My pool is roughly your size. Check out my thread under New Pool Plano TX

Sorry! The dimensions of the pool are actually 12 x 28.. typo.

Make sure all lines are 2inch or greater. Pre plumb for extras like solar and heat pump.

@Angiea, a couple of thoughts.

1. for a 12x 28 pool, one skimmer seems a little skimpy. You may want to think about adding a second, depending on how the wind blows in your location, as well as how many trees you have around.

2. Since you are doing Pentair equipment for your pump, filter, salt cell and light, why go with Intermatic and Jandy for load center and valves? The Pentair Easy Touch IC4 (which I have) is relatively low-cost and gives basic programmability which is good for your VS pump and lights. I think it will also increase your warranty on the other Pentair items (check with your PB or Pentair rep).

3. As we found recently in our build, again you lay out the deck, 500 - 600 sq feet is really pretty small. Be prepared to want more when you see it in real life!

Good luck with your project!

Great suggestions, thanks!

brentr: PB has agreed to do 2.5". I will definitely ask about pre plumbing... hadn't thought about that and we may add heat down the line.

bobinbaltimore: Our site is fairly clear of trees. Adjacent to the pool, only one live oak and it's fairly young. I'll ask about the second skimmer. 3 Pentair items gets us the 3 year warranty. Do you find you really like the Easy Touch? I agree with the deck size. PB is coming out tomorrow to spray the yard so we can get a feel and I've already asked to increase the deck by another foot on one side and across the back.

Thanks again!

Angiea,
Great pool setup! Just a note, be careful of the advice you get from some of the people on this forum. When they start to suggest "brand names" instead of actual equipment suggestions, then they usually are affiliated with the company they are suggesting. Good Luck!

@Angiea - I do like the EasyTouch. It allows enough customization to simplify things, but not so much to be a hassle. It comes with an integrated load center, so it's kinda all-in-one. And thanks for the clarity on the Pentair warranty...I knew you had to have a combination to get the three year, just couldn't remember what was required. Link to my thread is below, BTW.

@controlexp - regarding the mentioning of brand names, I think you'll find it's pretty rare that someone lurches into salesperson or spammer mode on here. And when it happens, they are usually pounced on pretty quickly. Looks like you joined 6 days ago...welcome. Often brands are mentioned in response to questions like the one posed on this thread. Talking strictly about characteristics is one way to approach it, but talking brands and models can be a lot more helpful. After all, most of us use Pentair/Sta-rite, Jandy or Hayward for just about all our needs. Why beat around the bush? And I'll state for your record, I am not in the pool or pool equipment business in any way shape or form. This forum has helped be out a lot with the build we're just about to complete...just looking to give back a bit.

Here is a link that might be useful: Baltimore Pool Build (with pics)

I may have joined six days ago, but have observed much longer. ItÂs ironic you focused on the only two items that were not Pentair items. I wish it were pretty rare, unfortunately it is not, as in this case and many others IÂve reviewed.
"After all, most of us use Pentair/Sta-rite, Jandy or Hayward for just about all our needs. Why beat around the bush? And I'll state for your record, I am not in the pool or pool equipment business in any way shape or form"
Funny, for someone who is not in the pool or pool equipment business, you sure know a lot about the major players. I stand by my statement.

bobinbaltimore: Your pool looks great, excellent info in your pool build link. Talked to the PB today about upgrading to the Easy Touch. It may be the way to go considering our future landscaping plans. He's getting me a price. Thanks!

@Angiea - sounds good and good luck, whether you go Pentair, Intermatic or something else.

@controlexp - confrontational without contributing, nice. I assure you I am in the publishing industry. I know the major players because I have researched on GW for more than a year and educated myself. Who wouldn't do what when making a big investment? Look at my other posts here on GW and you will find I am no pro. Here...I'll even provide you a link:

Here is a link that might be useful: BobinBaltimore's Posts via Google

controlexp,

To the best of my knowledge, there are no corporate reps from any of the manufacturers that don't state that that is where they are from.

We, the contributors, builders, techs, and other homeowners alike, are usually quick to pick off these types and out them if they don't openly do this themselves.

Those here that are in the industry are straight shooting and open. It's our desire to help keep in check those that are less honorable and more towards the self serving side. This is for the betterment of our industry and that benefits everyone involved, end users, manufacturers, and dealers alike.

Why we choose one manufacturer over another is usually based on support and results. Some prefer Pentair's offering and some like Jandy's. Others offer Hayward's line. I personally will fix them all. I tend towards Pentair but not always. It depends on the customer's needs. This type of thinking is what is prevalent here. Not other personal agendas.

Scott

bobinbaltimore  My contribution, in this case, is exposing the truth. I apologize if I offended you, as that was not my intent. Your defensive response is certainly revealing.

