I am currently getting estimates to have the attached pool built but 18x32. Never had a pool before and live in Southern NM near El Paso, TX. Attached is a drawing of a similar pool. How do my returns and skimmer locations look? Any other suggestions? It will be a heated pool with SWG. It will slope down to 6 ft deep from 3'6". Thanks!
Skimmers, returns, etc
- Thread starter joeramirez
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,071
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome! 
Well, for comparison's sake, I have a 16 x 40 rectangle pool with one skimmer on the deep end which fortunately happens to be the end where the wind blows to. I got lucky. I have six return jets on the opposite end, 4 on the very end and two on the end/side. So most of my water pushes (or tries) from one end to the other. Not really sure if the proposed 2nd skimmer on the side will do you much good. It's additional plumbing for sure. The builder may plumb it separately, or may try to tie it in to the other skimmer (shared line). So you might ask about how they plan to plumb it if you keep it.
Well, for comparison's sake, I have a 16 x 40 rectangle pool with one skimmer on the deep end which fortunately happens to be the end where the wind blows to. I got lucky. I have six return jets on the opposite end, 4 on the very end and two on the end/side. So most of my water pushes (or tries) from one end to the other. Not really sure if the proposed 2nd skimmer on the side will do you much good. It's additional plumbing for sure. The builder may plumb it separately, or may try to tie it in to the other skimmer (shared line). So you might ask about how they plan to plumb it if you keep it.
BowserB
Silver Supporter
- Jul 29, 2018
- 785
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Yes, prevailing winds, in my limited 1.5 years experience, seem to be an important factor. Our typical wind is out of the south, and it is usually the skimmer sock on the north end of the pool that has enough debris to empty almost every day. However, the second most common wind direction we get is from the north and maybe northwest. We have a second skimmer near the south end of the pool but on the east side, as the south end of the pool is that useless sun shelf. When the wind is out of the north or northwest, that second skimmer gets most of the debris. So based on that, if we had open water at both ends of the pool, I'd be inclined to have a skimmer at the north and the south ends. Another thought, though. If you run a variable speed pump at a low speed, as we do, there is a point where there might be insufficient flow for two skimmers to work well at drawing in debris from the water surface. That's just a casual observation, though. At 1650 rpm, we have enough flow for our 12:15am to 10:45am pump running time to usually clear the water surface of leaves and debris with two skimmers, and regardless of wind direction, both skimmers collect debris. Someone else may have some science to support more or fewer skimmers.
The house is about 25 ft from the pool on the West side where it says Plan View
In that case, lights look good - don't want them pointing towards your house.
Here is the latest pool that my possible PB has done. Any thoughts on the workmanship? This one is 14x28 and we are looking at 18x32 with a similar layout. Thanks!
Attachments
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,071
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Overall equipment pad looks clean and well done with unions at the sand filter, check valve, and pump which is good for future disconnecting.