Need opinions of pool plans...possible OB

[SSharp]

We are in the process of possibly being the OB of an inground pool. Plans are for a 20x40 rectangle, vinyl lined, 48" steel wall pool with polymer walk in steps. Sport pool bottom: water depth on walk in side will be 3'6", then 5'4" water depth in the middle, and then to a 48" water depth on the other side. We have a large, 1 acre lot and super easy access for heavy equipment off the back end of our house. We GC'd our home build in 2003 and also a home edition in '11, so we have quite a bit of experience handling subs, etc.. Planning on hiring the excavation, electrical, and concrete work and doing the rest ourselves. Here is some of our equipment that we have selected so far:

48" steel walls
Heavy Duty adjustable A frame braces
deck support braces
rounded bullnose coping
8' straight back step for 48" walls
Hayward Tristar VS900 pump
Hayward ProSeries Plus side mount sand filter, 31"
Hayward OmniLogic salt cell
2-Hayward Universal 12v color logic LED lights w/ niche
Hayward universal H series 300k btu natural gas heater
28mil GLI Sedona liner
3 skimmers
4 returns
2 main drains
4 deck jets
Pentair Warrior SE pool robot (Dolphin S200)
GLI ProMesh safety cover
We've received several bids from PBs, and have firm prices from several subs. We are trying to determine what our time is worth going this route. Prices in this area are somewhat expensive and pool builders have reputations for being sloooooow. We would love any feedback!

 

[kimkats]

HI and Welcome!!! That is a great lot for a pool! What fun you will have!

Hayward OmniLogic salt cell

What size? We like to see the size being 2x the size of the pool. This saves you on your power bill and cell life.

Kim

 

[SSharp]

Oops, forgot to specify! 40k. Updated siggy. ?

 

[ajw22]

Why are you going with Hayward equipment versus Pentair?

Why a 300K heater versus 400K for your size pool?

Kim covered the SWG.

All diverter style valves?

2" plubming on the pool pad?

This may help you during your build...

Construction Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[SSharp]

Thank you for the responses! It is so helpful!

So Hayward was our starting point. We want to stick with all the same manufacturer, as far as equipment goes if possible. There is no Pentair heater option in either Pool Warehouse or Royal Pools, so that also might be why we steered towards Hayward. We would look into Pentair options if the opinion was that it is superior to Hayward. Our initial research indicates that the Hayward equipment chosen would be good options. As I said, we are open to feedback on this.

300k heater was chosen as that is a good balance for us for cost vs. time of heating the pool. We don't need quick heat and are fine 'ramping up'.

Yes, all Jandy valves and all 2" plumbing. Will look at the link supplied- thank you!

 

[ajw22]

We agree you should stick with the same manufacturer for automation, VS pump, and SWG. Gas heater can be from any manufacturer.

Hayward automation UI has been found to be confusing and difficult to use. We just had one member who is removing the Hayward Omni to put in Jandy Aqualink because his family can't figure out how to use the Omni system. Pentair IntelliCenter has a better UI, is modular for expansion, and Pentair is doing a lot of development on it to continue to add features.

Consider the Pentair IntelliCenter, Intelliflo VS 011028 pump, and Intellichlor IC40 or IC60 SWG. Get the IntelliCenter with the integrated SWG power supply. You can find all the Pentair equipment at...

Welcome to Polytec Pools

For the heater consider the Pentair MasterTemp 300K for $1,900 or the 400K heater for $2,200. For the $300 difference I would get the 400K heater that will heat your pool 25% faster.

Lots of folks prefer the Raypak heaters and they have equivalent models for about the same price.

Either heater is controlled the same way by the IntelliCenter using the "firemans switch". Read Heater Control with Automation - Further Reading

 

[wireform]

Don't be foolish and get the 400 heater. It's pocket change for the upgrade and can make a big difference should the surprise pool party or guest arrive. Have seen the should've would've could've way too often.

 

[SSharp]

Great! Thanks for the recommendations- looking into all of it now!

 

[SSharp]

more questions:

Intelliflo VS 011028 pump is a 3.95hp pump, is this overkill? The Hayward VS900 was 1.85hp for reference. In order to exchange our entire pool volumn of 26000 gal in 8 hours, we need 55gpm flow.

Any recommendations on sand filters, namely, the Pentair Triton II 30" or 36"? (and their corresponding multi port valves?)

 

[ajw22]

Intelliflo VS 011028 pump is a 3.95hp pump, is this overkill? The Hayward VS900 was 1.85hp for reference.

Don't focus on HP when selecting a VS pump. A VS pump is a variable HP pump. You run it at the best speed/HP for your pools need.

A large VS HP pump is actually the most energy efficient at slower speeds. So let's say you need 1 HP of water flow. The VS900 would use more electricity at 50% then the 011028 will at 25%.

There is no downside and there are benefits to a larger VS pump.

In order to exchange our entire pool volumn of 26000 gal in 8 hours, we need 55gpm flow.

The need to exchange any volume of water daily is a myth. Sanitation of the water comes from the chlorine in it and not from the pump running. The article below explains that you use your pump runtime to filter the water and that can be accomplished in most pools in a few hours.

Determine Pump Run Time

To figure out how many hours you need to run your pump, you need to know how fast your pump works. You can find this here.

www.troublefreepool.com

With a SWG you will run your pump at slow speed for the necessary hours to produce the chlorine your pool needs. The SWG runtime usually dictates how the pump is run.

Any recommendations on sand filters, namely, the Pentair Triton II 30" or 36"? (and their corresponding multi port valves?)

Get the largest filter your budget allows.

Why not a cartridge filter?

How to select pool equipment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[SSharp]

Thanks for your responses-they have been incredibly helpful! We have asked several folks in this area what they have, filter wise, and almost everyone has a sand filter. Our water is really high in iron and manganese. HOWEVER... everyone we have asked has had their pools professionally installed. We probably need to do more research on filters is the real answer.

The previous answers on pump HP, flow make perfect sense!

 

[Tbwonder]

Thanks for your responses-they have been incredibly helpful! We have asked several folks in this area what they have, filter wise, and almost everyone has a sand filter. Our water is really high in iron and manganese. HOWEVER... everyone we have asked has had their pools professionally installed. We probably need to do more research on filters is the real answer.

The previous answers on pump HP, flow make perfect sense!

would you mind sharing what your final setup was? Pump, filter, heater, SWG?

Thx!

 

[SSharp]

We just ordered our kit last week from Royal and our finalized equipment/parts include:

48" ZAM coated steel walls
Pentair Triton II sand filter, 30" side mount
Sta-Rite max-e-therm 400btu heater
Pentair Intelliflo VS Pump
2- 12V Intellibrite LED lights
Intellichlor I60
28mil GLI gray durango liner
2 skimmers
4 returns
6' gray polymer step

Dig day is this Wednesday! Excited and nervous!