrahbe]

74,

I missed that.. I thought it was all new equipment..

The main reason for not mixing and matching is because when something does not work, it will always be the "other guys" equipment that it bad.. Jandy will say it is is bad Pentair pump and Pentair will say it is a bad Jandy controller. etc..

But, since you already have the controller and SWCG, it make more sense.

Keep in mind that even with the upgrades the Jandy automation most likely will not allow full operation of the VSF pump.. it will allow VS operation. That said, I never recommend that anyone use the VF portion of the pump anyway.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[rjdoc74]

Hi Jim, I had to do some searching on your last point. So VF operation is:

"The VF is the high-tech version of this already high-tech line of pool pumps. In addition to programmable speeds and timers, the VF can automatically determine the minimum flow required for any pool task; circulation, filtration, heating, cleaning, running jets, water features, you name it. As the demands change, it automatically adapts the speed of the motor to fit the need. It also has a digital read-out of the current speed, so you can tell what this genius of a pump is up to at any point. It also has built-in diagnostics that help protect the pump against the most common causes of failure, including loss of prime, overheating, freezing, or voltage irregularities."

I would be loosing this feature if I went with Jandy/Pentair system? And why do you not recommend for anyone to use this?

Thanks!

 

[Jimrahbe]

rj,

It is more of a personal thing, rather than a pump thing.. For some reason when a lot of people want to use the VF function they get all caught up in the GPM calculations as if it were some magic number that was perfect.. Running VS is just simpler for most people to use and leads to a lot less frustration for users.

A few owners have a valid reason to use the VF option, but 99% do not really need it.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[rjdoc74]

Thanks Jim! If the only thing I'd missing out on is the VF feature, I am fine with this if it saves me a few grand. Another point to keep Jandy controller is that there is a wired Jandy controller panel inside the house (controls landscape lights too); I'd have to abandon that if I switched controllers.

I called Pentair CS today and was told that as long as all pumps AND pool filter are Pentair and bought/installed at the same time, I will have 3 year warranty on all. That sounds pretty good to me.