Steve's pool project 1-24-07

[skamp]

Make sure they don't butt the slab for the equipment against the foundation wall without an expansion joint or something to keep noise from being transmitted.

Make sure to go ahead and plan any fences or gates if required now so you'll notice any problems before you dig.

I highly recommend a poolhouse/cabana/changing room with a bathroom in the pool area. Traipsing through the house in wet clothes won't make mama happy, and you'll be going more than you think. At least plan for it if it's something you might ever want.

Looks like a beautiful pool.

I will make sure they add an expansion joint between the equiptment pad and the house. I would love to have a pool house but my backyard is too small and the budget is just not there. Thanks!

Steve

[26theone]

I called your PB and the lady that answered said they dont build pools in my area. Odd, less that 40 miles from their offices? When you see your PB next you may want to ask if they build in Kingwood. I could throw a referral your way! Thanks

[skamp]

I called your PB and the lady that answered said they dont build pools in my area. Odd, less that 40 miles from their offices? When you see your PB next you may want to ask if they build in Kingwood. I could throw a referral your way! Thanks

That is odd. I know they build a lot of pools and maybe they just stay in this area. I will ask them next time I speak with them. Thanks!

Steve

[mmcguire]

A 2HP pump for a waterfall can be overkill and expensive. Then again if the waterfall is large and you want a lot of water then 2HP may be needed. When I did mine I installed a valve to route some water back to the pool. I also did a dual speed 2HP pump. This gives me the ability to run on low most of the time because it is cheaper and on high when I want a lot of water. On high I also can adjust the valve to get exactly the amount of water I want. Just some random thoughts.

Also did I miss the autofill? I would always do an autofill.

[skamp]

A 2HP pump for a waterfall can be overkill and expensive. Then again if the waterfall is large and you want a lot of water then 2HP may be needed. When I did mine I installed a valve to route some water back to the pool. I also did a dual speed 2HP pump. This gives me the ability to run on low most of the time because it is cheaper and on high when I want a lot of water. On high I also can adjust the valve to get exactly the amount of water I want. Just some random thoughts.

Also did I miss the autofill? I would always do an autofill.

I am getting a 3 ton waterfall with about 1.5-2 tons of border rock that will have some weeping water. I will ask about how they valve it. As far as the autofill a lot of the builders do not want to do them because of problems. Have people here seen a lot of problems with autofills?

Steve

[26theone]

I am getting a 3 ton waterfall with about 1.5-2 tons of border rock that will have some weeping water. I will ask about how they valve it. As far as the autofill a lot of the builders do not want to do them because of problems. Have people here seen a lot of problems with autofills?

Steve

I am interested in the same info. One builder I am considering includes an autofill. The other says he doesnt like them because they can mask potential leaks.

[mmcguire]

I would say get the autofill. Even if you just turn it on while you are on vacation it would be worth it. My .02

[ehorn]

I have a comment on the 2HP pump for the waterfall, I seriously doubt it needs to be that big. I have a 3/4HP pump on mine and it flows a lot of water. I can adjust the flow to the waterfall as it's got two outputs, one to the waterfall and one back to the pool. You can lower the waterfall output by diverting more water back to the pool. So far I can make it run like it's got a high flow stream by diverting half the flow back to the pool.

As for the autofill they installed one on my pool. The only danger I can see is that it has a valve on it that can be prone to cracking due to freezing temperatures. I have to put a towel over it if the temperature gets too low. It does have a bleed valve for this but a towel is quicker and more effective. You can turn the water source off to the autofill and then this way only fill it when you want to. The mechanism is very basic works like a toilet, just a float valve.

What I wish I would have done differently is watched the plumbing of the spa better. They didn't put any return lines to the spa so I have to run the jets to get the spillover.

[skamp]

I have a comment on the 2HP pump for the waterfall, I seriously doubt it needs to be that big. I have a 3/4HP pump on mine and it flows a lot of water. I can adjust the flow to the waterfall as it's got two outputs, one to the waterfall and one back to the pool. You can lower the waterfall output by diverting more water back to the pool. So far I can make it run like it's got a high flow stream by diverting half the flow back to the pool.

As for the autofill they installed one on my pool. The only danger I can see is that it has a valve on it that can be prone to cracking due to freezing temperatures. I have to put a towel over it if the temperature gets too low. It does have a bleed valve for this but a towel is quicker and more effective. You can turn the water source off to the autofill and then this way only fill it when you want to. The mechanism is very basic works like a toilet, just a float valve.


What I wish I would have done differently is watched the plumbing of the spa better. They didn't put any return lines to the spa so I have to run the jets to get the spillover.

I will have to ask about that larger pump. I am really on the fence with the autofill. It does not seem like that big of a hassle to turn the water on when needed. They do plumb a fill like but you have manually turn it on and off. I also though about hooking the fill line to an extra sprinkler actuator and run that zone from the pool control. I will have an extra zone now due to the pool taking up a good portion of the backyard. As far as the spa I am 99% sure they have separate returns so you don't have to run the jets. Thanks!

Steve