Year 2 - Need advice on pumps, heaters, etc.

[Burntwoods]

Hi all -

We're in MD just between DC and Baltimore. We moved into our foreclosure last April and proceeded to clean up the swamp that was the “pool.” Thanks to all of you we were able to swim all summer and into the fall.

Since we're still in off-season we thought now would be a good time to reach out to all of you for advice on updating our old systems.

Pentair Challenger 3HP (345209) for the main pool and looks like a 2HP Centurion (AO Smith) motor / Pentair pump for the waterfall and other features. (See signature or ask for more details if needed.)

We're thinking of leaving the 2 HP motor/pump for water features alone this year, it works fine and we don't use it a ton. Looking at the main pool pump though, we believe it's original and the pool was installed in 2004 so we're pushing 15 years. Would changing it out to a newer model help with efficiency or should we wait until it dies? Since we have a Paramount in-floor pool cleaning system, we think that it needs to be single speed vs variable speed. However, we aren’t 100% sure on that.

We're also considering installing a heater for the spa and pool. Pool won't be necessary as much as the spa. We'd like to use the spa year round. What are our options here? Looks like prior owners used to have both a propane heater and a heat pump at some point. Neither turn on or look to be in any shape to run and are probably due to be replaced anyway. (We do still have propane available, as well as 220v.)

Also, we’re really only planning on being in the house for about 5 years or so. While we certainly want to enjoy the pool during that time, we also don’t want to be installing more equipment (or more expensive equipment) than we really need to. For example, we may not need the most energy efficient option since our payback time is relatively short.

We were considering getting a couple of quote from pool companies just to see what they’d install. However, we don’t want to completely defer to them. We want to be smart pool owners.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

You absolutely can use a variable speed pump to drive the in-floor system BUT if you don’t have an automation system, then it’s going to be more hands on work on your part to get the scheduling right. Single speed pumps are the rotary dial phone of pool pumps and they are inefficient wastes of energy. Many states are phasing out their use in pool building code so you might as well upgrade. Check with your local power utility to see if there’s a rebate.

Heaters are expensive. If you’re only planning to be in that house for 5 years then it’s a waste of money to install new. I’d suggest you get a service pro out there to see if the hearts can be rebuilt and made operational for less than a new one. If you don’t care about heating the pool, then trash the heat pump and get the propane heater fixed. It should be able to handle the attached spa.

Year round spa use is not very likely as you’ll get too much heat loss and waste a lot of gas. Propane iscexkevsuce relative to natural gas so I’d try to shoot for keeping the spa open until Thanksgiving and then close it all down for the winter.

 

[Burntwoods]

Merged threads - TFP Mod - Marty


Hi all -

We're in MD just between DC and Baltimore. We moved into our foreclosure last April and proceeded to clean up the swamp that was the “pool.” Thanks to all of you we were able to swim all summer and into the fall.

Since we're still in off-season we thought now would be a good time to reach out to all of you for advice on updating our old systems.

Pentair Challenger 3HP (345209) for the main pool and looks like a 2HP Centurion (AO Smith) motor / Pentair pump for the waterfall and other features. (See signature or ask for more details if needed.)

We're thinking of leaving the 2 HP motor/pump for water features alone this year, it works fine and we don't use it a ton. Looking at the main pool pump though, we believe it's original and the pool was installed in 2004 so we're pushing 15 years. Would changing it out to a newer model help with efficiency or should we wait until it dies? Since we have a Paramount in-floor pool cleaning system, we think that it needs to be single speed vs variable speed. However, we aren’t 100% sure on that.

We're also considering installing a heater for the spa and pool. Pool won't be necessary as much as the spa. We'd like to use the spa year round. What are our options here? Looks like prior owners used to have both a propane heater and a heat pump at some point. Neither turn on or look to be in any shape to run and are probably due to be replaced anyway. (We do still have propane available, as well as 220v.)

Also, we’re really only planning on being in the house for about 5 years or so. While we certainly want to enjoy the pool during that time, we also don’t want to be installing more equipment (or more expensive equipment) than we really need to. For example, we may not need the most energy efficient option since our payback time is relatively short.

We were considering getting a couple of quote from pool companies just to see what they’d install. However, we don’t want to completely defer to them. We want to be smart pool owners.

 

[ajw22]

Main pool pump - I assume your pool pump and in floor cleaner are on timers. What are their daily run times? A VSP will only save you money if you have long daily run times where you don’t need high RPMs. I dont see a SWG in your sig that requires long pump run times. Upgrading the pump may save you some money over the long run but gives you no more functionality in your pool. So my vote based on the information I have is wait until your pump dies.

Heater - adding a heater will change your use of your pool and spa. You need a 400k BTU gas heater. A heat pump is not going to heat your spa quick enough. To me a spa without a heater has little value. Adding a heater should add value to your house. Raypac heaters have a good reputation here.