Any benifit to having pool equipment in a shed?

[Metalman23]

Are there any benefits or drawbacks to having your pool equipment inside of a small shed? I was thinking about putting one in to cover my pool equipment in wondering if anybody had any opinions

My main reason for wanting to do that would be protecting the equipment from the elements I guess

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has their equipment in a shed and theyre inconvenienced by having to open and close a shed all the time

 

[Texas Splash]

My main reason for wanting to do that would be protecting the equipment from the elements I guess

That, and in some cases limiting noise, are two popular reasons people do it. Lots of members here have their equipment in shed. The biggest drawback I could see is the potential for water leaking and/or draining when you need to open something up for maintenance.

 

[ajw22]

If you put your pool equipment in a shed you need to design it to handle a wet environment. Working on equipment and cleaning filters can lead to lots of water on the ground as well as water spraying around if something springs a leak.

If you have a heater in the shed consult the installation manual for indoor requirements.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I like having my equipment covered. I built a shed using four posts around the equipment, keeping the floor opened and covered in pea gravel. It's height is limited because I had to work around an apple tree we wanted to retain. It's more like a fenced-in enclosure with a roof. I made it in such a way that I can dissemble and reassemble if I ever have to swap out a heater or filter. The roof can be removed or tilted up for removal of the top half of the filter. The gaps in cedar provide plenty of ventilation.



More photos from an old thread if you're interested...

How to hide the pool equipment.

Due to a communication breakdown, our pool equipment is not where we originally indicated. It is instead in the middle of my yard seen from every window of my home. It is an eyesore but too late to move. Please share with me your equipment camouflaging techniques. Barriers, plants, sheds...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Darin]

If you need to work on it it may be real hot for you in a shed. Other than that yes it helps with noise unless you have a variable speed pump which is quiet. The equipment is designed to be outside in climates from Minnesota to Arizona. Putting it inside will not be of any benefit to the pump, control boxes, and filters. My filter and pump have been outside for 20 years now. Looks like they will last another twenty.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

If you need to work on it it may be real hot for you in a shed. Other than that yes it helps with noise unless you have a variable speed pump which is quiet. The equipment is designed to be outside in climates from Minnesota to Arizona. Putting it inside will not be of any benefit to the pump, control boxes, and filters. My filter and pump have been outside for 20 years now. Looks like they will last another twenty.

This is true for most equipment, but some components (like SWG controllers) should be protected from UV exposure and moisture. Faded and dirty equipment can become an eyesore after years of exposure. If it's located in an open and conspicuous location, it looks much better covered.

 

[Darin]

Faded and dirty does not diminish the workings of the eqipment. It is only asthetic. He was asking about benefits not what it looks like. The owners manual of SWG's do not require it to be placed inside. Again aesthetics only.

 

[borjis]

I've seen plenty of prematurely rusted pump motors to know they'd last longer if they were protected by the elements.

 

[Darin]

External rust on motor housings has no effect on the bearings or on the windings. They are deigned to be outside. Again this is aesthetic. Take a look at industrial equipment.

I have never run into a motor that was shot from external rust, but i have seen them shot from not fixing the bearings and not blowing out accumulated dust. The again i have only worked in waste treatment plants, milling plants, and mining operations.

 

[tstex]

How old is your equipment and how much sun does it receive daily? Wind and rain are really no prob; heat and freezing temps are. Being in CT, you are prob most concerned w cold, yes?

 

[Jimrahbe]

I agree with Darin that most of the pros of having your equipment inside a shed are for aesthetics reasons.

That said, what better reason could there be? You spent a chuck of change to make your pool look good, why let the view of your equipment be a negative focal point?

I think that Mike's shed looks much better that a bare equipment could ever look.

As Allen points out the floor of any equipment shed has to be built with a place for all the water to go when you do pool maintenance.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[ajw22]

One data point - my pool equipment has been outside over 30 years and 2 houses in Northeast summers and winters and snow and hurricanes with only, what I think are, normal equipment failures. I have seen nothing that being in a shed would have prevented.

We see enough people come here with equipment in sheds and failed pumps and rusted equipment to show that having an equipment shed makes no difference in actual longevity.

As others have observed all the equipment has been designed to be outdoors. And manufactures warranties don't change or require a shed. If manufactures felt their equipment needed a shed it would be in the Installation Manual.

I can understand the benefits of a shade cover over equipment in the Southwest to prevent the suns UV from making plastics brittle.

