What's the cheapest motor I could attach to a dead Pentair Intelliflo VSF wet end?

[Flot]

Long story short - sister's house in Fort Myers had 4' of water in the yard during Ian, which put their pool equipment entirely under water.

Their year-old Intelliflo VSF pump appears, as you'd expect, to be shot. I'm no equipment expert but looks like pentair uses this same wet end for multiple configs. (?)

In the interest of just getting water flow back sooner rather than later - is there a cheap 1-1.5 hp motor I could easily attach to the pump head? They're dealing with all kinds of other repairs and the $2k pump is lower on their list. That said, my BIL not the handiest guy in the world so let me know if I'm barking up the wrong tree and that's just not worth the effort.

 

[Flot]

And a followup, am I better all around just replacing with a VS and not a VSF as this is just a typical pool plus hot tub arrangement, I'm not sure why the builder would have speced the VSF - but again I am looking for easiest install...

 

[Newdude]

That said, my BIL not the handiest guy in the world so let me know if I'm barking up the wrong tree and that's just not worth the effort.

I wouldn't want the can of worms responsibility here. I don't even know if I want him touching the electric on a VSF to VS swap which requires no plumbing changes.

Being a year old, the builder likely went with the VSF due to availability. Since the world went to crud its pretty much been one or the other being backordered and sometimes both.

Or, if both were available, many people are dazzled by the flow control option. Most pool owners out there have zero need for it, but it sure sounds real nice and helpful.

 

[ajw22]

It is not a simple motor swap. The impeller HP needs to be less than or equal to the motor HP or else the motor will overheat and burn up.

The IntelliFlo VSF is a 3 HP pump. You cannnot slap a 1.5 HP motor on it and expect it to last.

The IntelliFlo VS pumps use the same wet end as the Whisperflo pumps. If you matched the Whisperflo motor and impeller HP you will have built a Whisperflo pump. You also need to replace the seals so at that point you replaced all the moving parts in the pump.

There are YouTube videos on Whisperflo repairs to see if your BIL can do it. It takes a bunch more wrenching then installing a new pump.

Also if the VSF pump is controlled by automation other adjustments may be needed in their eqsetup with a SS pump. If their setup was built for a VS pump they probably need one eventually. So the money on that SS motor will have been wasted.

 

[1poolman1]

Long story short - sister's house in Fort Myers had 4' of water in the yard during Ian, which put their pool equipment entirely under water.

Their year-old Intelliflo VSF pump appears, as you'd expect, to be shot. I'm no equipment expert but looks like pentair uses this same wet end for multiple configs. (?)

In the interest of just getting water flow back sooner rather than later - is there a cheap 1-1.5 hp motor I could easily attach to the pump head? They're dealing with all kinds of other repairs and the $2k pump is lower on their list. That said, my BIL not the handiest guy in the world so let me know if I'm barking up the wrong tree and that's just not worth the effort.

Motor horsepower must be the same or larger than the impeller horsepower or the motor wil burn up in short order. That pump was, likely, 3 hp so you would need to get a 3hp square flange pool motor. If you go smaller, you need a new impeller to match the motor horsepower, new shaft seal (PS1000), probably a new diffuser for a Whisperflo.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I thought all single speed pump motors were outlawed anyway … just get a new pump and save yourself the headache.

As for moving the water - just get a 1/2 to 3/4 HP submersible pump and stick it in the deep end. Run the discharge hose to the shallow end. Run it an hour or so per day and keep the water extra chlorinated with lots of brushing to keep it from turning into a mosquito factory.

 

[ajw22]

I thought all single speed pump motors were outlawed anyway

The distribution of SS pumps was outlawed, not motors.

Pump DOE Regulations - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

The Replacement Motor Loophole​

The 2021 DOE regulations do not place any restrictions on replacement motors for either old non-compliant pool pumps or for newer DPPP compliant pumps. A pool pump motor could fail before the variable speed DPPP needs to be replaced. A concern is whether an unknowing homeowner or contractor might replace it with a single-speed replacement motor, which would negate the benefits of the variable speed pump.

The DOE is considering a supplementary motor rule that would likely restrict the sale of non-variable-speed motors with THP greater than 1.15. The rules would set a prescriptive standard that all pool pump motors on the market must meet, regardless of whether they are being sold with a new pool pump or as a replacement. The anticipated DOE “Motor Rule” is likely to be effective in 2022, however the effective date is uncertain.

California has its own rules, currently in effect, about replacement pool pump motors. CEC Title 20 Section 1605.3(g)(5) requires any motor used for residential filter pump applications and manufactured before July 19, 2021 that is greater than or equal to 1.0 THP be replaced with a two-speed or variable speed motor. Effective July 19, 2021 CEC Title 20 1605.3(g)(6) requires any motor used for replacement dedicated-purpose pool pump motor on all residential and commercial applications and manufactured on or after July 19, 2021 that is greater than or equal to 0.5 THP be replaced with a variable speed motor.