I bought a house in November with a semi-buried AGP. I'm in FL, So there's no winterizing. I'm well aware it's not a super fancy, high dollar pool. And it's got some rust. But I'd love to make it last for the first summer at least, then I'll figure out what I'm doing, long term. I posted on Reddit, but didn't get much help.
The plumbing/equipment setup seems a bit janky. Every time I do something, whether it's emptying the pump basket, changing the filter cartridge etc, a leak seems to develop. There was a small leak at the filter outlet because the pipes aren't lined up perfectly. The filter is half hanging off the weird paver setup that the previous owner used. I tried to realign it, which made it worse. There was not shutoff valve, so I said, screw this, I'm installing a shut off. Well, in doing that, I developed a new leak at the pump outlet (feels like the threads on the pump are screwed up.).
I'd like to share my plans with the experts, and get some advice on what you would add, take away, or do differently.
Firstly, I plan to get one of those plastic equipment pads, and put all of the equipment on there. I was told to leave the "loop" after the filter. Though I'm not sure why, or what the 1-2-3-4 valve is for. Seems like a regular ball valve would work there? I'd also like to remove the shut off after the pump, and put one after the skimmer, before the pump. Does that make sense? Should I just leave it as is and try to make the leaks go away until next winter?
Should I bother with painting this filter? How are those cheap cartridge filters from Doheney's? Like these?
Thank you so much for any suggestions.
And here's some pictures of my mess.



The plumbing/equipment setup seems a bit janky. Every time I do something, whether it's emptying the pump basket, changing the filter cartridge etc, a leak seems to develop. There was a small leak at the filter outlet because the pipes aren't lined up perfectly. The filter is half hanging off the weird paver setup that the previous owner used. I tried to realign it, which made it worse. There was not shutoff valve, so I said, screw this, I'm installing a shut off. Well, in doing that, I developed a new leak at the pump outlet (feels like the threads on the pump are screwed up.).
I'd like to share my plans with the experts, and get some advice on what you would add, take away, or do differently.
Firstly, I plan to get one of those plastic equipment pads, and put all of the equipment on there. I was told to leave the "loop" after the filter. Though I'm not sure why, or what the 1-2-3-4 valve is for. Seems like a regular ball valve would work there? I'd also like to remove the shut off after the pump, and put one after the skimmer, before the pump. Does that make sense? Should I just leave it as is and try to make the leaks go away until next winter?
Should I bother with painting this filter? How are those cheap cartridge filters from Doheney's? Like these?
Thank you so much for any suggestions.
And here's some pictures of my mess.


