New Pool Build - IG Vinyl in Central Massachusetts
- Thread starter MassNerd
- Start date
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,282
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
You might consider dropping a water line into the electrical trench after you get your trench inspection (if you need one). By code I think electrical shouldn't be in with water lines but I also think it is not uncommon for people to do. It will also certainly not be below your frost line but it would just get blown out with each pool close like the rest of the pool lines. That would give you underground plumbed water at the pool which I've found is tremendously handy with a pool removed from the house. This is what we did. Actually, for ours at the pool, the water line continues downhill and drains by gravity when the various valves are open.
BTW - We had our training yesterday on all of our Hayward automation, etc. It is by a guy who runs his own pool service company (one man show). He used to be a Hayward regional service technician supervisor so he knows everything about Hayward and pools in general...and doesn't sell chemicals so he has no stake in that. Incredibly helpful even though our setup is not complicated. I can tell you (now that our 2-speed Hayward pump is now operating as a 2-speed and not just on Hi) that on low you will not be able to hear your pump running!! I only hear the water gurgling through our cartridge filter - which I couldn't hear with the pump on Hi (which produces a very moderate level of noise).
One fun part about listening to him was how knowledgeable I already was on many things because of this site. None of his information/recommendations strayed from the best practices discussed here. It was like having the best of the TFP forum in my backyard and he was a Hayward guy. His accumulated knowledge on current and past Hayward products (which I didn't even scratch the surface of) is unbeatable. If anyone is in the Baltimore or Delaware area and needs a guy...I have one for you.
Are you getting the AquaPod remote? With your heater that would give you one more reason have it. It's cool!
Great pics!!!
BTW - We had our training yesterday on all of our Hayward automation, etc. It is by a guy who runs his own pool service company (one man show). He used to be a Hayward regional service technician supervisor so he knows everything about Hayward and pools in general...and doesn't sell chemicals so he has no stake in that. Incredibly helpful even though our setup is not complicated. I can tell you (now that our 2-speed Hayward pump is now operating as a 2-speed and not just on Hi) that on low you will not be able to hear your pump running!! I only hear the water gurgling through our cartridge filter - which I couldn't hear with the pump on Hi (which produces a very moderate level of noise).
One fun part about listening to him was how knowledgeable I already was on many things because of this site. None of his information/recommendations strayed from the best practices discussed here. It was like having the best of the TFP forum in my backyard and he was a Hayward guy. His accumulated knowledge on current and past Hayward products (which I didn't even scratch the surface of) is unbeatable. If anyone is in the Baltimore or Delaware area and needs a guy...I have one for you.
Are you getting the AquaPod remote? With your heater that would give you one more reason have it. It's cool!
Great pics!!!
Day2&3 Photos
Ok, time to catch up on photos
Pouring concrete for the walls
Sand for backfill
Day 3, they're moving quick!
Equipment pad and plumbing
Pump
Heater
SWCG:
Filter:
Valve:
Ok, time to catch up on photos
Pouring concrete for the walls
Sand for backfill
Day 3, they're moving quick!
Equipment pad and plumbing
Pump
Heater
SWCG:
Filter:
Valve:
Day 4 Photos
Hey, we have a liner!
Deep end return 1:
Deep end return 2 and light wire:
Plumbing:
Shallow end returns 1 & 2:
Liner & Stairs:
Hey, we have a liner!
Deep end return 1:
Deep end return 2 and light wire:
Plumbing:
Shallow end returns 1 & 2:
Liner & Stairs:
Great progress, sucks the next week of weather is not looking good, I hope the forecast is wrong.
Curious as to why you did a heat pump. Can i assume you don't have natural gas in your neighborhood?
And the pool is full as of 7pm!
Pool is full!
Test results:
TF100
Ph: 7.2
TA: 30
CH: 30
CYA: <20
4 way Dip Strip
FC: 0
Alk: 60
Ph: 6.8
Total hardness: 0-40ppm
Pool is full!
Test results:
TF100
Ph: 7.2
TA: 30
CH: 30
CYA: <20
4 way Dip Strip
FC: 0
Alk: 60
Ph: 6.8
Total hardness: 0-40ppm
mpkelley20 said:
No natural gas as I live on a street with corn fields
Let's also say I made the decision in haste. I was lured by the promise of lower operating costs. I decided I wanted a heat pump before reading mixed experiences on this forum. Also, I'm not one who needs to swim in 85F water. I was just looking for something to keep the temperature up during those cooler summer weeks. Possibly extend the season a little. I hope I made the right call. Time will tell.
I intend to go with a 400K Natural Gas heater, but I am planning on a Spa and do not plan to keep it at a certain tempature all the time. I am fine with a pool 72 degree's or warmer. I like the Heater in case I have a Party or want to go in the Spa, it heats it up much faster.
If I wanted everyday tempature increase I would have gone with the Heat Pump, sounds like what you want it for you made the right decision, but I am just basing that off my research. I have heard up our way the Heat Pump does not extend the season much.
Do you plan to use a Solar Cover??
If I wanted everyday tempature increase I would have gone with the Heat Pump, sounds like what you want it for you made the right decision, but I am just basing that off my research. I have heard up our way the Heat Pump does not extend the season much.
Do you plan to use a Solar Cover??
Not sure yet about a solar cover Carnut. The pool comes with one and I intend to try to use it at night. If the pool stays warm without it, then laziness may take over and we'll rely on nature and the heat pump to keep it at the temperature we want.
Lol I hear you I will probably do the same. Looks like you will get plenty of sun, I bet it stays pretty warm as long as the Sun is out.
I love the liner and the wider steps!!
I love the liner and the wider steps!!
The heat pump will work very well as long as temps are 65 and up from what friends of mine tell me that have them. They are just much slower at heating but once temps get up there in the pool, you can easily maintain the temp at lower costs than gas.
My pool sits in the sun all day. Haven't needed my heater on since the warm weather reached us. Water has gotten as high as 87 which is just too warm. However, right after all that cold rainy weather we had a few weeks ago, water was 68. Turned my heater on around 7am and was 78 by 3pm. My buddy with a heat pump was around 72 after starting around 68 as well.
As for extending the season, we went swimming in April. Water was 78 with heater but outside air was 65 at best. Getting out of the pool made me rethink the extended season. Felt like we were in the arctic once we got out!!!
So in short, you'll be fine with heat pump. I thought they would be terrible in MA but now I think they would be a fine choice.
My pool sits in the sun all day. Haven't needed my heater on since the warm weather reached us. Water has gotten as high as 87 which is just too warm. However, right after all that cold rainy weather we had a few weeks ago, water was 68. Turned my heater on around 7am and was 78 by 3pm. My buddy with a heat pump was around 72 after starting around 68 as well.
As for extending the season, we went swimming in April. Water was 78 with heater but outside air was 65 at best. Getting out of the pool made me rethink the extended season. Felt like we were in the arctic once we got out!!!
So in short, you'll be fine with heat pump. I thought they would be terrible in MA but now I think they would be a fine choice.
Oh...and that's cool about the corn fields! I love central and western MA. I go camping and off roading in my jeep every summer. My off road club has access to private land as well as some unmaintained roads all the way out in ten berkshires (mt savoy area). A lot different than Boston area where I am!!
Here’s an update on my build,
So the pool was completed on the 4th day. That is quick! Backfill with sand and compacting done on the 5th day. Then we went on vacation for a week.
Prior to leaving I added stabilizer to get it just below 20ppm, brought the FC level above the shock level and tossed in a floater with a few trichlor tabs. At this point I did notice some green/brown discoloring in the water but I could still see the bottom of the deep end.
Return 1 week later. The PB did cover the pool the day after I left and did stop by a 2nd time during the week. I have no idea what they did when they stopped by, if anything. They did start up the SWCG.
When I returned, I uncovered the pool and it was very green/brown and cloudy. You could not see the bottom of the deep end. The FC level was still above shock level!
Over the course of the next 6 days they pump was running 12 hours a day on low speed. I didn’t backwash it much (probably should have). FC levels remained above SLAM/shock level. Cloudiness did not improve at all.
The PB visits again, takes a water sample, comes back with two bottles of Phosphate remover. States my phosphates were at 1000ppb and should be 125ppb or less and this would cause cloudy water. I’m a little wary of this because I know the opinions on phosphates on this forum. I do let him put in the chemical though.
12 hours later I do see sediment collecting on the bottom of the shallow end. I start a regiment of frequent vacuuming & backwashing and running the pump 24 hours per day. 5-6 days later, the pool is starting to look pretty good. After 9 days, crystal clear pool!
So was it just my lack of attention (backwashing, pump run time and vacuuming)? Or did the phosphate remover really save the day? I did find the sediment 12 hours after adding it to be a new development and likely caused by the phosphate remover…
Other updates: Very close to choosing a decking company. Targeting first week in August to have that installed. We also picked out the White vinyl fencing and are expecting the quote on that end of this week.
And... LOVING THE POOL IN THIS HEAT! even without any decking...
So the pool was completed on the 4th day. That is quick! Backfill with sand and compacting done on the 5th day. Then we went on vacation for a week.
Prior to leaving I added stabilizer to get it just below 20ppm, brought the FC level above the shock level and tossed in a floater with a few trichlor tabs. At this point I did notice some green/brown discoloring in the water but I could still see the bottom of the deep end.
Return 1 week later. The PB did cover the pool the day after I left and did stop by a 2nd time during the week. I have no idea what they did when they stopped by, if anything. They did start up the SWCG.
When I returned, I uncovered the pool and it was very green/brown and cloudy. You could not see the bottom of the deep end. The FC level was still above shock level!
Over the course of the next 6 days they pump was running 12 hours a day on low speed. I didn’t backwash it much (probably should have). FC levels remained above SLAM/shock level. Cloudiness did not improve at all.
The PB visits again, takes a water sample, comes back with two bottles of Phosphate remover. States my phosphates were at 1000ppb and should be 125ppb or less and this would cause cloudy water. I’m a little wary of this because I know the opinions on phosphates on this forum. I do let him put in the chemical though.
12 hours later I do see sediment collecting on the bottom of the shallow end. I start a regiment of frequent vacuuming & backwashing and running the pump 24 hours per day. 5-6 days later, the pool is starting to look pretty good. After 9 days, crystal clear pool!
So was it just my lack of attention (backwashing, pump run time and vacuuming)? Or did the phosphate remover really save the day? I did find the sediment 12 hours after adding it to be a new development and likely caused by the phosphate remover…
Other updates: Very close to choosing a decking company. Targeting first week in August to have that installed. We also picked out the White vinyl fencing and are expecting the quote on that end of this week.
And... LOVING THE POOL IN THIS HEAT! even without any decking...
One thing I noticed about your build is the plumbing seems similar to my parents pool with only one skimmer. Theirs was put in back in 1983 and they have 3 returns and one skimmer all in the deep end. Their shallow end get no water flo so it's always covered with floaties. The company that did theirs does concrete pools like yours (most around me do steel or polymer these days) and is still in business today building the same design.
My pool has 3 skimmers and 7 returns (it slightly bigger than yours at 20x40) and I never have anything on top as the water flow and skimmers work very well. Interested in hearing how yours works as I believe you at least have a return in the shallow end, right?
And don't rush the deck. Hionestly, let the land sit and settle until next year and then do it. My pool was finished in october with the deck poured this past May/June. I haven't had any cracking issues other than one spot where my PB had to dig up to fix something prior to the deck being poured but I have a feeling that I should have waited even longer to have it poured. Good news is that my cement guy has offered to cut out and replace the area if the crack comes back (they repaired it).
And yes, awesome you can enjoy your pool this week. Brutal weather. My water is hagning around the 90 degree mark right now.....not exactly refreshing...
