Almost ready to pull the trigger!

I can't speak to the spa items but everything else looks good. Can you post a pic of the pool design? I am fairly certain 2 lights for the pool and 1 for the spa is enough but would be nice to compare that against the pool diagram. My pool is larger and the 2 Jandy Watercolor lights I have are more than enough. You can check out my night shots in my pics in my sigline.

Make sure you know the exact Aqualink you are getting! You do not want the PDA system and you DO want the RS system with full web access/programming capabilities.

Don't forget to add in a set price for extra decking!
Yes the first page of the contract is has the pool rendering, that's the only pic i have that is digital.
 
Yes the first page of the contract is has the pool rendering, that's the only pic i have that is digital.

Oh - Yeah I see it now. Not sure why they wanted 3 lights. 2 (+1) should be enough. I did not see where the lights are to be placed in the pool but you want them facing away from the house so they are not in your eyes while on the deck. And with your pool design, looks like you might be ok with just the 500 sq feet of decking. Still would not hurt to get a fixed price for additional.

I'd see what your new total comes to now with those changes.

Hopefully someone else can chime in with the spa items. I would think you need the spa blower though.
 
is the 1.5 HP spa blower necessary? could the spa jets run just on the main pump (when water feature is turned off of course)?

Spa blower is optional. Depends how much you like vigorous bubbling in the spa.

A dedicated pump for the spa jets is requried if you want a good strong flow. Without a dedicated spa jet pump and spa bubbler you are just sitting in an outdoor bathtub in my opinion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kiss4aFrog
I cant imagine deleting the blower would save too much, but if you do make sure they still plumb for one.

Its not a pump, think of a leaf blower type mechanism that blows air through a pipe to your spa to make bubbles.
 
I would also specify the 2 pool lights be on 1 circuit and the spa light on another. That will allow you to run the spa lights without the pool lights (or vica-versa). Not a big deal but I know if it was me, I would like it this way. This is important to specify before signing the contract however since it goes into the planning of the automation.
 
The spa air blower is $200 retail plus one electrical connection and some PVC pipe. Maybe $500-$600 with a 40% profit margin.
 
The spa air blower is $200 retail plus one electrical connection and some PVC pipe. Maybe $500-$600 with a 40% profit margin.
So a few hundred for blower, few hundred for 1 LED, couple hundred for the $46/each spa jet heads, and the entire IFCS system/plumbing/labor should be enough to get us close to the $2800 we need to add the SWG and automation...we'll see what the PB replies.
 
I know budgets are important but I would not scrimp on the features of the spa. We use our spa more then we use the pool. Whatever decisions you make about the spa will be locked in for the life of the pool. You can’t retrofit An air blower and different spa jets.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JJ_Tex and trophft
PB replied and said removing all of those items only deducts around $700 (1LED, IFCS, Spa blower, Interchangeable spa jet heads).
So our pool is $60K and if we want SWG and Aqualink its $63K (keeping all that stuff)...now the questin is do i still have him remove the IFCS anyway? is it not worth having for the reasons PoolGate mentioned?
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
PB replied and said removing all of those items only deducts around $700 (1LED, IFCS, Spa blower, Interchangeable spa jet heads).
So our pool is $60K and if we want SWG and Aqualink its $63K (keeping all that stuff)...now the questin is do i still have him remove the IFCS anyway? is it not worth having for the reasons PoolGate mentioned?

No matter what I would pony up the extra $3k for SWG and automation.

Full disclosure, my only knowledge of IFCSs is anecdotal. My comment only pertained to unused pipes and what may happen with them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: trophft
UPDATE:
A second PB we had been waiting on came through with his bid and it seems more reasonable (and knowledgeable)
iAqualink 6 function:
1-Main pump
2-Spa Blower
3-Nature2 Fusion Soft 1400 swg
4-Heater
5-Pool lights (2)
6-Spa light (1)

Main Pump 2.7HP VS (PlusHP or FloPro?)