Poolguynj  Great post! I totally agree with you. I wish the hired bloggers did also, but then they wouldnÂt be doing their jobs would they? Amongst them are the legitimate people, like you, who really want to give good advice and have no hidden agenda.

Since there are so few websites dedicated to this type of subject matter, itÂs no wonder the hired bloggers conjugate here. A great rule for the Garden Web would be to not allow manufactures names on this site. Features and applications would be a better approach.

I am just in the planning stages of my pool and without brand names and model numbers I would never be able to weed through all of the info needed to make a good choice. I truly benefitted from having suggestions from the good people here. I ALSO took their recommendations and followed up with a lot of my own research.
Personally, if the forum were dumbed down to generalizations about what a "system" should "accomplish" then I wouldn't have stuck around.

my $.02

There are two sites that most users come to. They are this site and troublefreepools. The poolforum used to be but has, until recently, been closed. TFP picked up the ball and ran with it.

None of these sites tolerate spammers, trolls and shills. Manufacturers that state who they are and make useful contributions are welcome when they make their presence known. Sean A. from Auto Pilot on TFP is a fine example.

To not state specific equipment or vendors to get a solution helps few to getting the best bang for the buck to their particular wants and needs. Often times, unrequested or unrealized issues may occur despite certain standards being in place. Warranties and interoperability concerns may make a particular persons perceived desired wants not really what might be best for the overall solution.

Here's an example. If someone wants a replacement heater, many of us would suggest a Ray-Pak. If someone is replacing a pump, filter and heater, and chose Pentair, the heater suggested would probably change to Pentair's MasterTemp series since it would then be included in the 3 year warranty as opposed to the 1 year warranty of the Ray-Pak. The warranty was undiscussed, and unknown by the original poster but we would have mentioned it.

Its this type of thinking that is what makes this site and the others I mentioned successful in the goal of industry betterment.

Do some of us win business opportunities from participating here? Yes, myself included. If a user e-mails me through the forum, I see no problem with that. If I suggest someone contact another member with whom I have confidence in or they suggest towards me, why is that a problem? We have proven ourselves with the end users. None of use, AFAIK, are paid bloggers.

Scott

Mixman1 Â Great point! I agree itÂs difficult to weed through all the info when defining a particular piece of equipment to make a good manufactures choice, thatÂs what your PB or technician, is for.

If you know what features are available from this website and youÂve decided what you need for features, then the PB can help you choose the manufactures that offer those features based on quality, warranty and most importantly in todayÂs day and age, price! This forum should help you understand the different features not dictate whose product you should buy.

All the manufactures have good and bad qualities. One pump or control does not fit all. We would all like to drive Ferraris to work, but some of us canÂt afford to or even need to. There are many pool and spa equipment manufacturers out there other then Pentair, Hayward, Intermatic and Jandy.

ItÂs disappointing to read a blog where an innocent consumer is asking advice for a timer to control a pump and light that is available for $200 dollars and is told to buy a $1,200 dollar system where you need an engineering degree to program it. Or when a consumer needs a pump and is told to buy a $1,500 dollar VS/VF pump, when a simple $300 dollar two speed pump would do the job.

Show me a $300 two speed for an in-ground pool. Using an exaggerated low price vs list price is not doing anyone a service.

When I, or others here, make a recommendation or a set of recommendations, I normally solicit feedback, provide if/then scenarios, etc...I have no profit motive. The buyer makes their mind up based on evidence. The best definition of sales I have ever heard was the transfer of confidence from one party to another through the use of evidence.

Show me an automation system the requires an engineering degree. Flexibility does add some initial complexity but makes one's life easier controlling their stuff.

Need and want two different things. No one needs a pool. We need food, shelter, and companionship. Everything else is a want. Many want more. More costs. AFAIK, only air is free.

Just like any other hobby, pools are costly up front. If just getting wet was why pools were built, Intex would have cornered the market with the 12'x3' quick set pool or people would just get bigger bath tubs and showers.

Look at the reasons people put pools in or buy homes with pools. There are hundreds of reasons and thousands of choices. We help them find the right balance for their wants.

Scott

ControlExp:
So, assuming advice was given with no brand names or model numbers....
Someone asks "What kind of timer should i get for my pool?"
the answers on here would still be advice to upgrade to some type of automation system. People on this forum will answer your question and then tell you about options to get something better. In your scenario you suggest that the only reason a person is steered towards an upgrade is because of the ability to mention a brand or model. Simply not true.
I am not sure what your interest is in this forum, but I have never seen another forum where such a high percentage of posts begin with compliments to how great the forum is.
I like it here.....I'm stayin'!!!

IÂm not really into justifying my position, however if you need to know, here is one of many possibilities for motor replacements. Next time IÂll give you a price range as to make sure I donÂt "exaggerate" anything.

A.O. Smith SQL1072R, SQL1102R price $295.95.

Just do a search on the internet.