My pool has 3 skimmers and 7 returns (it slightly bigger than yours at 20x40) and I never have anything on top as the water flow and skimmers work very well. Interested in hearing how yours works as I believe you at least have a return in the shallow end, right?
And don't rush the deck. Hionestly, let the land sit and settle until next year and then do it. My pool was finished in october with the deck poured this past May/June. I haven't had any cracking issues other than one spot where my PB had to dig up to fix something prior to the deck being poured but I have a feeling that I should have waited even longer to have it poured. Good news is that my cement guy has offered to cut out and replace the area if the crack comes back (they repaired it).
And yes, awesome you can enjoy your pool this week. Brutal weather. My water is hagning around the 90 degree mark right now.....not exactly refreshing...
I was a little worried about the single skimmer and whether the roman stairs would be problems for keeping the pool clean, but circulation seems to be great. I have 4 returns on 3 walls. 2 are in the shallow end. Circulation is great. A trichlor floatie I had in the pool never got stuck even after going deep into the stairs area and probably takes only a few minutes for a round trip around the pool with the pump on low speed. The skimmer is catching a quite a bit, but our space is wide open, so not a lot of debris to worry about yet. I think I've pulled as many frogs from the skimmer as I have leaves!
I would have a hard time be patient with the deck. Its tough to have the back yard being such a mess, not to mention the $2600 I spent on backfill sand alone so we could do the deck sooner! The decking guys seems to think it will be fine, but of course they want to make a buck this summer.
Yes, 88-90 water is not refreshing, but it sure is great for swimming after the kids are in bed. I had such a zen moment Monday night swimming during the sunset with the moon out, the color light going through the spectrum and dragonflies and birds flying overhead. Totally made me not regret spending all this money!
I would have a hard time be patient with the deck. Its tough to have the back yard being such a mess, not to mention the $2600 I spent on backfill sand alone so we could do the deck sooner! The decking guys seems to think it will be fine, but of course they want to make a buck this summer.
Yes, 88-90 water is not refreshing, but it sure is great for swimming after the kids are in bed. I had such a zen moment Monday night swimming during the sunset with the moon out, the color light going through the spectrum and dragonflies and birds flying overhead. Totally made me not regret spending all this money!
Ok, after slacking on my build thread, I'm here to bring it up to speed.
Here's with the backfill complete:
Framing the deck:
Coping:
Concrete poured and stamped (With some grey powder on top):
Stepping stones. We're happy with how these turned out! We went with these to not break up the yard as much as a solid path would. Its a high traffic area across the yard behind the house:
Here's with the backfill complete:
Framing the deck:
Coping:
Concrete poured and stamped (With some grey powder on top):
Stepping stones. We're happy with how these turned out! We went with these to not break up the yard as much as a solid path would. Its a high traffic area across the yard behind the house:
Update continued.
Here's the final look after the powder was washed off (we went with oil based sealer):
A week in, small cracks. I expected that based on reading online though:
A view of the liner and concrete
Fence installed!
We love the pool! Not the warmest summer last year but the heat pump worked great. We swam into October (had a couple warm weekends)!
- - - Updated - - -
Coming soon this spring, landscaping around the pool!
Here's the final look after the powder was washed off (we went with oil based sealer):
A week in, small cracks. I expected that based on reading online though:
A view of the liner and concrete
Fence installed!
We love the pool! Not the warmest summer last year but the heat pump worked great. We swam into October (had a couple warm weekends)!
- - - Updated - - -
Coming soon this spring, landscaping around the pool!
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,282
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
We swam on those same warm October days! Thanks so much for the pictorial update. It looks great. Not too many pools on here that are in a separated area. I think it makes a nice "destination" pool, especially up north where the season is only a part of the year.
Congrats! You must be thrilled! Question.... Your stepping stones... Did you have them poured and made or did they come that way? I'm feeling that they were made on site? This may solve my need for a "walk" way. Thanks
Rachel
Rachel