How To Install Swimming Pool Equipment
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As a pool owner it can be difficult to find definitive information about how to install your pool equipment as well as which materials you should use and in which order you should install the equipment. In the following pages Swimming Pool Steve talks about many of the common installation materials and processes used to professionally install swimming pool equipment. Installing your equipment incorrectly can damage the equipment, void your warranty and potentially even be dangerous so be sure to review these sections before installing your own equipment.
Pipe materials - Learn from Swimming Pool Steve the difference between pipe materials for swimming pools, which to use when installing your equipment, and how to properly work with each material type. This includes rigid PVC, flex PVC, CPVC, poly pipe, ABS and drainage hose.
Glue and primer - With grey, clear, blue, yellow, orange and other colors of glue how do you know which one to use for each application? By reading this section from Swimming Pool Steve on how to select the right glue for any swimming pool equipment installation, that's how!
Threaded connections - When it comes to swimming pool equipment installation you will need to deal with at least a few threaded pipe connections. This section will teach you which materials to use for making connections to your equipment, but more importantly which thread sealants you should NEVER use on pool equipment.
Common pipe fittings - Knowing all of the different kinds of plumbing fittings that you will need to install pool equipment is something that comes with experience. If you are installing your own pool equipment this page on commonly used plumbing fittings in the pool and spa industry will be extremely helpful.
Valves and unions - The valves and unions that you use when installing your pool equipment will determine how easy it is to operate your system forever. Spend some time on this page learning about the commonly used valves and unions as well as their orientation as part of your pool equipment mechanical installation.
Pool Equipment Installation Reviews
In this ongoing series Swimming Pool Steve looks at some existing pool equipment installations and discusses some of the common installation errors that are encountered in the pool and spa industry. Learn from these mistakes how to properly install your equipment for ease of use, functionality, and longevity. As you will see in these videos there are some mistakes that are very common but easy to avoid if you know what you are doing.
Through this series of video reviews you will learn a lot about the common deficiencies you will find with pool equipment installations. What might seem like a small technical detail could mean the difference between equipment longevity or a reduced service life for your pump, filter or heater. What you will see through this extensive video series is that it is more common to have serious deficiencies with your pool equipment than it is to have decent, quality installations. This is why pool owners need to be very careful when choosing pool equipment, installing it, and when choosing pool industry professionals to work with. Asking for references is very important for pool workers. You can read more about this in this article about how to ask for references for pool workers.
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This video shows deficiencies with a salt water cell installation in relation to a Raypak heater as well as minor flow restrictions and imperfections with the plumbing configuration. Poorly installed salt cells are a common reason for heaters to fail early. Check out these other reasons pool heaters fail early.
This video details some issues with winterization of the equipment, as well as flow dynamics errors in plumbing and leaking threaded connections. As with many of these videos there is no check valve in between the salt chlorinator cell and the gas heater. Also discussed is bonding of the heater and pump casing. This pool winterization video series shows how to winterize each component of the swimming pool. You can also find out more about the use of check valves with salt chlorinators.
Bad glue joints, improperly repaired leaks (using electrical tape), restrictions in flow and no check valves in between the heater and the offline chlorinator. Also Swimming Pool Steve talks about bonding, grounding and galvanic corrosion in swimming pools. Check out these common pool equipment problems and solutions.
A sizing problem between the pump and the filter and a brief explanation of how colloidal silver injection systems work, like the Nature 2 system. Highlighted in this video is a VERY poor salt water cell installation that is certain to damage the heater in this video. You can read this article to learn more about properly installing a salt water chlorinator and the importance of using a check valve.
Terrible glue joints, poor sizing between the pump and the filter and a potentially dangerous filter. Tips on leaking filter band clamps and no check valve between the inline chlorinator and the gas heater. Read more about pool plumbing leaks and how to fix them. Replacing a filter may be necessary if leaking so helpful information on choosing a new filter can be found here.
How To Install Swimming Pool Equipment
How to install a pool pump - In this video you will learn about how to install a swimming pool pump (better) including flow dynamics, pipe size, friction loss, fittings (ABS, PVC, barbed, threaded and solvent weld slip) and how to optimally lay-out and install a pool filtration pump. You will also learn what not to do when installing swimming pool pumps.
Improper installation is one of the biggest causes for early pool pump failure, and with new variable speed pool pumps costing more than ever it would be a very good idea to make sure that yours is installed properly. Learn about flow restrictions on the pump outlet, the importance of having a straight pipe run into the suction side of the pump, and sizing pump and motor to pipe size to ensure you can avoid starving the pump for water (cavitating).
Full Pool Filtration Equipment Installation - Follow along in this extensively detailed swimming pool filtration equipment installation video. Step by step you will install a pool pump, filter, heater bypass, advanced oxidation process system (AOP) as well as a shared pool and spa automation system including a separate booster pump for the spa jets. This video includes every pipe cut, every wire connection - literally the most complete and thorough pool equipment installation video available anywhere!
This video is almost seven hours long and took a full year to plan, install, film and produce. Please be sure to check this one out as well as like and subscribe to the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube channel if you appreciate high effort content like this. Drop a comment on this video to help boost engagement metrics and help Swimming Pool Steve reach more pool owners!
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Swimming Pool Steve is an award winning, second generation swimming pool specialist from Ontario Canada and one of the most trusted voices in the swimming pool industry. With over 20,000,000 views on the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel, winner of the Pleatco Pool & Spa Industry Leadership award and author of hundreds of pool and spa articles both online and in print. Steve is committed to helping pool and spa owners as well as pool and spa industry workers learn more about the technical side of building, renovating, repairing and maintaining all types of swimming pools and spas. Follow Swimming Pool Steve on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Paid PDF Books From Swimming Pool Steve
Steve's Pool Survival Guide
The Swimming Pool Steve Pool Survival Guide is intended to help pool owners understand their pool and pool equipment better, understand water chemistry, water testing and chemical corrections to the water, troubleshoot the most common pool problems and have confidence in interacting and caring for their pool in the fastest possible frame of time. Also covers pool safety, things to avoid and how to operate your pool more efficiently.
Salt Water Recommendations
Are you considering upgrading to salt water in your pool? In this paid PDF Steve talks about which pools should avoid using salt water. Find out concerns about using salt in your pool but also the potential benefits of salt water. Finally hear which specific brand and model of salt chlorine generator Steve thinks is the best option currently available to pool owners and how to choose the right size salt system for your pool.
New Pool Heater Buyer's Guide
In this guide Swimming Pool Steve will help you to better understand your heater options as well as which would be best suited for your pool. Learn about BTU output and sizing of both gas/propane heaters as well as electric heat pumps for residential swimming pools. You will also learn about which specific brands and models of currently available pool heaters Steve likes to recommend. If you are thinking of adding a new pool heater to your equipment pad this buyer's guide would be a useful resource to help you make a more informed buying decision.
New Pool Installation Value Guide
This is a value shopping guide written by Swimming Pool Steve to help home owners hiring for a new pool installation to get the maximum value for their investment with tips about how to protect your interests during the vetting, hiring and pool installation process. Anyone serious about having a pool installed will find value in this guide. Pool installers will sell the pool package that is best for them - not for you! Become an informed value shopper with this PDF guide.
Endorsed Brands From Swimming Pool Steve
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www.PoolPartsToGo.com
New Black + Decker variable speed pumps are available online from www.PoolPartsToGo.com and they are a drop in replacement for many popular pump models including Pentair Superflo and Hayward Super Pumps. With an adjustable platform base, union connections included and a very strong warranty these pumps offer an impressive value to pool owners.
- Swimming Pool Steve