Inherited a Pool, Recommendations Requested

[MrBobC]

Hi! This forum has been a wealth of information, and I'm very appreciative of it, so thanks for everyone's input! I recently purchased a house with a 16x36 inground pool with a deep end, and I'm considering some upgrades. I currently have a single speed Hayward pump, not sure what model as it's impossible to read, so I guess that means it's kind of old. Also have a S210T Hayward Sand Filter. Haven't opened the pool yet as I've got about an 8-ft piece of the liner that popped out of the bead in the deep end over the winter and I can't get it back in, service guy(s) will be out to fix in the next couple business days.

What I'm looking for:

Recommendation on new 2-speed or VS pump brand/size
Salt Water Generator
Is the Sand Filter the right size?

For the SWG, I'm looking at the RJ60+ from Circupool (if so, is $1,100 a good price?) as that brand had some good recommendations in the other area of the forum, and to get the largest one you can so you can run the pump less and change the cell less often. Was wondering if the CircuPool VS 1.5HP pump would be a good fit (Lots of good info about their SWGs, no info really on their pumps), or if a larger HP would be recommended. I'm thinking head distance could be necessary to determine this, and the pump isn't more than 30ft. from the skimmer and is on a concrete pad on the ground level, and I'm pretty sure I've got 2 in. PVC. Should assume standard shallow/deep end sizes, so am guessing it's about 25k gallons.

Of course once we get the liner popped back in I'll SLAM the pool and have some fun.

I'll also add that I'm keeping an eye toward automation, so would be good to keep that in mind as well.

Thanks for your help!

 

[kimkats]

I am not sure but know someone who is real good with this kind of stuff. Hold on until he gets back with us.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Bob,

As you have noted, we have seen some pretty good reviews of the CircuPool SWCGs but not much on their VS pumps... Most 1.5 HP pump that I have seen all have 1.5" plumbing. Most of the larger VS pumps are 3 HP and have 2" plumbing. Don't be afraid of the HP. It is kind of like your car... Just because your car has 300 HP, does not mean you have to run it peddle to the metal..

I have what is considered by many to be the Gold Standard of VS pumps, the 3 HP IntelliFlo... Because I have a SWCG, I run it at 1200 rpm, 24/7 and the electrical costs are less then $20 bucks a month. It is a great pump!!!

I am normally a great risk taker, but I would not buy a pump that is not from one of the "big three", Hayward, Jandy or Pentair.

Going with a SWCG is a great idea... I will never, ever, have another non-saltwater pool again..

I can't really help with your filter questions..

Thanks for posting,

Jim R.

If you are planning for future upgrades, keep in mind that if you decide to get an automation system, then the automation, the pump, and the SWCG all have to be the same brand for them to be able to talk together... Without automation then you can mix and match brands without any issues.

 

[MrBobC]

I just checked and discovered I have 2" plumbing, so pretty excited about that. I thought that a pump should be appropriately sized for the plumbing and filter. For example, my filter is good for 55GPM, 2" pipe is good for 55GPM, so it seems like I should have a pump that goes up to 55GPM, so I'm not sure how a 3HP pump would be more useful than a 1.5 since there's a maximum amount of GPM that can go through the system, so what's the point of a pump that can push through more GPM than the system will allow? I definitely want to go the automation route as that's the kind of guy I am, and prefer to buy the right thing the first time, and not make incremental upgrades. Obviously cost is a function of that, so if it costs a lot, I just wait longer to make it work in my budget. Want to also add in a heat pump later too, I have no heater now.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Bob,

If you plan to get automation, then you need to pick the brand of automation you want and then buy the pump that the automation will support. In the case of Pentair it is either the 3 HP IntelliFlo or nothing. Pentair automation does not even control their own 1.5 HP VS pump.

