Hello TFP!
Long time lurker, first time poster. We have had one of the cheap Intex AGP 12' x 30" since the start of Covid in Spring 2020. This pool has been fine for our family of 4 the last couple of years, but as the kids grow (8 and 6 years old), it is starting to feel a bit small, so I think we will be updating before next season. We will probably be going to either an 18'-21' round or perhaps a 12'x20' rectangle.
However, before then, I would like to make some upgrades to the Intex this year to make it better for us, and re-use those upgrades when we get the new pool next season. We are in Charlotte, NC, so summers are hot and humid so you would think our pool would be comfortable, however, our back yard is heavily shaded and our pool rarely ever approaches even 76 degrees. It's pretty much freezing all summer, even on 95 degree days. So, to make it more usable to our family, I would like to add a heat pump and then re-use it when we get the bigger pool, knowing we will want to heat it also. I have been looking at 50k-60k BTU heat pumps, thinking those would serve our future needs with the previously mentioned upgraded pools we might get next season. Some I've been looking at: Fibropool FH120 (nice becuase no 220V wiring to worry about), Fibropool FH055, Raypak Crosswind models - 45k, 61k, etc., and many others.
I also thought going along with the heat pump we should upgrade from the small cartridge filter pump that came with the Intex to something larger - perhaps a sand filter and pump. I'm thinking either a Hayward or the Intex SX2100.
So some questions - has anyone else done something like this? I've seen some threads where people proposed doing it, but I haven't seen the finished product by anyone. Any advice on particular models of heat pump and filter/pump to get for current and future needs? What kind of issues will I face for converting plumbing from 1.25" tubes on the current Intex pool?
Thanks a lot!
Long time lurker, first time poster. We have had one of the cheap Intex AGP 12' x 30" since the start of Covid in Spring 2020. This pool has been fine for our family of 4 the last couple of years, but as the kids grow (8 and 6 years old), it is starting to feel a bit small, so I think we will be updating before next season. We will probably be going to either an 18'-21' round or perhaps a 12'x20' rectangle.
However, before then, I would like to make some upgrades to the Intex this year to make it better for us, and re-use those upgrades when we get the new pool next season. We are in Charlotte, NC, so summers are hot and humid so you would think our pool would be comfortable, however, our back yard is heavily shaded and our pool rarely ever approaches even 76 degrees. It's pretty much freezing all summer, even on 95 degree days. So, to make it more usable to our family, I would like to add a heat pump and then re-use it when we get the bigger pool, knowing we will want to heat it also. I have been looking at 50k-60k BTU heat pumps, thinking those would serve our future needs with the previously mentioned upgraded pools we might get next season. Some I've been looking at: Fibropool FH120 (nice becuase no 220V wiring to worry about), Fibropool FH055, Raypak Crosswind models - 45k, 61k, etc., and many others.
I also thought going along with the heat pump we should upgrade from the small cartridge filter pump that came with the Intex to something larger - perhaps a sand filter and pump. I'm thinking either a Hayward or the Intex SX2100.
So some questions - has anyone else done something like this? I've seen some threads where people proposed doing it, but I haven't seen the finished product by anyone. Any advice on particular models of heat pump and filter/pump to get for current and future needs? What kind of issues will I face for converting plumbing from 1.25" tubes on the current Intex pool?
Thanks a lot!
Upgrades? You bet. Many here have done them. But when it comes to heating, I am not the guy. 
Let's see if 
