Quote Originally Posted by buck1s
Thanks for getting us started Zina. Can you clear some things up for me about the plumbing info you provided. You say returns are 1.5" through the wall. Is there an implication that this changes after that. I understand it is not a good idea to connect skimmer and main drains, but in a pool with 2 main drains, is it general practice to use one pipe back to the equipment for both? What about skimmers?

Is there any kind of future proofing people generally do when building a pool? Extra electrical work for future heater installation if not doing it now?

What about using automatic pool cleaners? My quote had an option for a Polaris auto cleaner (not sure which model). Do all Polaris' models work with the help of the pump or are they electric and have their own pumps?

Thanks again.
Chris
Chris, first let me say that Zina's advice above was so good that I did not feel I could add more yesterday when I first saw it, but I bookmarked it for the followups (waayy cool thread feature )
Now let's get to your new questions -
Re: skimmer and MD tied together, I don't like it for many reasons, the main one being that if something goes wrong with the common line, you are screxxx - um, ... left without a suction source until that line is repaired

Re: 2 MDs tied together - YES! always tie the multiple deepwater suctions together to prevent 'suction drowning' (having the 2 tied together should allow a swimmer to break the suction, which might otherwise drown them!)

Re: 2 skim/ 1 line - I prefer to keep skimmers separate because of the 'common line' thing above , though if finances dictate a sharing of lines Hayward skimmers (the only ones I KNOW for sure, from experience) have a 'flap valve" which can regulate suction when 2 are used in series. ( Other manufaturers' models probably have them too)

Re: 1.5 through wall - I won't say that no one makes a different sized wall fitting, but 1.5 is the norm. What size pipe is used beyond the wall is a question of equalizing pressure to the returns and performing calculations (not difficult ones, but I no longer have the info) baised on pump and filter size, the lenght (or run) of the plumbing, etc.

Re:the rest - Some pool builders will, of course- for a price, install 'reserve lines'. When my company builds a pool, we include a reserve line for each skimmer (the ones we install have 2 ports in the bottom) and 1 or 2 extra returns ( the liner is not cut out of the 'return reserve', until needed.) The pipes for these lines are not plumbed into the filter system but, are 'stubbed up' next to the active pipes (for easy switch over, should they ever be needed.
If you need clarification on any of this, just post it here, I'm listening