Search results

  1. J

    New EVO 614i Robot Pool Cleaner Review

    Dropped it into the pool for the first time yesterday and it did a great job...at clogging up with algae :) I was hoping to avoid a traditional vacuuming for this new pool's first cleaning after winter, but not so much! I was expecting too much, I know. On the plus side, it did help agitate...
  2. J

    New EVO 614i Robot Pool Cleaner Review

    I came to this section of the forum to start a new thread that I just ordered this model and to ask if anyone had any experience...then I found this thread :D Thanks to @Jimrahbe for starting this with an excellent review! All my questions have been answered, plus a lot more! I'm in Canada...
  3. J

    The more i research equipment the more confused and frustrate i get.

    I installed a 36x18 polymer-walled vinyl-liner pool last summer. Didn't get everything finished by winter and still haven't flipped the switch just yet. I went with a Hayward VS 900 1.85HP. Can't tell you if I'm happy with it yet though, but it seems to have plenty of positive reviews. For...
  4. J

    Tip for polymer wall pool builders

    Got the liner out of the track. Was quite easy with more sun, but especially rubber gloves (in my case, rubber coated fabric). The rubber gloves helped provide enough grip to pull the liner up, and a small screwdriver was used to coax the bead out. I pulled out about 2 foot sections at a...
  5. J

    Tip for polymer wall pool builders

    ...which leads to a question. Any tips on how to get the liner unhooked from the coping? I tried hot water and then a heat gun, along with a plunger to stretch it - no dice so far. Just can't get enough slack. Maybe just not getting it warm enough? Seems to cool pretty quickly.
  6. J

    New DIY IG Pool Build Pittsburgh PA

    If they won't do it, could you reduce the depth of the deep end to compensate, or is there a "rule" for that too?
  7. J

    New DIY IG Pool Build Pittsburgh PA

    Makes more sense to me. This can be an iterative process. Just tell them what you want to change and they should adjust.
  8. J

    Tip for polymer wall pool builders

    We built a polymer walled pool last year (DIY) and got to the point of installing the liner, filling it to about 2/3, and backfilling. Then it was covered for the winter. Last Fall, I watched a video from "Swimming Pool Steve" where he mentioned liner coping failure on some polymer wall pools...
  9. J

    Hayward SP32900VSP 115 vs 230?

    Overthinking is my super-power :D It's a 36x18 pool but only max of 46" water depth throughout so I only need about 11 GPM to turn the volume over every day (15300 gallon per spec). I have one skimmer, 3 returns, plus 2 massage jets on the stairs, and 3 12" sheers. Not sure I'll get the...
  10. J

    Hayward SP32900VSP 115 vs 230?

    So if it's drawing 7.2A at 120, it would be drawing only half that at 240, yes? Means I could re-wire for 240V but then shouldn't use the 3450 RPM anyway since it could draw up to 7A which, along with the other draws, puts me too close to 80% of the 15A circuit. I guess I'll have a better idea...
  11. J

    Hayward SP32900VSP 115 vs 230?

    Oh gosh! Thanks for that...it's buried in there and I totally missed the "3450 115V" label! So if I'm reading this correctly now, at 3300 RPM and below there is NO performance difference? That's amazing! So never use 3450 RPM and I wouldn't know any difference between 120 and 240V.
  12. J

    Hayward SP32900VSP 115 vs 230?

    Thanks! But this just illustrates my point - there is only one set of data, making it look like it performs identically regardless of voltage. Not impossible I guess, but perhaps uncommon. Other pumps I've seen double their current draw when on 120V vs 240V. Does this pump really perform the...
  13. J

    Hayward SP32900VSP 115 vs 230?

    The SP32900VSP TriStar VS pump can be wired, per the label, for 240/230/115V, with corresponding Amp draw of 7.0/7.4/7.2, so very little amp difference between 120 and 240V. I have 12-3 going into the pool shed with each hot on separate breakers and opposing "phases" (not the right term...
  14. J

    Pool bottom thickness

    I struggled with this decision as there seems to be an equal number of pro and con opinions. I ended up going with mortar but for extra cushion and protection, I laid a bed of extra thick landscape fabric over top. It feels fantastic underfoot! I just hope it lasts.
  15. J

    New DIY IG Pool Build Pittsburgh PA

    I did a DIY build last summer and can tell you that you are in for some fun! Yeah, let's call it that ;) I'm an experienced DIYer and can tell you that it tapped into just about every DIY project I've ever had - general construction, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, etc. There is a TON to...
  16. J

    Pool bottom thickness

    Not a pro, but I've learned plenty. I had the opposite problem - excavator left 6" to fill. We had to bring it up 4" with gravel, then mortar for 2". Mortar really shouldn't be any thicker than 2", so if he was going 4", one would hope he is planning 2" of concrete and then when that's dry...
  17. J

    Using pre casted coping stone

    I posted the same question just a couple of days ago. Check it out: Coping stone underbed thickness? If you search around the internet, you'll see everything from 2" to min 6" with rebar (Unilock's recommendation). In my case, I've backfilled with 3/4 gravel that's gone through winter now...
  18. J

    Coping stone underbed thickness?

    OK great. The deck supports are -2" from the top of the pool wall and we've backfilled with gravel to the top of the deck supports, so ~2" it will be! Thanks!
  19. J

    Coping stone underbed thickness?

    Hi. We installed a new inground polymer-walled, vinyl-liner pool last year, and about to start working on the deck, starting with the coping stones. We bought 48x12x2" stones. Next step is to pour a bed for these stones and I'm seeing everything from 2" to 6" for bed thickness. Opinions...
  20. J

    Vinyl liner bead with 90 degree corners

    Message received :) I picked up some bead lock, cut 2" pieces, used a paint stir stick to push the bead into the corner, and inserted the bead lock on each side. All happy happy now - corners are very tight.
  21. J

    Vinyl liner bead with 90 degree corners

    Yup, that looks familiar! This one is actually the worst - the others are tighter. I did buy a liner lock bead but still very tempted to put a slit in the bead so it sits flush on both sides. Trying to think of a downside to that, or for someone with experience to say "don't do it!" :)
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  23. J

    Vinyl liner bead with 90 degree corners

    Just installing our liner in our 36x18 rectangle with 90 degree corners and wondering about the bead in those corners. I can push it by hand to a fairly tight radius, but the bead is not locked in all around. Should I try to jam it further with a screwdriver, or cut the bead so its locked in...
  24. J

    Grouting Pool floor

    Thoughts on putting the sand/portland mix down dry? I've seen this method mentioned a few times. Would certainly be easier. Also, understanding that mortar is "rougher" on the liner than vermiculite, is there anything I can put on top of the cement to reduce the friction? Thinking like a...
  25. J

    Grouting Pool floor

    Finally got all the "bad" parts broken up yesterday so the pile in the middle is now larger. Will be going in with the jackhammer (Hilti TE2000 - love this thing!) to break up the bigger pieces, then some additional smashing with a sledgehammer. Once the pieces are of reasonable size, they'll...
  26. J

    Grouting Pool floor

    Thanks! That's exactly what I needed to hear :)
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  29. J

    Grouting Pool floor

    Miserable story - I hired a local "pool contractor" to do the pool floor. I usually do pretty much everything myself but didn't want the hassle. Big mistake! The "pool contractor" didn't take a single measurement, didn't run a single string line, and royally f'ed up just about everything...
  30. J

    Inground DIY build - parallelism tolerances?

    The pool contractor we've hired to do the collar and floor came out to take a look over the weekend and gave it the thumbs up. He says up to an inch out is okay. Still bugs me that it's out but I'm sure I'll get over it :)