Facts and opinions please. Salt vs Chlorine?

[JoyfulNoise]

As this is a new build... I thought I would comment on this design consideration. Our pool came with the house when we bought it so we didn't have any input in the design, but I redid the pool equipment in 2005 and changed a bunch of stuff that always bugged me.. in particular where the equipment was located. The original PB put the equipment where it was convenient for them. right in the "middle" of the yard. I moved it 30ft away from the original spot but still within 20 ft of the pool to an area that wouldn't be used for anything else in the corner of the yard and behind some garden shrubbery. The shrubbery also provides a bit of a sound shield. So consider that when you decide where to put your equipment pad... The old pool equipment location is now our vegetable garden.

As to your single pump for everything.. We had an separate pump for the waterfall. It even has its own intakes in the pool. And they wired it to a switch on the side of the house. That has been nice because I can turn it on without worrying about the other pump settings, valves, etc. Automation theses days will probably alleviate that, but I've come to like having the water features on completely separate plumbing from everything else. just a thought...

I will second what is said here - equipment pad location is key. I hate where the PB put our equipment pad (and we built the pool...I was just not as involved as I should have been) and too this day is my one regret with our pool. Someday I will make changes but that will require money so the kids will have to been grown and off my financial largesse before that happens.

As for one pump controlling everything, there are some nuances there. If the water features in question are high-head features (things like bubblers or jets), then running that through the pool pump is fine and it can be controlled by valving. However, if the application is low-head, open-end pipe type features (waterfalls, scuppers, sheer descents, water bowls, etc), then you really want those features on a separate pump with it's own intakes and returns and the pump should be designed for water features (low head, high volume flow rate). The reason being is that if you try to use a high-head pool pump for a low-head feature, you have to add enough head-loss into the hydraulics to keep the pump from cavitating. I have a high head pool pump (1.5 HP whisperflo) on my waterfall and I literally have to have a valve inline with the waterfall return pipe to choke the flow down so that the pump doesn't cavitate itself into oblivion (yes, I can actually make the pump cavitate which is pretty hard to do under normal plumbing circumstances). So make sure that the hydraulic design makes sense or else you'll regret it.

 

[mguzzy]

I will second what is said here - equipment pad location is key. I hate where the PB put our equipment pad (and we built the pool...I was just not as involved as I should have been) and too this day is my one regret with our pool. Someday I will make changes but that will require money so the kids will have to been grown and off my financial largesse before that happens.
...

As more bits and pieces of the original pool equipment died.. first the spa heater, then various components of the DE filter.. then a pump motor.. I went outside a screamed for a few minutes, collected myself and announced to the family I was going to replace everything! It was all 15 year old late 80's pool tech anyway. And I figured this was my opportunity to change the location of the pool pad as well.. half the conduits the PB used weren't weather resistant anyway! The demolition was a family event.. the kids were little and I showed them how to swing a sledge and I let them have at it!... I figured it would be more constructive than beating up your brother for a change... The project of ripping out all the old stuff and digging a huge pit to find out where things ran and how, took the place of the sandbox a few feet away. They loved playing with all the PVC parts and pieces .. they all signed the new pool pad for posterity!
I did the bulk of the work myself.. started in March and we were swimming in a salt water pool by June-ish. So yeah.. is a pain. but worth it.

 

[duraleigh]

half the conduits the PB used weren't weather resistant anyway!

Can you add to that? Were they not PVC?

 

[mguzzy]

Can you add to that? Were they not PVC?

I am referring to the fittings on the wiring conduits. Though they used liquid tight flex conduits, all the fittings were not, they were the type that would be used in an interior construction. They rusted out and made a mess of whatever they were connected to.

 

[KDpoolguy]

In regards to the OPs original post, as a new SWCG owner coming off all I ever knew was pucks and bleach, I’m a believer. I find that not having to regularly purchase Chlorine (liquid) jugs and I really just don’t check on my pool as much since the Chlorine is managed by the SWCG is a welcome change in our high-heat desert summers. I can also credit my addition of Screenlogic2 as a welcome addition to not have to go to the pad to turn on the pumps makes for a easier pool experience!