Upgrade recommendations for replacing 14" Intex sand filter combo?

[Pappy]

One last question - I think. Is there any significant seasonal price difference in pump/filter equipment? End of season sales or the like? My problem isn't terrible and I could live with it till we close the pool for the winter. 10% savings is probably not worth the wait, 25% would be.

[PoolDoc]

Short answer? I don't know for sure, but I've never seen any evidence of that EXCEPT . . .

There is some times clearance on 'leftovers', but that puts you in a mix-n-match situation that can be tricky to work out and difficult to warranty.

Good luck!

[Pappy]

Since I like to tinker and "injuneer", and in the interest of keeping my darlin' wife a little happier, I've decided on this piece together system.

https://www.amazon.com/Hayward-S180T...keywords=S180T

and this pump

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...G42D8KUC&psc=1

I found some Hayward propaganda that claims the S180T "design flow" is 35 GPM. The
SP1592 is rated at 58 GPM @ 40' of head pressure. I decided to go with the two speed model so maybe I won't need to throttle on low. The two speed will use less electricity on low than a throttled single speed, and I think it'll make less noise. This system will cost about 20% more than the complete single speed system, but I think the complete system probably comes with the LX series pump, instead of the Matrix.

Is this valve

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...AI2/poolbooks/

any higher quality than this one?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

[PoolDoc]

My experience has been that the Hayward pool valves are lower grade than the Hayward industrial valves.

Will this make a practical difference to you? Dunno. What's going to matter is whether you can operate the valve. Larger ball valves can be 'stiff'. That's why I suggested the S-80 nipple as the attachment point, so you will have a firm strong connection to stand the torque of handle operation.

One caution: AG filter "design flow" is bogus, and has been for years. Sand filter 'efficiency' at particle removal INCREASES as flow rates DECREASE. Inground pools are rated at 15 GPM per sft of sand filter area. Above ground pools are rated at 20 gpm. An 18" filter is rated at 26 GPM for an in-ground pool, but up to 35 for an above-ground pool. The lower rating on that filter is possibly that it has a shallower sand bed, which lowers the rating. Unfortunately, for good filtration you need to run at 12 gpm/sft, or 22 gpm.

Why the difference? Just because . . . of marketing needs. There's no science or engineering behind it; filtration requirements on AG pools are actually MORE demanding than on IG pools.

So, do what you like. But 58 gpm is more than TWICE the optimal flow through that filter. Low speed probably won't be enough to backwash, but on high, you'll likely lose sand every time. And if you ever turn it on 'high' when it's set to filter . . . you'll clean the sand right into the pool!

[Pappy]

My thinking was that since Hayward pairs the 18" filter with the single speed 1 HP pump and a 1.5 HP 2 speed pump as complete systems - I couldn't be going too far wrong with a 1 HP 2 speed pump. If it needs throttled to backwash on high without flushing sand out - so be it. The only way I see this is a bad deal is if the pump doesn't provide enough circulation on low, and I don't think that's likely. As far as the valves go, I hadn't realized one was "pool rated" and the other "industrial".

[Pappy]

I just realized the S210T 21" filter is only about $35 more than the 18". Hmmmmm?? More thinking. The flow rate for the 21" is 44 GPM at 20 GPM/sq.ft and 27 GPM at 12 GPM/sq.ft. And I saw somewhere that the 1 HP 2 speed pump puts out about 40 GPM @ 25' of head - on low. Is the profit margin really that much higher on motors than filters? Or do the filter people think they'll sell more other stuff if they sell you a terribly mismatched system?

[PoolDoc]

What the sales people know is that HORSEPOWER sells, and filter INCHES do not. I've never seen any evidence that they care enough about anything else to even learn how negatively excess pump size affects pool operation!

It's the same mentality that produced ads associating Marlboro cigarettes with sexy independent toughness, rather than with black and leathery lungs that are prone to cancer, long after EVERYONE knew that that the 2nd association was the true one.