pre-plumbing for water features?

[drogers]

The wife and I are trying to scale back our pool design to fit within budget, so it looks like maybe the 3 sheer descents and the crystalfoams in the tanning ledge may have to go.

Has anyone had their PB pre-plumb for such water features? I was thinking pvc from the equipment deck to the 3 locations, capped on both ends (the tanning deck would be the hard part I suppose) and a return, also capped. When we got the extra $$ to add the features we'd buy a 1HP pump and the features online, uncap, hook it up, and go.

Good idea? Stupid?

[eljefe281]

I can't speak to pre-plumbing for water features, but my builder is pre-plumbing for possible future installation of a pressure-side cleaner.

I am going to buy a robotic cleaner, but, just in case I become disenchanted with that style of cleaner for any reason, I'd like to be able to run a nice, old fashioned Polaris.

I think your idea is a sound one.

[caustik]

I can't speak to pre-plumbing for water features, but my builder is pre-plumbing for possible future installation of a pressure-side cleaner.

I am going to buy a robotic cleaner, but, just in case I become disenchanted with that style of cleaner for any reason, I'd like to be able to run a nice, old fashioned Polaris.

I think your idea is a sound one.

Eljefe,

We did the same thing, ran an extra line for a pressure cleaner if the robot doesn't turn out to be as great as it sounds. I don't think it hurts to have an extra line running into the pool anyways, never know what the future holds and for the extra 50 bucks it cost us whats the big deal. Would cost a lot more to do at a later date for sure.

[beary]

Eljefe,

We did the same thing, ran an extra line for a pressure cleaner if the robot doesn't turn out to be as great as it sounds. I don't think it hurts to have an extra line running into the pool anyways, never know what the future holds and for the extra 50 bucks it cost us whats the big deal. Would cost a lot more to do at a later date for sure.

We also preplumbed for pressure cleaner incase the robot doesn't turn out. Right now I am adding water to our pool by running a hose into the pressure side cleaner plumb. I am not sure what crystalfoams look like, but we added fountains to our tanning bed just using return nozzles. We can adjust them from six inches to six feet. They look great. I will try and get a picture soon.

I think there are plenty of ways to cap the way you are thinking, just need to find the parts. Worse case, just don't pull the caps that they use to protect from gunite.

Beary

Beary

[waste]

Drogers, welcome to the forum!! I fully agree with the 'preplumb' a line into the pool folks (we do it, but call it a 'reserve' line - just in case one of the return lines eventually breaks, you've got one already plumbed in, or it can take a 'pressure cleaner"). We have also run a line up through the deck to afford the owners the opportunity to add a slide but this should only be done if you are 90% sure you want the slide (we have 2 pools that have a capped stub of pipe sticking out of their deck for 4+ yrs - they never got the slide but have to deal with the pipe sticking upthrough the deck )
My best advice to you is to run the lines now, but leave them below grade and outside of the deck. I can't imagine that a few pipes sticking up will work very well with your landscaping plan , so keep them below grade. You can either mark their location with a 'decorative rock' or/ and triangulate on them by taking 2 measurements to them from 2 fixed points (the pool corners or a light post and the corner of the house) so that you can easily find them again, if they will be put to use. We do the same thing when measuring an irregularly shaped pool for a cover or liner (it's called an 'A B measure', where we put 2 stakes in the ground 20 ' apart and measure the pool every 2' from both points, which gives the liner or cover manufacturer the shape of the pool via triangulation) Plumbing them will require a little digging but it's cheeper and easier to have them in place already, and any competent installer can handle the waterfeature hook-up.
Good luck with the pool and I hope you can eventually afford to make your dream pool a reality!!