400k heater plumbed for pool and spa (returns in pool floor for optimal water circulation and heat distribution)

All other spec same, came in about $3800 less than PB 1.
 
UPDATE:
A second PB we had been waiting on came through with his bid and it seems more reasonable (and knowledgeable)
iAqualink 6 function:
1-Main pump
2-Spa Blower
3-Nature2 Fusion Soft 1400 swg
4-Heater
5-Pool lights (2)
6-Spa light (1)

Main Pump 2.7HP VS (PlusHP or FloPro?)

400k heater plumbed for pool and spa (returns in pool floor for optimal water circulation and heat distribution)

All other spec same, came in about $3800 less than PB 1.

Looking much better! When can they break ground and when are they estimating you'll be swimming?
 
He says permit today, Start digging next week by Thursday, Swimming by end of June...
I'm ordering my TF-100 kit and heading back over to pool school page to prepare!

Still make sure the contract lists exactly what part #s you are getting.
 
That bid looks much better. One inexpensive thing to consider adding is an inline tablet chlorinator, in addition to the SWG. They’re inexpensive (less than $100 for the part), and give you extra flexibility in case you want to use trichlor tablets. My pool just finished construction and was started up a few days ago. I have a tablet feeder immediately downstream of my SWG.

I know tablets are frowned up here, but it’s been convenient to have the tablet feeder because you aren’t supposed to add salt (or start the SWG) for 30 days with new plaster. Liquid chlorine is less convenient and hard to find right now, so the tablets have been great. The fact that they add CYA is even good if you’re going to transition to salt water, for which a higher CYA is recommended.

Plus, if your SWG ever has issues, you can use tablets temporarily. Something to consider as an inexpensive thing to add.
 
  • Like
Reactions: trophft
That bid looks much better. One inexpensive thing to consider adding is an inline tablet chlorinator, in addition to the SWG. They’re inexpensive (less than $100 for the part), and give you extra flexibility in case you want to use trichlor tablets. My pool just finished construction and was started up a few days ago. I have a tablet feeder immediately downstream of my SWG.

I know tablets are frowned up here, but it’s been convenient to have the tablet feeder because you aren’t supposed to add salt (or start the SWG) for 30 days with new plaster. Liquid chlorine is less convenient and hard to find right now, so the tablets have been great. The fact that they add CYA is even good if you’re going to transition to salt water, for which a higher CYA is recommended.

Plus, if your SWG ever has issues, you can use tablets temporarily. Something to consider as an inexpensive thing to add.
Did not even think of that! Thanks!
 
That bid looks much better. One inexpensive thing to consider adding is an inline tablet chlorinator, in addition to the SWG. They’re inexpensive (less than $100 for the part), and give you extra flexibility in case you want to use trichlor tablets. My pool just finished construction and was started up a few days ago. I have a tablet feeder immediately downstream of my SWG.

I know tablets are frowned up here, but it’s been convenient to have the tablet feeder because you aren’t supposed to add salt (or start the SWG) for 30 days with new plaster. Liquid chlorine is less convenient and hard to find right now, so the tablets have been great. The fact that they add CYA is even good if you’re going to transition to salt water, for which a higher CYA is recommended.

Plus, if your SWG ever has issues, you can use tablets temporarily. Something to consider as an inexpensive thing to add.
Dtkokay would a floating tablet feeder be sufficient? Space on equipment pad is filling up fast!
 
If you get an inline tab feeder you'll need to also install a check valve before the tab feeder to ensure high concentrations of chlorine don't back up into the heater. Your builder may have already been planning this but it isn't necessary with just a SWG. I use a floating tab feeder. With the SWG it isn't likely you'll ever need or use the tab feeder anyway. I can count on 2 fingers the # of times I've used my floating feeder.
 
  • Like
Reactions: trophft and Dtkokay

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.