Help! New pool owner planning equipment pad remodel/replumbing

[codymitchell90]

I recently purchased a home with a ~50 year old concrete pool in west michigan that has had multiple owners over the years. The former owner left no instructions/guidance, but I had their pool guy show me around during the purchase (before I knew what questions to ask). I'm mostly figuring it out on my own. I'm looking to install a new variable speed pump and salt water generator before opening the pool for the season.

Below is a picture of the current setup, it's all 1.5" plumbing. I'm not sure where the pipe with the broken red ball valve goes, but it looks like it hasn't been in use for a long time. Also, don't be alarmed, I took the dead front off the electrical panel so I could see how everything was wired, but everything is off.

As a newbie, I was just hoping for some feedback on my plan (positive or negative) and any additional considerations I should have. Here are my goals:

• Repipe skimmer and main drain pvc after ball valves, adding Jandy 3-way valve and repositioning new pump to ensure the minimum ~10" of straight pipe before intake (Is it overkill to repipe the return lines and should I just reuse the existing pump location? There's currently a tee right before the intake which seems bad)
• Repipe after heater with check valve > flow switch > swg and remove chlorine inline feeder
• Remove booster pump, add another Jandy 3-way valve after the swg to split between original return line and repurpose cleaner/polaris return
• Should I consider adding unions to the pipes exiting the sand filter to allow for replacing the media? Is it safe to assume that's never been done since there currently aren't unions?

One of my concerns is that the polaris jet seems to be at the waterline (see below) so I'm not sure that can actually be repurposed as an effective return jet? It seems like a waste to just abandon it, maybe I could just make it into one of those diy pvc "fountains" for the kids to enjoy?

 

[ajw22]

• Repipe skimmer and main drain pvc after ball valves, adding Jandy 3-way valve and repositioning new pump to ensure the minimum ~10" of straight pipe before intake (Is it overkill to repipe the return lines and should I just reuse the existing pump location? There's currently a tee right before the intake which seems bad)

Adding the 3-way is good. 10" of straight pipe is nice to have but many pumps operate fine with less. I would not go to extremes to make that happen.

• Repipe after heater with check valve > flow switch > swg and remove chlorine inline feeder

Good and add a Heater Bypass - Further Reading

• Remove booster pump, add another Jandy 3-way valve after the swg to split between original return line and repurpose cleaner/polaris return

Understand that can divert up to half your return flow to the cleaner return and significantly reduce your return flow.

Overall I do not think it is worth it.

• Should I consider adding unions to the pipes exiting the sand filter to allow for replacing the media? Is it safe to assume that's never been done since there currently aren't unions?

Yes, and the sand level in the filter is probably low. A bit of sand is lost after every backwash and after a few years the sand level is below the recommended full level.

One of my concerns is that the polaris jet seems to be at the waterline (see below) so I'm not sure that can actually be repurposed as an effective return jet? It seems like a waste to just abandon it, maybe I could just make it into one of those diy pvc "fountains" for the kids to enjoy?

That Polaris jet will not make a good return. It will cause aeration which will cause your pH to rise unnecessarily.

 

[codymitchell90]

Adding the 3-way is good. 10" of straight pipe is nice to have but many pumps operate fine with less. I would not go to extremes to make that happen.



Good and add a Heater Bypass - Further Reading


Understand that can divert up to half your return flow to the cleaner return and significantly reduce your return flow.

Overall I do not think it is worth it.


Yes, and the sand level in the filter is probably low. A bit of sand is lost after every backwash and after a few years the sand level is below the recommended full level.


That Polaris jet will not make a good return. It will cause aeration which will cause your pH to rise unnecessarily.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, I really appreciate it! I didn't understand the importance of a heater bypass, but the reading you linked convinced me. Easy enough while I have everything apart.

Any recommendations on what to do with the polaris jet? Just cap it off?

 

[ajw22]

Any recommendations on what to do with the polaris jet? Just cap it off?

Cap it off with removable plugs at both ends so you can clean it out if it gets water and algae in it.

Or you can make it a fountain like this and turn it on when kids want to play in it.