Hopefully I can provide the appropriate info:

Number of suctions runs pool to pad and lengths: 4
1 drain run that branches inground to 2 drains (1.5" pipe) (roughly 30 ft run)
3 skimmer runs (1.5" pipe) (30ft, 32ft and 60ft)

Number of return runs pad to pool: 3
Swimout (1.5" pipe, 25 ft) - 4 jets installed
Steps (1.5" pipe, 60ft) - 2 jets installed
Return eyeballs (1.5" pipe, 40ft)

Number return eyeballs and diameter: 3 (all 1.5")

Equipment layout (values, fittings, lengths, equipment etc): ALL 1.5" pipe with 1.5"/2" reducing adapters where necessary) - lengths between fittings is pretty small (anywhere from 2" to 6") except between pump and return which which goes through a T-Cell chorine generator and is roughly 3 feet long with 4 elbows.
Suction: tee-fitting leading to a 4-way leading to the pump
Return: elbow leading to a tee leading to another tee leading to an elbow for the last return
Filter: Hayward D.E. 6020
Multi-valve: Variflo SP710XR50

Pad height above the pool water: 18 to 21"

Filter pressure when clean: 20 psi (from memory)

Pump model #: Hayward 2HP - K48M2N111

Is there a heater? Not yet, but that is what I was in the process of installing: Heatpump AquaCal SQ155

Hope that covers everything. If not, let me know what additional details I could supply.

I'd like to understand what benefit I would get if I were to upgrade the pad pipe to 2" including the multi-valve to 2". Also, if there is a better way to upgrade the suction and return pad fittings (as I was thinking I could just replace each existing fitting with a 2" version and reduce before the existing 1.5" ball valve.).

Lastly, I'd like to know how much I am losing by having 1.5" suction and return lines underground (instead of 2").

Thanks in advance.


Quote Originally Posted by mas985 View Post
There are a couple things that I don't like about the way PoolPlaza does for pump sizing. As I mentioned in this post, there is no fundamental limit to flow rates in pipes and they seem to imply there is one. Again, what they are showing is simply a recomendation. Second, they also imply that head loss is constant with flow rate which is not correct either.

But if you are interested, I have quite a bit of experience in doing full head calcs on swimming pool plumbing so if you want, I can estimate the performance improvement with just the pad changes. I just need some more details about the pool and pad layout plus equipment models.

Number of suctions runs pool to pad and lengths
Number of return runs pad to pool and lengths
Number return eyeballs and diameter
Equipment layout (values, fittings, lengths, equipment, etc)
Pad height above the pool water
Filter pressure when clean
Pump model #
Is there a heater?

The underground plumbing I will guess at but I have a pretty good idea what is put underground based upon other pools and the filter pressure will help calibrate the model.