I'm in the process of overhauling my pool machinery, looking for help/comments on this plan.
The current situation:
There is a leak on the intake side that sucks in air. I'm fairly sure the leak is above ground just before the pump (I can hear the squeal of air bubbles being formed in that piping).
I think the pump should be replaced. I want to add a 10' x 12' solar panel array and SWG.
For the pump I'm thinking a VS pump. My Google-fu says the existing SS pump is 3/4 HP or 1.25 THP (not sure which one I should pay attention to).
Is a 1.5 HP VS pump good or is it better to run a 2HP pump at lower speed?
I plan to keep the cartridge filter. It's just a plastic bubble, it works and it spent its life out of the sun in a pool shed. I have replaced filters, retention ring and sealing gasket. Pressure gauge good. I see no reason why it can't continue to do its thing.
For the solar array, I know it's undersized but it's the rooftop space that I have. It would have no more than a 12' head. It would get full day high altitude desert sun. A trex deck that gets the same sun has reached 186F (pool sandals required) so it's got to do something. I don't want a hot pool, just one that isn't downright cold. As-is the pool only reaches 80F on 105F days. I'm just out to narrow that gap a bit and take the edge off. Don't compare it to the gas heater, I rarely if ever used it. Not worth the cost IMO.
And SWG because chlorine pucks suck. I'm re-piping everything because of that intake leak and the whole piping setup is a disorganized mess of patch upon patch from things being replaced since the 80's. So I might as well slip a SWG in there while I'm at it and make Mr. Pool Boy's life easier.
Comments and brand recommendations would be appreciated.
Does my plan make sense? Problems, concerns?
The current situation:
- 18k Gal pool, intake is 1 skimmer w/ link to bottom drain, return is two in-pool jets, 2" piping, 1.5" jets.
- Pentair WhisperFlo pump Model 011512/196232.
It's loud, at least 10yrs old (came with the house and no clue how long it has been there) and I think I'm hearing sounds of bearings starting to go or at least heavily worn. - Pentair CCP420 cartridge filter.
There is a leak on the intake side that sucks in air. I'm fairly sure the leak is above ground just before the pump (I can hear the squeal of air bubbles being formed in that piping).
I think the pump should be replaced. I want to add a 10' x 12' solar panel array and SWG.
For the pump I'm thinking a VS pump. My Google-fu says the existing SS pump is 3/4 HP or 1.25 THP (not sure which one I should pay attention to).
Is a 1.5 HP VS pump good or is it better to run a 2HP pump at lower speed?
I plan to keep the cartridge filter. It's just a plastic bubble, it works and it spent its life out of the sun in a pool shed. I have replaced filters, retention ring and sealing gasket. Pressure gauge good. I see no reason why it can't continue to do its thing.
For the solar array, I know it's undersized but it's the rooftop space that I have. It would have no more than a 12' head. It would get full day high altitude desert sun. A trex deck that gets the same sun has reached 186F (pool sandals required) so it's got to do something. I don't want a hot pool, just one that isn't downright cold. As-is the pool only reaches 80F on 105F days. I'm just out to narrow that gap a bit and take the edge off. Don't compare it to the gas heater, I rarely if ever used it. Not worth the cost IMO.
And SWG because chlorine pucks suck. I'm re-piping everything because of that intake leak and the whole piping setup is a disorganized mess of patch upon patch from things being replaced since the 80's. So I might as well slip a SWG in there while I'm at it and make Mr. Pool Boy's life easier.
Comments and brand recommendations would be appreciated.
Does my plan make sense? Problems, concerns?
