Cay,
Before you do anything, re-design your equipment layout so you can replace the rest without a total redo of the piping. If you don't do a total reno you'll have to redo some plumbing each time but this can be minimized with some forethought. Pump is the heart of your pool and you're probably on borrowed time. I'd do that first. It'll pay for itself in less than 2 years so it's kind of free. With your electric prices your wife will see the benefit on the bill quickly and this should get you big time brownie points! The rest depends on your personal preferences. In my case we use our pool several days per week year round. We use automation and the spa a lot - most pool owners probably don't since they don't use the pool that often. It's really nice to be able to adjust the spa with the phone app and even better to get it heating up while we are on our way home from dinner or happy hour. I bought my swg before my automation so I couldn't really justify a swg bundle. Only reason not to do this is if you DIY. You need full warranty on the cell and the only way to get full warranty on it with DIY is to use an authorized installer (about 2x DIY cost) or go 3rd party like Circupool or Autopilot. All manufacturers have a small number of early cell failures in the first couple years and this is very expensive if you don't have warranty. Automation warranty is a little different. There are no comparable 3rd parties. But it's also electronics - if it works a week or two it'll most likely continue for decades. So I was OK with a 90 day warranty from Pentair or even Hayward. Jandy gives you zero warranty for DIY so they were not a choice for me. If you buy from an authorize installer any brand will work and Jandy is about as good as Hayward. In my opinion Pentair Intellicenter is the best in terms of features and future compatibility. The other two are about the same and a couple hundred $ cheaper for a given installation. Next item is heater. I'm guessing both the solar and the gas are at end of life. You'll need to replace them when they fail but I'd wait 'till that happens just to stay on budget. You can usually afford to do some repairs on both of them to delay replacement cost but it is inevitable. On the solar you can plug tubes as they start to fail and on the gas heater it's usually sensors or switches or tubes. If your tubes haven't failed yet it indicates they won't be the first item to go and that's good since they are the most expensive repair and hard to justify. But eventually both heaters will need replacement. Hopefully, you're able to put the electric bill savings in a piggy bank and use that to reduce the pain.
I hope this helps and good luck!
Chris
This makes a lot of sense, thanks Chris! Yeah VS pump will pay for itself with low electric bill, which is why I'm going for that first! Inyopools recommended this Waterway over Pentair pump due to it's 2 year warranty and 2.7 HP, but I don't know much about Waterway. seems to use V-green motor:
Waterway Power Defender 270 Variable Speed Pump 2.7 HP
however, I've been looking at some pump performance curves and it looks like nothing can beat the Intelliflo. Based on my filter pressure 9psi/13psi for solar off/solar on, I guessed the Feet of Head would be at least 35/50. So with solar on, it would be 2500RPM @40GPM for intelliFlo vs. higher RPM on the superFlo or Waterway, so the lower RPM might pay for itself with the intelliFlo.
The gas heater is on its last leg, burner tray rusted a lot I dont know if they even sell replacement tray so I dont want to move it myself. also it's next to a large window, and per pool inspection new code does not allow that any more. I think I dont have any good options on the gas heater, other than remove it out OR if professionally installed, have to switch place with the filter pad to avoid the window, redo entire plumbing which is costly. likely going to leave it there unless I redo the entire plumbing. by the way, would salt be super bad for this old rusty gas heater? I'm not sure how to inspect it to determine whether to take it out completely or try to fix it up? it seemed to still run and heat up water most of the time I tried, but I'm afraid of using it.
sounds like for SWG, warranty is more important. then, I will get a Circupool and go the relay route later when I get a new controller. IntelliCenter seems to cost a lot!
Solar heater - I've replaced 3 of 9 and plugged another one with some used panels from craigslist, seems to work ok for now (saved $2200 from solar company, for now!)
Biggest problem is how to redesign the equipment layout. I'm also worried about touching the copper pipes, i don't have a very good experience with 2" vertical copper joints, the last vertical elbow I did took 20 tries, 10 elbows, and 1 whole day
If I would just replace the pump in same place, where would you think I could stick a circupool SWG?
