Hi TFP community:
I am a rookie to this site and pool building in general. I told my wife for 10 years we’d get a pool and was able to delay it until now. My kids are now 8 and 10, and now it seems I am out-voted 3-1 in my household; The family wants a pool for the hot Phoenix summers; I can't blame them since it's hot here in the summer! I don’t want to hire a commercial pool builder, and I’d rather do the research and sub-out the work and owner/build it. I have a friend who contributes to this site, and he owner/built his pool 10 years ago so I plan on doing it myself too. I look as it as an enjoyable challenge.
TFP is a great site to read and learn. I feel like I have studied for a final exam and now (hopefully) have a good idea on how to build a pool based on independent research coupled with TFP information. Maybe everyone doesn’t agree 100%, but I have read good posts like having two skimmers versus one in case one skimmer breaks (and also how two skimmers achieve overall pool cleanliness) as well as having closed loop plumbing to ensure consistent pressure to the farthest return.
I want to build a 30’x16’ (15’ in the middle, 19’ at the baja shelf) play pool. It’s not too deep – basically a baja shelf 12" deep then the pool 3.3 ft to 5 feet deep. I have a somewhat sloped lot and already did the pre-grade. I will have a 18” raised bond beam for about 30-35% of the linear footage of the pool. So I plan on taking advantage of the raised bond beam and installing three 36” sheer descent waterfalls for good visual and sound.
Unfortunately, pool plumbers are hard to get in touch with in Phoenix right now. Those that I have been able to make contact with simply tell me to email my plans for a bid. In the “old days”, I would have talked face-to-face with my pool plumber to discuss my plans and ensure I was on the right track. Unfortunately in 2020, pool plumbers are very busy and the face-to-face consultation is not going to happen.
Today I put together a proposed plumbing plan. I would really appreciate all feedback from the experts on TFP. To be upfront: I will only use the sheer descents every once in a while. Maybe when covid is over and I have a party or friends over, I would turn the waterfalls on. Or if we as a family are swimming, I will turn the waterfalls on for fun. Other than that, I probably won’t use the waterfalls all that much to be honest. I am going with two venturi skimmers and 5 “traditional returns" (I am not counting my sheer descents as “traditional returns”).
Questions for the TFP experts: Do my placements of the 5 “traditional returns” look good or do you have different recommendations for placement? I also placed the two venturi skimmers on the same side of the pool because I thought putting a second skimmer on the other side of the pool would simply be too far from the pump.
Finally, regarding the three 36” sheer descent waterfalls (the 3 sheer descents are spaced 24 inches apart from each other), I believe based on what I have researched I am ok with the 3HP VS pump utilizing the 3 way diverter. When using the three sheer descent waterfalls, I plan on shutting off the 5 “traditional returns” and only turning on the dedicated return line for the sheer descents to have good flow at the waterfalls. With a 2.5” or 3” inch PVC pipe dedicated for the sheer descents coupled with the Pentair 3HP VS, I will need 108 GPM minimum for good flow to the three 36” waterfalls. I have about 60 feet of pipe from the 3 way diverter to the farthest waterfall (I think the 60 feet of pipe is the “head”). Based on the performance curves published at IntelliFlo High Performance Variable Speed Pool Pump, I think based on head / GPM ratios for the 3 HP pump, I will achieve good flow between speed 4 (3150 RPM) and max speed 5 (3450 RPM). I also want to use a larger 2.5 inch or even 3 inch PVC pipe to reduce the friction and in essence not have to run the pump at such high RPMs to achieve good flow at my 3 waterfalls. I assume increasing pipe diameter reduces head but I am not 100% sure.
TFP Experts - please comment on my sheer descent reasoning because as I said I am new to this and have studied for this exam in pool building over the last weeks and want to get it right (or as right as possible).
Thank you. The plumbing plan is attached for reference. I appreciate all feedback!!!
I am a rookie to this site and pool building in general. I told my wife for 10 years we’d get a pool and was able to delay it until now. My kids are now 8 and 10, and now it seems I am out-voted 3-1 in my household; The family wants a pool for the hot Phoenix summers; I can't blame them since it's hot here in the summer! I don’t want to hire a commercial pool builder, and I’d rather do the research and sub-out the work and owner/build it. I have a friend who contributes to this site, and he owner/built his pool 10 years ago so I plan on doing it myself too. I look as it as an enjoyable challenge.
TFP is a great site to read and learn. I feel like I have studied for a final exam and now (hopefully) have a good idea on how to build a pool based on independent research coupled with TFP information. Maybe everyone doesn’t agree 100%, but I have read good posts like having two skimmers versus one in case one skimmer breaks (and also how two skimmers achieve overall pool cleanliness) as well as having closed loop plumbing to ensure consistent pressure to the farthest return.
I want to build a 30’x16’ (15’ in the middle, 19’ at the baja shelf) play pool. It’s not too deep – basically a baja shelf 12" deep then the pool 3.3 ft to 5 feet deep. I have a somewhat sloped lot and already did the pre-grade. I will have a 18” raised bond beam for about 30-35% of the linear footage of the pool. So I plan on taking advantage of the raised bond beam and installing three 36” sheer descent waterfalls for good visual and sound.
Unfortunately, pool plumbers are hard to get in touch with in Phoenix right now. Those that I have been able to make contact with simply tell me to email my plans for a bid. In the “old days”, I would have talked face-to-face with my pool plumber to discuss my plans and ensure I was on the right track. Unfortunately in 2020, pool plumbers are very busy and the face-to-face consultation is not going to happen.
Today I put together a proposed plumbing plan. I would really appreciate all feedback from the experts on TFP. To be upfront: I will only use the sheer descents every once in a while. Maybe when covid is over and I have a party or friends over, I would turn the waterfalls on. Or if we as a family are swimming, I will turn the waterfalls on for fun. Other than that, I probably won’t use the waterfalls all that much to be honest. I am going with two venturi skimmers and 5 “traditional returns" (I am not counting my sheer descents as “traditional returns”).
Questions for the TFP experts: Do my placements of the 5 “traditional returns” look good or do you have different recommendations for placement? I also placed the two venturi skimmers on the same side of the pool because I thought putting a second skimmer on the other side of the pool would simply be too far from the pump.
Finally, regarding the three 36” sheer descent waterfalls (the 3 sheer descents are spaced 24 inches apart from each other), I believe based on what I have researched I am ok with the 3HP VS pump utilizing the 3 way diverter. When using the three sheer descent waterfalls, I plan on shutting off the 5 “traditional returns” and only turning on the dedicated return line for the sheer descents to have good flow at the waterfalls. With a 2.5” or 3” inch PVC pipe dedicated for the sheer descents coupled with the Pentair 3HP VS, I will need 108 GPM minimum for good flow to the three 36” waterfalls. I have about 60 feet of pipe from the 3 way diverter to the farthest waterfall (I think the 60 feet of pipe is the “head”). Based on the performance curves published at IntelliFlo High Performance Variable Speed Pool Pump, I think based on head / GPM ratios for the 3 HP pump, I will achieve good flow between speed 4 (3150 RPM) and max speed 5 (3450 RPM). I also want to use a larger 2.5 inch or even 3 inch PVC pipe to reduce the friction and in essence not have to run the pump at such high RPMs to achieve good flow at my 3 waterfalls. I assume increasing pipe diameter reduces head but I am not 100% sure.
TFP Experts - please comment on my sheer descent reasoning because as I said I am new to this and have studied for this exam in pool building over the last weeks and want to get it right (or as right as possible).
Thank you. The plumbing plan is attached for reference. I appreciate all feedback!!!