Maybe you should suggest a two speed price vs. a VS/VF price?

The point again being, there are more cost effective options other than the most expensive one!

Complicated Programming! Have you programmed a Suntouch lately? Or maybe tried to wire one? Maybe you can program it, but the number one consumer question in the service industry is "how do I turn my pump on".

IÂm not into nick picking semantics in blogs, however I can certainly go there if need be. My point is there are more cost effective options then the ones given; however, those options require deviating beyond the traditional manufactures.

What you quoted was a motor, not a pump. Not all motors fit all pumps. or applications.

There have been several discussions regarding 2 speed vs variable speed. Often, the low speed is insufficient to drive other things like chlorine feeders, be they erosion based tablet feeders or salt cells.

If someone can't turn on their pump, then the installer didn't do his job. My daughter, who had never seen an EasyTouch before, figured it out on her own when I told her to turn on a specific pump. Chances are if they can find their way here or one of the other forums I mentioned earlier, they can too. Reading and confidence are key.

Start a new thread on cost effectiveness. It's not always about that for the home owner as you will see. It's about "want".

Scott

Hi all, as the original poster... I'd like to add some thoughts to this discussion. My hope in listing manufacturers and models was to solicit specific feedback. As a homeowner with no previous pool build experience, I need to hear from those in the pool industry or from other homeowners who have personally used or are using that equipment. Maybe someone has a similar setup and is thrilled with the results. Maybe someone upgraded an item or items and, since hindsight is 20/20... can offer insight so that I can make a better choice. I have learned so much from reading hundreds of other posts. I've been able to make informed decisions when discussing the project with the potential pool builder. And this forum provides an unique opportunity to get the opinions of those in the know. Had it not been for the info here and the pictures of pool builds, I may have made some costly mistakes. Because of detailed questions and information... I've been able to negotiate a very smart pool package and know what to look for as the build begins. And, maybe even more importantly, I feel good about my decision because the experts here have been willing to freely share their knowledge. Where else would I go? I personally know no one in the pool building industry. It's taken weeks of exacting research... hours online sifting through varying opinions in the search of objective input. So, thanks to all who've contributed here.

Scott, if you have a moment.. would you mind looking over the original post and suggesting any changes or additions you feel might improve the project?

Thanks again!

First, let me apologize for the hijacking of the thread.

Please, remember, I don't build them, I fix them. The gunite builders here are better qualified to comment as far as shell design than I am. Things they will want to know about are soil conditions, rebar size and spacing, strength of the gunite/shotcrete used and wall and floor thickness. I expect the 8" is just the top foot or so, also called the bond beam. Bear in mind, this is prime time for them (me too but I got a rain day today) so the builders may be slow to respond.

As for the filter, with a cartridge system, bigger is better because of the reduce maintenance frequency. Go with the Plus. I don't expect the deck jets will require enough flow to push your needs to the Plus but the reduced cleaning frequency is less work for you. It's not hard but you want to use the pool, not spend time with monthly cleanings, etc... The less you open the tank, the longer things last.

Can't beat Never-Lubes.

I'll bet the cost of upgrading to the VS-SVRS over the VS-3050 is less than the Intermatic timer panel. The SVRS has built in timers so you can run periodic bursts at a higher speed for skimming. The Intermatic timers can't do this for any variable speed pumps that I know of. The added safety of the SVRS is a bonus.

The Intellichlor should be the IC-40. The IC-20 would be hard pressed with the Florida sun. The IC-40 would last far longer.

Scott

angiea, please post pics of your pool build. I am excited for you and also interested in seeing your plaster finish. We had premix plaster by marbletite, antigua beach series, pebble finish and we love it. Look at our thread http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/pools/msg0718532217198.html?21

@Angiea - What you experienced is exactly what I did...we never could have gotten the result on our project that we did without the advice and information available here. Scott, Kelly and other regular contributors are great, whether talking about specific brands or just experiences. :-) The key thing for me was to learn enough to feel comfortable with where my money was going and that our family's vision for the pool and pool area matched with reality.

There are a couple of threads also on lessons learned. If you haven't checked those out, I highly recommend them.

Angiea, I apologize for your question going where it has and IÂm glad to hear you made some informative decisions. There is no one person on this forum that knows everything and itÂs the collaboration of many peopleÂs knowledge that makes this forum powerful.

If you do decided to go with the VS-SVRS or VS-3050 pump, understand only the VS-SVRS has timing capabilities and those timing capabilities are at the pump itself. The VS-3050 does not have any timing capabilities. The VS-SVRS is the more expensive of the two.

There are two control manufacturers that give you total control of the VS series pumps. Pentair is one of them and Intermatic now offers a control that talks directly with the VS series pumps. I found the VS-3050 pump along with the Intermatic PE653RC controller give you the most flexibility, options and best price. I hope this helps.