Feedback on pad plumbing//layout?

CPM10V

Well-known member
Jun 12, 2019
63
Phoenix, AZ
Pool Size
25000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
I’m renovating my pool/yard & have modeled the equipment & plumbing pad in SketchUp CAD. Does the plumbing/valves in the image look about right in theory? I’m not sure on what sort of valves would be best or correct, I just hear a lot about only Jandy valves. Should all the plumbing on pad be 2”? Not sure what size the vacuum & aerator lines should be, they are going to be added new. Thanks for any feedback, trying to learn & want to get this right the first time.

The pool is simple:
in ground gunnite 25k gallons circa 1977
3-8’ diving end
3 return locations with 2 eyeballs at each location (6 total eyeball fittings)
one skimmer & one floor drain (there’s just one line from skimmer to pump)
Aerator in face of deck wall (being added)
In wall vacuum port (being added)
Pentair vsf3 pump new
Pentair 520 cartridge filter new
Pentair new gen salt cell (new version of IC60) new
Pentair power unit for cell
 

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Looks nice. If you use 2.5" on the 3-way valve to pump inlet, pump outlet to filter, filter back to salt gen, you will have a better flow (for folks who try eek out every bit of energy efficiency we can get).
 
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You should have a 3 way diverter between the pump and cartridge filter giving you a pipe to vacuum to waste, rather than into the filter.
 
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Do you use a vacuum to filter in your pool now?

What vacuum cleaner do you intend to use?

I prefer a Polaris type pressure cleaner or any cleaner that collects debris in a bag instead of sucking it through your pump impeller and filter.
 
I’ve been using a robot but not real happy with the amount of repairs it needed. The pool co recommended adding the vac port/line since it was easy to do now & convenient to have. How does a pressure side cleaner work?

If I added the 3 way valve between pump & filter would that also negate the need for a hose bib fitting on pump outlet?
 
I’ve been using a robot but not real happy with the amount of repairs it needed. The pool co recommended adding the vac port/line since it was easy to do now & convenient to have. How does a pressure side cleaner work?

Polaris pressure cleaners use a booster pump to pick off some water from the return line and send it down a dedicated return line to power the cleaner. All Polaris cleaners capture debris in a bag; nothing goes through your pump or filter.

My Polaris cleaner lives in my pool and runs from 6AM to 8AM every day, giving me a clean pool for the day.

Polaris cleaner parts are available and they have tune-up and rebuild kits.


If I added the 3 way valve between pump & filter would that also negate the need for a hose bib fitting on pump outlet?

There is no need for a hose bib on the pump outlet and few people ever use them.
 
I’m not sure on what sort of valves would be best or correct, I just hear a lot about only Jandy valves.
It's important that no cheap ball valves are used anywhere in your system. Only use high quality diverters, such as Jandy Never Lube or Pentair, etc.. The valves depicted in your diagram are good.

Pentair vsf3 pump new
What model? Do you have automation?

Pentair 520 cartridge filter
Excellent choice.

I’ve been using a robot but not real happy with the amount of repairs it needed.
What robot do you have? A robot will clean better than a suction or pressure side cleaner, use the least amount of electricity, and won't suck debris into your CCP520.
 
I had a dolphin M 600, and while I like the robot, it had to go in for service more times than I’d like, ultimately I believe one of the motor bearings seized up and that’s when I stopped nickel and diming it.