Hello All,
Hoping this encourages people to look at their set-up and replumb if necessary.
Purchased my 1966 home with 1966 pool in Fall of 2019. Spent Summer of 2020 with pool equipment as-is. After a summer of high electricity bills and getting annoyed listening to my old 1hp pump groaning, I educating myself on VS pumps and efficient plumbing. I used the Pool Pump Tools spreadsheet to estimate my current plumbing situation compared to a re-plumbed equipment pad. It showed I could make significant improvements to my current plumbing set-up while switching to a VS pump. I decided with the Intelliflo VSF due to its ability to show flow without another meter. I also liked that it was Pentair brand to go along with my existing sand filter and heater and future ability to automate. Some info online said my underground plumbing was too small (1.5") for a 3hp pump. Understanding I could limit the RPM and Flow of the Intelliflo VSF, I decided to go that route anyways (instead of a 1.5hp Superflow VS or 1.85hp Tristar VS). I may be missing out on minor efficiency with this "oversized" pump.... BUT I think that's debatable.
Underground, under good condition stamped concrete, I have a 1.5" Flex PVC for all Suction and Return Lines
- (1) Main Drain: 1.5" pipe from main drain to pad. It was copper at some point but I think they partially converted to 1.5" Flex PVC in 2005.
- (2) Skimmers: 1.5" pipe that goes to both skimmers. They are on the same pipe. Again this was done in 2005.
- (1) Return pipe to (4) different locations in pool.
Pre-re-plumb. All 1.5" rigid on pad. TONS of 90's and inefficient routing to heater. Behind filter there is exposed 1.5" flex that is very discolored and seemingly brittle from UV.
After re-plumb:
- Converted all to 2". Used all sweeping 90s. (CMP brand carried at local pool store)
- Added heater bypass (for efficiency)
- Purchased new 2" Praher Multiport valve (for efficiency)
- Re-routed suction lines to front of pad (seemed more typical and allowed for better layout)
- Re-routed return line to front of pad - found a Tee underground that split the existing single 1.5" return line to (2) 1.5" lines- each line only services (2) pool return eyeballs. So I re-piped this to 2" rigid up the Tee. - Efficiency bonus
- Purchased new Quattro Sport P40 Cleaner (Leslies). Re-used existing 3/4hp Booster pump. Should be able to get down to 1hr per day of run time.
It took about 16hours of hard work. 6hrs of research, planning and purchasing
1. Digging/exploration (2hrs)
2. Cutting/dismantling (1hr)
3. Organizing pad and planning (1hr)
4. Purchasing (online and Lowes, Leslies, local pool store)
5. Plumbing (8hrs)
6. Opening Pool (1.5hrs)
7. Running overnight and checking for leaks
8. Burying, re-placing grass and stones (2.5hrs)
First time doing major plumbing. Lightly sanded every joint and used clear Primer and Cement. Teflon taped unions into Pump and fittings into new Multiport. What a weekend!
Ill follow up with some energy usage/flow numbers. Very excited for this and encourage others too consider this. Looking back, heater bypass was probably overkill. Again, ill post some efficiency numbers with and without bypass.
Hoping this encourages people to look at their set-up and replumb if necessary.
Purchased my 1966 home with 1966 pool in Fall of 2019. Spent Summer of 2020 with pool equipment as-is. After a summer of high electricity bills and getting annoyed listening to my old 1hp pump groaning, I educating myself on VS pumps and efficient plumbing. I used the Pool Pump Tools spreadsheet to estimate my current plumbing situation compared to a re-plumbed equipment pad. It showed I could make significant improvements to my current plumbing set-up while switching to a VS pump. I decided with the Intelliflo VSF due to its ability to show flow without another meter. I also liked that it was Pentair brand to go along with my existing sand filter and heater and future ability to automate. Some info online said my underground plumbing was too small (1.5") for a 3hp pump. Understanding I could limit the RPM and Flow of the Intelliflo VSF, I decided to go that route anyways (instead of a 1.5hp Superflow VS or 1.85hp Tristar VS). I may be missing out on minor efficiency with this "oversized" pump.... BUT I think that's debatable.
Underground, under good condition stamped concrete, I have a 1.5" Flex PVC for all Suction and Return Lines
- (1) Main Drain: 1.5" pipe from main drain to pad. It was copper at some point but I think they partially converted to 1.5" Flex PVC in 2005.
- (2) Skimmers: 1.5" pipe that goes to both skimmers. They are on the same pipe. Again this was done in 2005.
- (1) Return pipe to (4) different locations in pool.
Pre-re-plumb. All 1.5" rigid on pad. TONS of 90's and inefficient routing to heater. Behind filter there is exposed 1.5" flex that is very discolored and seemingly brittle from UV.
After re-plumb:
- Converted all to 2". Used all sweeping 90s. (CMP brand carried at local pool store)
- Added heater bypass (for efficiency)
- Purchased new 2" Praher Multiport valve (for efficiency)
- Re-routed suction lines to front of pad (seemed more typical and allowed for better layout)
- Re-routed return line to front of pad - found a Tee underground that split the existing single 1.5" return line to (2) 1.5" lines- each line only services (2) pool return eyeballs. So I re-piped this to 2" rigid up the Tee. - Efficiency bonus
- Purchased new Quattro Sport P40 Cleaner (Leslies). Re-used existing 3/4hp Booster pump. Should be able to get down to 1hr per day of run time.
It took about 16hours of hard work. 6hrs of research, planning and purchasing
1. Digging/exploration (2hrs)
2. Cutting/dismantling (1hr)
3. Organizing pad and planning (1hr)
4. Purchasing (online and Lowes, Leslies, local pool store)
5. Plumbing (8hrs)
6. Opening Pool (1.5hrs)
7. Running overnight and checking for leaks
8. Burying, re-placing grass and stones (2.5hrs)
First time doing major plumbing. Lightly sanded every joint and used clear Primer and Cement. Teflon taped unions into Pump and fittings into new Multiport. What a weekend!
Ill follow up with some energy usage/flow numbers. Very excited for this and encourage others too consider this. Looking back, heater bypass was probably overkill. Again, ill post some efficiency numbers with and without bypass.
