Location of pool equipment

[jgarbolino]

I am wondering if there are any drawbacks of locating my filter, heater and pump about 60 feet away from my pool.

[BigDave]

You lose a little energy in the piping - easily overcome by using the next larger pipe size. If suction piping is above waterline, it will increase the time and difficulty priming the pump. All I can think of.

[jgarbolino]

Thanks for the input . I wasn't sure if the lenght would take away from the efficiency and overall production of the pump.

[PoolDoc]

A long distance run to the equipment can make it really hard to prime the pump. If you'll do the following, you'll save energy AND maintain fairly good ease-of-priming:

1. If the pump is more than a couple of feet above the water, get an old-school Hayward Super Pump -- these have excellent self-priming capability, unlike many newer models AND have an easy to open & close lid, which makes a big difference when you DO loose prime. A two speed pump will save you a BUNCH on your power bill. Amazon lists these, but currently (May 2012) A1 Pool Parts has better pricing and shipping:

Hayward 2-spd Super Pump (http://www.a1poolparts.com/-strse-842/Hayward-Super-Pump-2-dsh-speed/Detail.bok) @ A1PoolParts

2. Install accessible and replaceable swing check valves on the main drain and skimmer lines, NEAR the pool, possibly in water meter boxes. This will prevent you from losing prime each time you open the pump basket, and will prevent leak back when the pump is off. If you get a 2" x 8" PVC threaded nipples at Lowes or Home Depot, cut them in 1/2, you can GLUE the unthreaded part into the check valves, and screw the threaded end into the unions. You can install these with a valve and (2) unions, or a valve, a union and an FIP (female thread) adapter. Be sure to mark the TOP of the check valve, so the swing check is oriented properly when you get it installed; otherwise, you won't get a consistent seal.

King Brothers Inc. U-2000-T 2-Inch Threaded PVC Schedule 80 Union, Gray (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000H5RRZE/poolbooks) @ Amazon
King Brothers Inc. KC-2000-S 2-Inch Slip PVC Schedule 40 Spring Check Valve, White (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000KKVY64/poolbooks) @ Amazon

3. Install individual ball ball valves on each suction line, just ahead of the pump. Check valves aren't drip tight, so if you have the pump or filter open for awhile, these will prevent prime loss. Similar valves are available at Home Depot and Lowes, but they are Chinese made . . . and I've gotten my belly full of Chinese plumbing parts over the last 2 years: the few dollars I saved have cost me literally over $1,000 in water leaks and such. King Valve is an American company that actually makes its valves in the US:

King Brothers Inc. EBV-2000-T 2-Inch Threaded PVC Schedule 40 Economy Ball Valve, White (http://www.amazon.com/King-Brothers-Inc-EBV-2000-T-Threaded/dp/B000H5ZZG2/) @ Amazon

4. Put an Intermatic T10604R timer on the Super Pump. Two speed pumps can save you $50 per month or more . . . but they don't prime well on low. The T106040R allows you to restart the pump on high for 20 minutes, THEN switch to low. This comes close to guaranteeing your pump WILL be primed, when it switches to low, especially if you've installed the check valves above.

Intermatic T10604R Pool/Spa Control Center T106M and T104M (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0039Q7NYI/poolbooks) @ Amazon