Need advice, quickly!!

[badutahboy]

Hey guys,

I just ordered my above ground pool today... an 18x33 j5000 from poolsupplies.com.

My question is this... I want to know if my pump/filter system is decent or if I screwed it up.

I got a Waterway Hi-flo 1HP dual speed pump, and a waterway 22" 150 pound sand filter.

I plan on adding some solar panels at ground level next year, and just want to make sure my filter isn't undersized for solar... I think I did ok with this setup for just the pool, but feel free to correct me.


Please clue me in so I can call and change my order if I did something wrong!!!!
Thanks in advance.

[CarlD]

Hey guys,

I just ordered my above ground pool today... an 18x33 j5000 from poolsupplies.com.

My question is this... I want to know if my pump/filter system is decent or if I screwed it up.

I got a Waterway Hi-flo 1HP dual speed pump, and a waterway 22" 150 pound sand filter.

I plan on adding some solar panels at ground level next year, and just want to make sure my filter isn't undersized for solar... I think I did ok with this setup for just the pool, but feel free to correct me.


Please clue me in so I can call and change my order if I did something wrong!!!!
Thanks in advance.

Sounds like a reasonable setup to me...they like to match that filter to a 1.5hp pump--which makes NO sense. I think a 3/4hp 2spd would do just as well, probably better for you. There's a lot more to it, of course--feet of head, full-rated or uprated. If this is an uprated pump it's probably perfect. If it's full-rated it may be too much for the filter--depending on the other factors.

Plus it will handle the solar panels easily, even on low speed--which was a VERY wise move--you will LOVE it, and use the low speed 95-99% of the time.

18x33 is usually about 13,500 gallons FYI.

[badutahboy]

Sounds like a reasonable setup to me...they like to match that filter to a 1.5hp pump--which makes NO sense. I think a 3/4hp 2spd would do just as well, probably better for you. There's a lot more to it, of course--feet of head, full-rated or uprated. If this is an uprated pump it's probably perfect. If it's full-rated it may be too much for the filter--depending on the other factors.

Plus it will handle the solar panels easily, even on low speed--which was a VERY wise move--you will LOVE it, and use the low speed 95-99% of the time.

18x33 is usually about 13,500 gallons FYI.

Awesome... thanks for the input.

He did try to sell me on the 1.5 HP pump, which was only an extra $20... luckily I was reading here last night about pumps being oversized, and restrained myself... they only offer a 1 and 1.5 HP pump, so I didn't have to make a decision about the 3/4HP.

Thanks a ton for your advice.

Any thoughts on the reliability of waterway brand? I was thinking of upgrading to Hayward, but it was a fairly big jump...

[CarlD]

I don't know Waterway, I know Hayward. But I haven't heard anything bad. Besides, if, after 5 or 10 years it dies, you can replace just the pump. The filter should be completely rebuildable. (actually, the pump is too, but in 10 years the new pumps will be far more efficient). Besides, A/G pool plumbing is a snap--all the pipes are where you can get at them without digging or busting concrete! Once you do something the first time, it's nothing but easy.

Personally I've found Island Pools (the company that owns Leisure Living and PoolSupplies.com) to be very reliable and cooperative. Other folks have had some difficulties but I never have. I got my FantaSea (16x40--20k gal) from them, and selected a 200# Hayward filter and 1hp Superpump (2spd) without them being a "matched" pair on a tray. Going into year 5 with them with no problems. Neither was the "recommended" combo, but...I had been a fan of PoolForum and PoolSolutions for a couple of years at that point and did my due-dilligence--even called Hayward to see if they recommended or dissuaded you from pairing these.

[ScottS]

Thanks for this info. I have a 24' AG (13,500 gallon) pool and found this information very helpful.

I went the same route that you did badutahboy except for the filter size. Instead I got the Waterway 19" sand filter with the 1HP 2 speed pump from poolsupplies.com.

Originally I was going to do the 22" filter but decided to go with the 19"er to save a little bit of cash. I am usually the type of person that would have jumped on the 22"er but right now cash is tight, this was an unexpected expense, and most of all the pool sees a VERY light bather load. I don't think the 19" tank will be an issue whatsoever.

