New AG advice ...

[swimlane]

Hi,
My wife has decided that we want a pool ... I hadn't realized it until then
I do not have many local resources here near Montgomery, AL as it appears that almost everyone sells inground pools and 1 or 2 sell above grounds. There is a guy at work that bought one over the internet and paid an installer and he is very happy with the result. I would like to go this route as well but he did not do research and find out about the various options, he just bought a kit. Experience tells me that kits are usually thrown together to look like a great deal but maximize profits. I want a pool that will last ~10 years (I dont know where I'll be after that), a filter that actually works efficiently, saltwater, and a liner that my wife can be happy with. I read the PoolSolutions suggestion that recommends Hayward 1/2HP pump and 21" Filter ... seems very similar to what I had with an inground years back and I never had a problem. The only other option I think I would consider would be a 2 spd larger HP pump if the above wasn't feasible. We are looking for an 18' or 21' and would like to keep the cost at $2200 or less if possible (not including install). Any help is greatly appreciated!

[AnnaK]

We have a 16 x 30 AGP with a 1.5 two-speed pump and a 19" sand filter. The pump runs on low speed 6 hours during the night and on high only when I vacuum. Our system is in it's 6th summer now on the same sand. Energy consumption on low speed is 1/4 of high speed. We get a 45% cost break during off-peak hours here and I have not noticed any appreciable increase in the electric bill during pool season. I'm a fan of two-speed pumps.

[swimlane]

Thank you for your reply. Barring any luck today, while shopping locally I believe we are going to order our AGP from nationalpoolwholesalers. We have picked out a hybrid 18' swim-n-play yukon. I'm not sure about liner (overlap or bead) yet, but I am pretty sure that I will use the Hayward AquaTrol as a friend of mine has the IGP version and loves it. My quandry is the filter system ... they only offer the Waterway combos but I could at least get the 1hp/19" 2 spd or the 1.5hp/22" 2 spd ... I'm guessing these are max rated not nominal so probably similar to 1/2 or 3/4 (my guess). I am still kicking around getting the Hayward SP2600/S220 combo but it is double the cost ... I am trying to stay below $2400 for everything. I've had waterway stuff before for a hottub and had good luck but I am not impressed with the lack of info available for this pump/filter .... couldnt even find sand capacity.

[swimlane]

Shopping local was not the greatest experience. First place wasn't very helpful but made up for it by having very high prices; second place was better and if they would lower price by at least $500 then I would probably buy from them versus order online. I am still awaiting a phone call from the installer that was recommended to me and then I will place the order.

[AnnaK]

That's a shame about your local shopping experience. I did a lot of my research at local pool stores before we hired our pool installation. I learned about the different kinds of filters, pumps, pools with or without side supports, and found the stores pretty helpful. I used that information and the knowledge I had gained from a couple of pool forums when I spoke with the pool company that ultimately sold me a system and installed it. Sorry to hear that your experience was so unsatisfactory. You'd think that in this economy they'd do the very best they can to make a sale.

[Watermom]

I don't know what you mean by max rated and nominal rated .......... but I have a 24ftAG and I have a full-rated 1/2hp inground pump on my pool and it is plenty. My old pump was a 1hp but when I replaced I went with this other one. (Poconos advised me on what to buy and he knows pumps way better than I do.) People tend to go with bigger is better but on a pool, bigger is not better when it comes to pumps. A pump that is too big will blow dirt right through the filter.

I'm going to let one of the resident pump experts chime in here .................