request advice on filter and booster pump replacement

[ramblinwreck001]

New pool owner here. I've got the chemistry under control using TFPC, and now I need to give my equipment some attention.
My Polaris booster pump (PB4-60) is 8 years old and leaking and IMO not worth trying to repair due to age/condition. I've also got an equally old DE filter that I want to replace with a cartridge filter (for reasons I don't want to get into here, but can do in separate thread if necessary).

Service manager at local Pinch A Penny quoted me $3440 to purchase and install Jandy CV Series Cartridge Filter (580 sq ft) and Polaris PB4SQ, unfortunately they did not actually breakdown the cost of the products and labor (I will ask for that) but I know the booster pump was about $680 in store.

Questions:

1. Do these prices seem reasonable for local install? I know pool store service isn't going to be cheapest, but this store has been good so far (unlikely the other national chain store close by) and they warranty their work. I'm not looking for cheapest, just reasonable, and with someone I can call if there are issues during warranty period.

2. Is this a decent Jandy cartridge filter or are there specific ones (even if different brand) I should consider, or avoid? Pentair CCP seems really popular.

3. 580 sq ft seems large (huge?) for my 15K gal pool?

4. Is that PB4SQ booster pump OK or should I go with a different brand booster (as they have other models)? I read lots of issues with cracked housings, but the service guy says that specific issue was a defect which has since been resolved, but I don't have any way to verify that.

With my aging/leaking equipment, I don't have as much time as I'd like to really deep dive research this, so I'm leaning on this group for input.
Any other input appreciated. Appreciate all the help so far! Let me know if you need any other details.

Chris

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[dfwnoob]

Much like SWCGs, there's generally no such thing as too big of a filter for the average pool. Having an oversized filter - especially with a cartridge setup - means less cleaning.

Obviously prices will vary depending on location and retailer, but comparing/averaging to my local supply house and a few others on the web, that's about ~$2200 in parts. I passed on the PB4SQ when my old booster pump broke due to the many, many bad reviews. I simply reinstalled another PB4-60 and moved on with my life. The last one went for well over a decade, hopefully this one will do the same. To me, it's not worth over $1000 in labor to install those two things, but I get many people don't have the time in their day to take on pool projects.

Personally, if the DE filter was operational I'd much rather put that money into a SWCG.

 

[1poolman1]

Run, don't walk, away from the Polaris PB4SQ. They've had many problems. Stick with a plain ol' PB4-60. Does the PB4SQ save in energy, yes, but the amount is negligible as they don't run that long in a day to make any real difference for the difference in cost. Basically, they cost about $200 more and you will never make up that amount in energy savings before the pump dies.

If you want to go with a 500+ sq. ft. filter, look at Hayward's W3C5030. The first time you need to replace the pressure gauge and can do it for $10 - $20 you'll understand why. Filter is also much less expensive. They all use virtually the same cartridge except for size.

 

[ramblinwreck001]

To me, it's not worth over $1000 in labor to install those two things, but I get many people don't have the time in their day to take on pool projects.

Agreed. While I was in the store, he told me the labor would be on the order for $300-400 (but my non-itemized quote doesn't reflect that), so they must be using inflated prices for the parts. I'll confirm once I get a revised estimate with better cost breakdown, and if they can't provide that then I'll take my business elsewhere.

Two follow-up questions:

Is swapping out the old PB4-60 booster pump with a new one (same model) something I can do myself? I enjoy working on and maintaining things (I do house electrical, automotive, woodworking, etc), and I've already completed several successful albeit simple repairs to my Polaris 280. If I can DIY the booster pump (I can get it for $440 from local Leslies or Amazon) then I can save several hundred dollars in parts/labor and familiarize myself with the unit for future service/repairs. I'll leave the DE/catridge filter swap for a pro, but I'm willing to tackle the booster pump unless this is ill advised?

Also, as I'm new to the pool world, is getting pool equipment installed by the pool store service dept like letting Best Buy install your car stereo? I mean, would I be better off reaching out to any number of well regarded local pool service companies to handle this type of work? Or is it common to buy equipment from the pool store and let them install it (for folks who aren't DIY'ing it)?

 

[dfwnoob]

The booster pump is a piece of cake, especially when you're replacing like for like. It comes with everything you need in the box except for some plumber's tape. Very basic electrical and the Polaris plumbing is 99% of the time flex quick connect stuff.

If you can do basic car repair like brakes or an alternator or something, you can handle a pressure side boost pump.

 

[ramblinwreck001]

Hi @dfwnoob I got an updated estimate for just the cartridge filter (I asked them to take off the booster pump, I'll DIY that).
$2166 for Jandy CV580 (Jandy CV Series Cartridge Filter (580 sq ft)) and $250 for installation/labor.
That labor seems much more reasonable, but I can't tell if the price on the filter is reasonable or not, either I'm not looking for the right thing online, or there aren't many prices listed..

 

[mknauss]

Consider this filter.

Waterway Crystal Water 525 Sq. Ft. Cartridge Filter

Half the price.

 

[1poolman1]

Hi @dfwnoob I got an updated estimate for just the cartridge filter (I asked them to take off the booster pump, I'll DIY that).
$2166 for Jandy CV580 (Jandy CV Series Cartridge Filter (580 sq ft)) and $250 for installation/labor.
That labor seems much more reasonable, but I can't tell if the price on the filter is reasonable or not, either I'm not looking for the right thing online, or there aren't many prices listed..

The prices you will find online for pool equipment is the slightly more, the same, sometimes lower, than a pool business can buy through a wholesale distributor. The operative word is business. They have to make a profit in order to stay around so you can call them if they are needed. So yes, they will charge more. Even the online sellers mark the item up. That's the same as the grocer, gas station, fast food, etc.

Since Jandy does not allow online sales of equipment, you likely won't find it that way. List price from Jandy on that filter is $3000.00+

 

[dfwnoob]

$3000. Good gravy. But valid point I always forget which parts Jandy allows for online sales. I knew the Aqualink parts, SWCGs, and pumps were prohibited, but I wasn't sure about filters.

 

[ramblinwreck001]

Just an update for this thread. After some research and discussing with a friend, I've ordered the Pentair CCP 420 ($1,549 shipped to my door) and we will install it ourselves. He installed a Pentair cartridge filter for himself a few years back and is familiar with the process and offered to help me do this one, I figure it will be a great learning experience for me and will save almost a thousand dollars in the process. I got a second quote from another local service pro company (they also quoted the Jandy CV580) but it was even more than the first one, almost $3K. The more I read the more I liked the Pentair, seems easier to get parts/info without having to go through a dealer.

Filter scheduled to delivered this week, will be a few weeks before the install. I'll update this thread once we've done that.