I do hate that I had to decide quickly on the system I needed since my pool has turned swampy very fast. It looked great beforehand until the Pentair Sand Dollar tank split (BTW thanks Pentair for standing behind your product! [/sarcasm] [/end rant]) then it was downhill from there.

I had my heart set on the Hayward S180T92S which includes an 18" Tank and 1 HP single speed Power-Flo Matrix Pump. Although the Waterway's price along with the 2 speed motor won the inner-struggle I had on making this decision . In the long run I know the 2 speed motor will be best anyway.

So badutahboy are you expecting delivery soon? They informed me that they have to ship the motor from Waterway in CA so it would probably take longer to receive. Hopefully I receive the items in a reasonable (a week or so) amount of time.

[badutahboy]

Thanks for this info. I have a 24' AG (13,500 gallon) pool and found this information very helpful.

I went the same route that you did badutahboy except for the filter size. Instead I got the Waterway 19" sand filter with the 1HP 2 speed pump from poolsupplies.com.

Originally I was going to do the 22" filter but decided to go with the 19"er to save a little bit of cash. I am usually the type of person that would have jumped on the 22"er but right now cash is tight, this was an unexpected expense, and most of all the pool sees a VERY light bather load. I don't think the 19" tank will be an issue whatsoever.

I do hate that I had to decide quickly on the system I needed since my pool has turned swampy very fast. It looked great beforehand until the Pentair Sand Dollar tank split (BTW thanks Pentair for standing behind your product! [/sarcasm] [/end rant]) then it was downhill from there.

I had my heart set on the Hayward S180T92S which includes an 18" Tank and 1 HP single speed Power-Flo Matrix Pump. Although the Waterway's price along with the 2 speed motor won the inner-struggle I had on making this decision . In the long run I know the 2 speed motor will be best anyway.

So badutahboy are you expecting delivery soon? They informed me that they have to ship the motor from Waterway in CA so it would probably take longer to receive. Hopefully I receive the items in a reasonable (a week or so) amount of time.

I ordered my stuff either weds or thursday, and got a call this morning saying it'd be delivered on friday.

Are they sending yours via UPS, or a general carrier service? I'd think the couple things you ordered could be sent UPS very easily.

They had to send my motor from CA too, but he made it sound like it should arive before the other stuff... but I haven't gotten a tracking number or any other info for any of it.

[ScottS]

I ordered my stuff either weds or thursday, and got a call this morning saying it'd be delivered on friday.

Are they sending yours via UPS, or a general carrier service? I'd think the couple things you ordered could be sent UPS very easily.

They had to send my motor from CA too, but he made it sound like it should arive before the other stuff... but I haven't gotten a tracking number or any other info for any of it.

I believe they are sending it UPS.

It makes sense that your motor would arrive first since you're in Utah. I'm in Southern Louisiana so I'd probably get the NY package first.

The salesguy told me that I wouldn't get a tracking # for the motor, I guess because it is being drop shipped from Waterway. He said I could call customer service to check on its status though.

Let me know what happens with yours and I'll keep you informed also.

Take care man!

[badutahboy]

I believe they are sending it UPS.

It makes sense that your motor would arrive first since you're in Utah. I'm in Southern Louisiana so I'd probably get the NY package first.

The salesguy told me that I wouldn't get a tracking # for the motor, I guess because it is being drop shipped from Waterway. He said I could call customer service to check on its status though.

Let me know what happens with yours and I'll keep you informed also.

Take care man!

WIll do.


Stupid 10 character reply rule.

[ScottS]

Update
I received my filter Friday. The 19" filter seems tiny but should be sufficient.

I called today to check on the pump and they said it should be shipping from Waterway tomorrow. I may *possibly* have that by the end of the week.

[badutahboy]

Update
I received my filter Friday. The 19" filter seems tiny but should be sufficient.

I called today to check on the pump and they said it should be shipping from Waterway tomorrow. I may *possibly* have that by the end of the week.

Got mine yesterday. It would have been here friday, except there was a blizzard in wyoming and the truck couldn't get through.

Oddly, my pump and filter both shipped with the pool... not sure why or how they pulled that off. Supposedly the pump was in california, and the pool shipped the day after I ordered it from back east.