Urgent! - Need help with 3 Pumps needed

[Intex1857]

I am having the Pool contractor install all the pool equipment this week,
I purchased the following pumps:
Pentair Intelliflo VSF Pump for the Pool (18x39' x 5' average Depth), with two skimmers and 3 returns
Pentair VST Pump for Jacuzzi and 2 Jandy Bubblers

He now tells me that he is installing them like this:
Pentair Intelliflo VSF - For Jacuzzi Only
Pentair VST - For Pool
Pentair VST or Superflo - For just the 2 bubblers (I need to buy this!)

I am not a pool builder, but I have read most everything on this site. Does this seem right to you???
I asked why not the Intelliflo for the pool, he said he didnt need the pressure for the pool as much as jacuzzi (SPA) 7'x7', and that it was better for a seperate pump for the bubblers.

Before he finishes I would appreciate input as to which way I should go???

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ajw22]

There is a Pentair Superflo VST and Pentair Whisperflo VST pumps.

Superflo VST has 1.5" pipes while Whisperflo has 2" pipes. Whisperflo moves more water.

Which pumps are you getting?

I would put the VSF pump in the pool.

How many spa jets do you have?

Find out what specific part number pumps we are discussing?

Pentair IntelliFlo Pumps - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Intex1857]

The Pumps I have:
IntelliFlo 3 VSF 11075 3 HP
Whisperflo VST Pump 11533 2.6HP

Recommended for (2) Jandy Bublers:
Pentair SuperFlo VST 1.5 HP

Since the pool pump is on 24/7 I thought that that was what was recommended for the Pool, instead of using the Whisperflo ???
The Spa has 6 Jets - Do they really need the Intelliflo for that?? Pump run is maybe 60-75 ft

 

[ajw22]

Pool pump - IntelliFlo 3 VSF 11075 3 HP
Spa Jet pump - Whisperflo VST Pump 11533 2.6HP
Bubbler pump - Pentair SuperFlo VST 1.5 HP (although bubblers do not need much flow and you should be able to valve it off of the 011075 pump)

I have 8 spa jets running off a 1.5 HP Whisperflo pump with great pressure.

 

[1poolman1]

I am having the Pool contractor install all the pool equipment this week,
I purchased the following pumps:
Pentair Intelliflo VSF Pump for the Pool (18x39' x 5' average Depth), with two skimmers and 3 returns
Pentair VST Pump for Jacuzzi and 2 Jandy Bubblers

He now tells me that he is installing them like this:
Pentair Intelliflo VSF - For Jacuzzi Only
Pentair VST - For Pool
Pentair VST or Superflo - For just the 2 bubblers (I need to buy this!)

I am not a pool builder, but I have read most everything on this site. Does this seem right to you???
I asked why not the Intelliflo for the pool, he said he didnt need the pressure for the pool as much as jacuzzi (SPA) 7'x7', and that it was better for a seperate pump for the bubblers.

Before he finishes I would appreciate input as to which way I should go???

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!

Automation as well? Makes a difference in what communication cable is used.
VST models of the Whisperflo have the same motor as the SuperFlo.
SuperFlo would probably work well for the bubblers. The VST models are usually a little less expensive than the VS or VSF models.

 

[Intex1857]

I did purchase the communication cables for both the Whisperflo and Intelliflo, and we are using a new Intellicenter Unit.
Since the price difference was not that much, I just purchased another Whisperflo VST for the bubblers

My main concern now, is why he wants to use the Intelliflo 3hp for the Spa, and use the Whisperflo VST 11533 for the pool? Is this a mistake, if I will be running the pool filter 24/7 ????

Thank you!

 

[1poolman1]

I did purchase the communication cables for both the Whisperflo and Intelliflo, and we are using a new Intellicenter Unit.
Since the price difference was not that much, I just purchased another Whisperflo VST for the bubblers

My main concern now, is why he wants to use the Intelliflo 3hp for the Spa, and use the Whisperflo VST 11533 for the pool? Is this a mistake, if I will be running the pool filter 24/7 ????

Thank you!

No problem at all. The Intelliflo will have the "oomph" to run the jets and the fact that it can have the rpm set, you can adjust the pressure coming out of the jets. At full speed, most people will find that 3hp pump puts out more pressure from the jets than is comfortable, depending on the number of jets in the spa.
I used to change the impellers on 3hp single-speed pumps that were used for jets on a regular basis. Use a smaller horsepower impeller and jets would be comfortable to use. You will be able to set the speed, therefore the horsepower, as needed.

 

[ajw22]

My main concern now, is why he wants to use the Intelliflo 3hp for the Spa, and use the Whisperflo VST 11533 for the pool? Is this a mistake, if I will be running the pool filter 24/7 ????

Just tell your builder that is not what you want to do. He is building your pool, not his.

 

[KevMo]

If you think you might ever want to heat the spa and run the bubblers at the same time (e.g. kids playing in the bubblers, while others relax in the spa) you will want to have a separate pump for them. If you pipe them off the pool pump you will only need able to run them in pool mode. This is assuming you are treating the pool and spa as a single body of water.

 

[mas985]

My main concern now, is why he wants to use the Intelliflo 3hp for the Spa, and use the Whisperflo VST 11533 for the pool? Is this a mistake, if I will be running the pool filter 24/7 ????

You need high flow rates for spa jets but not so much for the pool. If it were me, I would put the largest pump (Intelliflo 3) on the spa jets. You really can't enough power for spa jets. But it is easy to run short on flow rate for spa jets.

Efficiency wise, they are close to being the same so that shouldn't matter much.

But in reality they are not much different:

 

[mas985]

Looks like the Whisperflo might be slightly more efficient on Curve C (2" plumbing) which is a little surprising: