Hello all. We just purchased a best way platinum 12x22 above ground pool with solar heater. Previous pool was a 15’ inflatable ring pool with no heater. Just wondering if I can use abs piping to extend the distance the solar heater is from the pool due to yard constraints? Also wondering if I did that would it be too much distance for the pump? Last year we relied on a solar pool cover which did not do much but made us pucker when we got in.
New larger above ground pool owner.
- Thread starter truckerbuddy
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,137
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome to TFP! 
We'll need a bit more info to really help. First, please update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. See mine as an example. How much distance are you considering, and an approximate elevation change? With that info, perhaps @mas985 can assist.
We'll need a bit more info to really help. First, please update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. See mine as an example. How much distance are you considering, and an approximate elevation change? With that info, perhaps @mas985 can assist.
- May 3, 2007
- 18,120
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Thanks for the help. This is the limited info I can see from the box/manuals. Bestway 12’x22’x4’ vinyl, 6000 gal, bestway flowclear 1500 gal/hr pump with sand filter, 4’x7’ solar mat heater. It says to lay the solar mat on a flat surface but in my yard it would work better if I could lay it on the shed roof which would be approx 9’ off the ground or build a platform on one end for it and the pump approx 5’ off the ground. If it could go on the shed then I would be extending the piping 14’-16’ and if it went on a platform then I would be extending it roughly 6-8 feet considering the pool inlet and outlet are along one side of the pool.
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I don't know if your pump would have enough power to raise the water 9' off the ground 16' away. Lower to the ground may be your best option with the stock pump/filter combo.
- May 3, 2007
- 18,120
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I agree with zea3, that pump has a maximum lift of less than 9' so no water would probably flow. Even at half that height, flow rate would be so reduced that it wouldn't work very well.
So if I raised both the pump/filter and the solar mat 3’ off the ground and ran pvc pipe to and from the pool it would be relatively level the whole way then I should have no problem? There just isn’t room to place everything beside the pool without taking a fence down on one side or the solar mat only getting about 2 hours of morning sun on the other. Placing the mat on the end would ensure sunlight for most of the day and part of the evening.
- May 3, 2007
- 18,120
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
The pump is not self priming so it cannot be above water level. However, if you can keep the pump below water level and at the same elevation as the panels, it might work ok. The panels will add extra head loss which will reduce flow rates but it is difficult to know for sure how much.
Awesome. Thank you all for the help. Very much appreciated. Hoping that the rain stays away this weekend so we can finish setting it up.