Hi Pool guru's, I have some setup questions for the pool experts out there. This pool has been set up for about a year, but we are looking into suggestions for improvement in the setup.
Pool specifics
16x50 inground pool
Pump, filter, heater all in basement of guest/poolhouse. Aprox 10ft below top of pool, and 3' below bottom of pool. Gravity and syphoning could be a real issue in this case. The pump set up is about 30' from the pool.
Pentair whisperflo pump
3 suction lines coming in, 1 discharge line going out.
Jandy one touch and all button control system
Lanworks based energy mgt system for solar controls and remote access.
Main Concern: pipe break or fittings failure could lead to entire pool contents in basement.
Secondary concern: Pump working too hard, blowing breaker and no circulation. On sunny days, solar water can reach temps above 280 with no circulation, leading to possible pipe/fitting failure. The pump has been found off several times, due to Jandy setup as well as tripped breaker. We've replaced the breaker, and taken care of the control settings.
There are a minimum of 25) 90 degree elbows on the discharge side of the pump. Several on the return side as well.
There is a solar heat exchanger on the discharge of the pump, and of course the filter, and propane heater as well.
All pipe is sched 40 pvc 2”
-has anyone ever recommended or used sched 80 pvc pipe in their setups? does this case warrant that upgrade?
-Is the pump overloaded?
If so, would anyone recommend alternating pumps, one lead pump and one lag pump? (often used in commercial setups). Alternate working, if one fails, the other is the backup.
-Or a staged pump set up, with one pump for the main pipe and one pump to assist the solar heat exchanger?
-also, there is an ozone generator that is connected to the pump breaker/circuit. Should this be removed and given its own circuit and relay?
If the pump is working too hard, we thought this might be a solution:
-run all three return lines which are 2" into a 2.5" header that runs to the pump. we could put a 24v normally (when not energized) closed valve in this path to shut down in case of power outage or breakage.
-Don’t let pool drain into basement
solution: A check valve on the discharge side, and a 24v actuated valve on the return pipes.
-the goal here is in case of pipe break or failure; to shut down all the lines from the pool automatically by connecting them to water sensors. If water is sensed, power is cut to valve and valve is closed.
Any other ideas or suggestions for a pump set up that is below grade and below the bottom of the pool?