New to pools, should I redo all this plumbing?

Swimming_Pond?

New member
May 22, 2025
2
Dowingtown, PA
Pool Size
4750
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
Hello all, I am new to pools, the house my wife and I purchased has a “pool” in the backyard. I have been reading through the pool school and now I’m wondering if I should redo some of the plumbing before getting things going this year or not. My main question is, with the outlet of the pump going into a split valve, would the water not just take the path of least resistance, i.e. not through the cartridge filter? Should I redo the plumbing, removing the split valve and T-joint, to make it a single loop, forcing the water through the cartridge filter, then onto the SWG, and heater? Is the pump too powerful(1/2hp) to not split between the two? Maybe that’s why they originally installed the split valve? To try and reduce the flow between the two of them? Should I just run it as is this year?Anyway, thanks for any opinions!
Nate.

P.S. There is a floor drain, and skimmer, but the only return is the waterfall…

P.P.S. There are two separate loops and a sump pump line here. One loop for the 8000 gallon koi pond(I know, excessive, it came with the house…😂), and one loop for the ~5000 gallon swimming pool. Every connection of the swimming pool loop is loose, it was all apart to winterize the lines. I just mocked it up to give an idea here. I also have a new lid to replace the cracked one on the pump leaf basket…

IMG_0135 Medium.jpegIMG_0127 Medium.jpegIMG_0130 Medium.jpegIMG_0133 Medium.jpegIMG_0132 Medium.jpeg