But in Central CT, nah. In fact the shed may make it attractive for rodents to nest in the shed and equipment and damage the equipment more then if it sat outside.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

FWIW, Circupool doesn't require equipment be covered, but they do recommend protection from UV and water exposure.

From the RJ-Series manual:

The Module is fully rated for outdoor use; common sense considerations such as
minimizing direct exposure to rain, sunlight, water runoff, and lawn sprinkler
systems will enhance longevity.

There's no right or wrong answers. Hopefully OP will be able to utilize the points made to make an informed decision.

Best wishes!

 

[Metalman23]

I like having my equipment covered. I built a shed using four posts around the equipment, keeping the floor opened and covered in pea gravel. It's height is limited because I had to work around an apple tree we wanted to retain. It's more like a fenced-in enclosure with a roof. I made it in such a way that I can dissemble and reassemble if I ever have to swap out a heater or filter. The roof can be removed or tilted up for removal of the top half of the filter. The gaps in cedar provide plenty of ventilation.

View attachment 420359

More photos from an old thread if you're interested...

How to hide the pool equipment.

Due to a communication breakdown, our pool equipment is not where we originally indicated. It is instead in the middle of my yard seen from every window of my home. It is an eyesore but too late to move. Please share with me your equipment camouflaging techniques. Barriers, plants, sheds...

www.troublefreepool.com

I think that looks nice, I would try to build a shed around it, tall enough to stand up in,

 

[Metalman23]

One data point - my pool equipment has been outside over 30 years and 2 houses in Northeast summers and winters and snow and hurricanes with only, what I think are, normal equipment failures. I have seen nothing that being in a shed would have prevented.

We see enough people come here with equipment in sheds and failed pumps and rusted equipment to show that having an equipment shed makes no difference in actual longevity.

As others have observed all the equipment has been designed to be outdoors. And manufactures warranties don't change or require a shed. If manufactures felt their equipment needed a shed it would be in the Installation Manual.

I can understand the benefits of a shade cover over equipment in the Southwest to prevent the suns UV from making plastics brittle.

But in Central CT, nah. In fact the shed may make it attractive for rodents to nest in the shed and equipment and damage the equipment more then if it sat outside.

That is true, I was wondering about rodents and birds trying to nest in the shed,

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I think that looks nice, I would try to build a shed around it, tall enough to stand up in,

If you're under 5 feet tall, you can stand up in mine

 

[Darin]

Wooden fence 5 or 6 foot tall that you can easily pull apart by staking the corners together. that will let the noise go up and hopefully keep the critters from moving in.

 

[flynwill]

We put our equipment in a shed for multiple reasons. The primary one was to get it out of sight because the HOA rules were not going to allow it in our utility side yard (too close to the neighbors) and also required the equipment to be enclosed by a wall for noise abatement. But the added benefits IMHO are the equipment is sheltered from the California sun (which can be brutal on plastics), there were a few elements of our equipment (specifically the VFD that drives my swim current) that would need an additional enclosure if outside. And it also gives a convenient place to store the pool stuff (brush, robot, chemicals, etc). I did use fairly transparent roofing ("Solar Gray") so there is good light inside, and also note that the eves are totally open for ventilation. There is also a drainage path for any leaks or water from the equipment.

Shed3.JPG

• flynwill
• Dec 17, 2021

ShedInterior2.JPG

• flynwill
• Dec 17, 2021

Heater.JPG

• flynwill
• Jun 2, 2022

 

[bjsbuds]

We put our equipment in a shed for multiple reasons. The primary one was to get it out of sight because the HOA rules were not going to allow it in our utility side yard (too close to the neighbors) and also required the equipment to be enclosed by a wall for noise abatement. But the added benefits IMHO are the equipment is sheltered from the California sun (which can be brutal on plastics), there were a few elements of our equipment (specifically the VFD that drives my swim current) that would need an additional enclosure if outside. And it also gives a convenient place to store the pool stuff (brush, robot, chemicals, etc). I did use fairly transparent roofing ("Solar Gray") so there is good light inside, and also note that the eves are totally open for ventilation. There is also a drainage path for any leaks or water from the equipment.

Shed3.JPG

• flynwill
• Dec 17, 2021

ShedInterior2.JPG

• flynwill
• Dec 17, 2021

Heater.JPG

• flynwill
• Jun 2, 2022

This shed is awesome and exactly what I would like to build. Do you have any plans that you used to build?