A larger pump will move the same amount of water as a smaller pump, but at a much slower RPM and therefor is more efficient and quiet.. So instead of running a small pump very fast, you can run a big pump very slow..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[MrBobC]

Jim, I get it now. And in running it slowly it uses less electricity would also be my guess. You indicated you had the "gold standard" for VS pumps. Is there a general consensus in the group as to the "gold standard" for a brand of automation? Pentair looks like they have done a lot on this front with many things to automate.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Bob,

I always like to say the other brands are "almost" as good a Pentair.. But, in truth, all three of the big boys (Pentair, Hayward, and Jandy) are all about the same. It is very similar to a Chevy / Ford thing. They each have their dedicated owners, but they both get you from point A to B.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[markuszoom5]

Hi there, Mr. BobC. I see that you live in Binghamton, NY. To me it sounds like you have a Cannon Pools and Spas standard pool. Is it also 8 foot deep in deep end and about 4 foot in shallow end? To me it looks like you have the standard Hayward 1 hp Superpump and Sand Filter setup. You are looking at about 19000 gallons or so. You should have 2 returns, one main drain, and a skimmer. If that is the case, then you don't need to change anything other than the multiport valve if you have one. You will need two separate valves, one for skimmer and one for main drain. Any decent pool guy will re-plumb that for you for a couple hundred if you don't feel comfortable yourself. I am curious to see if I was right on this description of the pool. Let me know.

 

[MrBobC]

Mark,

That sounds spot on. Can't say as to the Cannon Pools & Spas piece but they're in Cortland so it's not improbable. Those measurements seem feasible although I haven't measured the depths. I do have 2 returns, one main drain and a skimmer. Just checked yesterday and it's all 1.5" plumbing. I have a valve on each of the four lines to open/close. It's PVC and I'm comfortable with that, and it is a Hayward SuperPump just can't tell the model number because it's faded but 1HP would make sense since it's 1.5" plumbing. The only multiport valve is on top of the sand filter. I'm thinking of converting to a Pentair setup with a VS pump and maybe the Quad DE filter. You mention there's nothing to change, could you elaborate on that? Yes everything I have (I think) works but it can always be better/lower electric/etc.

 

[markuszoom5]

Don’t mess with a DE filter in our area especially if you have trees with cottonwood. My neighbor had to change DE 3 x this year and that’s $10 a pop. I backwashed once. Maybe change the sand to start out fresh. I changed the sand and put a new multi port on top of the sand filter. Honestly for the short period of time we run our pools here a VS is not even worth it. If your current pump is not leaking or squeaking keep running it. It looks to me like you are all set with your pool. Just get the chemistry right and enjoy it. Good luck.

 

[MrBobC]

Mark,

No trees anywhere near the pool. Have a lot of open space to do a solar rack but am also considering a heat pump to extend the swimming season. What size do you think, was looking at 140k but with the smaller size than I had thought maybe 120k?

 

[Scout101]

I've got some older equipment, but been perfectly happy with my setup. I've got a 1.5hp Superpump, Hayward sand filter (a bigger one, but also a 25k gal pool), and Aqualogic salt cell/automation. Does everything I need it to, pool basically runs on autopilot once I get it dialed in in the spring. given the short season around here (I'm in RI) not sure the variable speed, or even dual speed, would be worth the extra cost, but I haven't crunched the numbers too hard since my equipment is still alive and kicking. I can get away with running the salt cell at 50%, and I run the pool 8 hrs a day (in 2 4-hour bursts).

From what I remember from looking at replacement parts, it was like $1100-1200 for the automation and that came with the salt cell. Not a lot of frills with my pump, but a new one with the basket and the whole deal was about $400.

Hayward is probably about as good as the other two; I'm more likely to remain with them out of inertia than anything else if my equipment fails. Something to be said for plug and play, not having to do any replumbing, etc. still sell a model that would line up with my old stuff, so if some day in the distant future I have to buy new, that's what I'd be looking at. So far, I've been lucky enough to do patch jobs and keep it all working well.

 

[markuszoom5]

Hi all, due to our bitter cold winters, the newest standard setup I see here in Upstate New York for pools about 15-25k gallons is 3 returns, two main drains, one skimmek, sand filter, 1-2hp pump, salt water generator, gas pool heater. Everything except for the sand filter gets taken apart and put away in the fall.
My pool is 15 years old. Just had the liner replaced. I have a 1 hp superpump, one main drain, two returns, one skimmer, one shutoff valve for main drain and one for skimmer. I use a pool blanket and got rid of old gas heater. My pool is as simple as they get. A bit of bleach every other day. Tablets to start for adding CYA when I first open. Four lbs of baking soda. That’s it.

 

[MrBobC]

Going to stick with the current pump and filter for now, may add SWG later in the season or next year with a Load Center (Have to see if they ran all conduit or if it was a mix of conduit and direct-burial). Found out yesterday it's actually a 21st Century Pool as well. Thinking I'll add solar in the future as well since I've definitely got the space and it's the lowest upkeep/cost in the long run.