I've got a question about plumbing that I have not been able to find a direct answer to.
Short story long, we are re-doing our pool patio after 18 years. Original was concrete with paver bullnose coping. New will be pavers with bluestone coping.
Pool is 18' x 38' rectangle with an 8' ell, steps at the end of the ell. There are two returns on either side of the steps, and two more on the main section of the pool directly opposite the skimmers, 38' away.
Original pool build PB used 1-1/2" flex pipe for all of the plumbing, which is now 18 years old. I've heard some scary stories about the flex pipe possibly being damaged by insects, and since the old deck is removed, it seems like a good idea to take advantage of the situation and replace all of the plumbing now (another while you're in there moment...).
Anyway, I plan on replacing all of the 1-1/2" flex with 2" rigid PVC, and my question concerns the returns. As currently plumbed, there are two 1-1/2" return lines coming from the pad, one to the steps, the other to the main returns. Each of these two lines connects to two eyeball returns. My plan is to do similar, but the question is how to split each of those two return lines into two eyeball returns?
I have one guy who wants to use a tee for each pair of eyeballs, but he wants to run the return line centered between the eyeballs, into the base of the tee (the branch connection), and then run each end of the tee (run connections) out to each eyeball.
I've been led to believe that this is NOT the proper way to use a tee, but I haven't been able to find any specific reasons why not to do this.
View attachment 176947
I'm more inclined to do this (below), but then I think I'll have an imbalance, with the right return getting about 20% more flow than the left port will get. This port will be toward the steps, so the other two returns will be flowing perpendicular to these. Same situation applies by the steps.
View attachment 176949
Any thoughts or opinions?
Thanks.
Short story long, we are re-doing our pool patio after 18 years. Original was concrete with paver bullnose coping. New will be pavers with bluestone coping.
Pool is 18' x 38' rectangle with an 8' ell, steps at the end of the ell. There are two returns on either side of the steps, and two more on the main section of the pool directly opposite the skimmers, 38' away.
Original pool build PB used 1-1/2" flex pipe for all of the plumbing, which is now 18 years old. I've heard some scary stories about the flex pipe possibly being damaged by insects, and since the old deck is removed, it seems like a good idea to take advantage of the situation and replace all of the plumbing now (another while you're in there moment...).
Anyway, I plan on replacing all of the 1-1/2" flex with 2" rigid PVC, and my question concerns the returns. As currently plumbed, there are two 1-1/2" return lines coming from the pad, one to the steps, the other to the main returns. Each of these two lines connects to two eyeball returns. My plan is to do similar, but the question is how to split each of those two return lines into two eyeball returns?
I have one guy who wants to use a tee for each pair of eyeballs, but he wants to run the return line centered between the eyeballs, into the base of the tee (the branch connection), and then run each end of the tee (run connections) out to each eyeball.
I've been led to believe that this is NOT the proper way to use a tee, but I haven't been able to find any specific reasons why not to do this.
View attachment 176947
I'm more inclined to do this (below), but then I think I'll have an imbalance, with the right return getting about 20% more flow than the left port will get. This port will be toward the steps, so the other two returns will be flowing perpendicular to these. Same situation applies by the steps.
View attachment 176949
Any thoughts or opinions?
Thanks.