Deck Jets - Any reason you couldn't run Pex instead of Sch40 PVC?

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wgipe

wgipe

Gold Supporter
Jul 4, 2020
523
Fletcher, OH
Pool Size
20000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Well.....due to pool panel supply issues, our pool install has been pushed to early April. And when I have time to think, I add things.....

I'm considering adding 4 Pentair Deck Jets to the mix. When I saw you run either 1/2 or 3/4 supply lines to them, I got to wondering....any reason you couldn't just run Pex to them? It would eliminate all of the couplings, elbows, etc., is more freeze resistant (I would still winterize them - just added protection), and the Pex runs wild be easy to route through a 4" PVC sleeve into the pool house where the equipment pad is (pool house is about half built and making progress every week). Am I nut for even thinking this? Thoughts?

Also - we will have a stamped concrete deck and a SWCG. Should I be concerned about saltwater spray being hard on the deck?

Last - does anyone know the diameter of the enclosure? Trying to decide if they would clutter up my deck.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

Wes
 
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ajw22 said:
Chlorine in potable water is seen to accelerate the brittle oxidative failure of a PEX pipe material. PEX has been found to be ok in water supplies with up to 4 ppm of chlorine. However the FC that a pool system may present can cause failures.

https://plasticpipe.org/pdf/jana-report-chlorine-testing-pex-materials.pdf
Click to expand...

I did know that it's not UV resistant, but I had no idea that chlorine would damage it - glad I asked. Back to PVC it is.

Thank you!

Anyone have any feedback on the saltwater / stamped concrete deck? Should I be concerned about that at all?

They are intriguing for two reasons - as a way to help pull down pH, and also as a way to cool the pool if needed. We have no waterfall, sheer descent, etc., so I got to thinking that perhaps I should have a way to aerate. The kids would also love it I think.
 
Seal the concrete or use tile or pavers.

Salt water pool - effect on concrete surround

Hello, What a fantastic and informative forum. We made the big decision to have a pool installed in our backyard. The big dig is planned for the first week of October and we are first time pool owners. I've been reading as much as I can over the last few weeks. I have one question/concern I...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
Another thought I had was to put in a Magic Falls instead of deck jets. That said, I'm not sure I could do that with a vinyl pool and under-track auto cover. Not sure if you could mount the falls under the cover track or if that would interfere with the liner.
 
ajw22 said:
Seal the concrete or use tile or pavers.

Salt water pool - effect on concrete surround

Hello, What a fantastic and informative forum. We made the big decision to have a pool installed in our backyard. The big dig is planned for the first week of October and we are first time pool owners. I've been reading as much as I can over the last few weeks. I have one question/concern I...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
Click to expand...

It will be sealed for sure. Thanks!
 
ajw22 said:
Chlorine in potable water is seen to accelerate the brittle oxidative failure of a PEX pipe material. PEX has been found to be ok in water supplies with up to 4 ppm of chlorine. However the FC that a pool system may present can cause failures.


Also PEX is not UV resistant and should not be used outdoors.

Click to expand...

@ajw22 , That is GREAT info, I was wondering if I could use about 500 feet of PEX under the concrete deck for solar heating.... Back to the drawing board :)
 
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@wgipe - I would see if you can find someone with deck jets already, and see if possible to go listen to them. They are extremely noisy, not at all a soothing noise like a sheer or spa spillover. I have 3 of them, and the kids sometimes enjoy playing in them, but the novelty wears off quickly. I know when I am in the pool and they are on, I always feel like I'm yelling when I talk to anyone. I would most likely not do them again, on my next build.

FYI - The deck jet is about 2"-2.5" diameter. Laminars are much larger. Laminars look better, IMO, and they may be a little less noisy, not certain on that.

For aeration and cooling, I would buy or build a simple spray wand that you can connect to one of your returns. Those will cool much better than the deck jets, as the water droplets will be much smaller. I built one last season. It's in the attic right now so I can't get a pic of it. Worked pretty well to keep the water temps lower. There is a thread on here discussing those. I can't find it at the moment.

--Jeff
 
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Turbo1Ton said:
@wgipe - I would see if you can find someone with deck jets already, and see if possible to go listen to them. They are extremely noisy, not at all a soothing noise like a sheer or spa spillover. I have 3 of them, and the kids sometimes enjoy playing in them, but the novelty wears off quickly. I know when I am in the pool and they are on, I always feel like I'm yelling when I talk to anyone. I would most likely not do them again, on my next build.

FYI - The deck jet is about 2"-2.5" diameter. Laminars are much larger. Laminars look better, IMO, and they may be a little less noisy, not certain on that.

For aeration and cooling, I would buy or build a simple spray wand that you can connect to one of your returns. Those will cool much better than the deck jets, as the water droplets will be much smaller. I built one last season. It's in the attic right now so I can't get a pic of it. Worked pretty well to keep the water temps lower. There is a thread on here discussing those. I can't find it at the moment.

--Jeff
Click to expand...

Thanks, Turbo. I had forgotten about the return fountain idea - that may be a better, simpler option. It seems a lot of people complain about the noise.
 
+1 on the deck jets noise. If you are over 50 and male, they also urge a bodily function. :sneaky: We have them, have used them a couple times.
 
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mknauss said:
+1 on the deck jets noise. If you are over 50 and male, they also urge a bodily function. :sneaky: We have them, have used them a couple times.
Click to expand...
Ha! Thanks, Marty. I could see that for sure... I've been looking at the Pentair MagicFalls Arc Rain also. Do you happen to know if it's possible to install that on a vinyl liner pool with an under-track autocover (Coverstar CS3000)? In thinking through it, I go back and forth as to if it would interfere with the track system.
 
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