How Leslie's install works

[snuggles]

Hi, I have ordered a pump and filter from Leslie's and they are currently offering "free" installation of products. Wondering if this is worth doing or if there is some hidden risk.

I initially intended to do the install myself, but I figure

1) Best to have someone else who has done it before do it. I have done a ton of PVC DWV and supply plumbing, but never pressure sch 40.

2) Possibly the warrantee through pentair will be better, though I am getting the EC parts, as the vendor-only parts are very significantly more money.

Of course, it's isn't FREE free: there is a travel fee ($45) and install fee for the pump is 70 and for the filter is 90 (edit, I meant *parts* fee--the labor is free). Not sure why the filter is more, as it seems to me that it is simpler and with fewer things that could go catastrophically wrong, but whatever.

Just wondering if anyone else has had any experience with their service. I suspect they contract with local pool guys, so it may be just some random guy who shows up, but that is unclear. I am in the West-of-Boston area. I intend to be around the entire time because I like this kind of thing and hopefully that won't bother them too much.

My questions, if anyone can answer:
1. How is the service--is this some sort of bad idea? IE: what are the downsides--if any.
2. Is there any hidden catch like, "oh, your electrical needs to be updated, I charge $200 extra for that", or "you are missing a shut off valve on the return lines" (I am--though I have new ones I was going to install)?
3. Does it indeed carry weight with pentair that the pool store installed it. Are there other upsides I'm not considering.
4. Will they install my own jandy valves I bought on the main supply/return or insist on putting in whatever Crud they arrive with. I also have my own multi port, and all the fittings. I'm kind of wondering if anyone has had any luck removing the parts fee if they just use all my parts--including my glue, haha.

Many thanks!!

 

[ajw22]

1) Best to have someone else who has done it before do it. I have done a ton of PVC DWV and supply plumbing, but never pressure sch 40.

Schedule 40 PVC cutting, fitting, and gluing is no different then DWV. Just use all schedule 40 pipes and fittings.

PVC Repair - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

2) Possibly the warrantee through pentair will be better, though I am getting the EC parts, as the vendor-only parts are very significantly more money.

If you are getting EC parts you will get the EC warranty.

It is all described in...

Pool Product Warranty Information

Whether you are planning a pool party for friends and family or prefer the serene sensation of a calm pool, Pentair has the pool and spa solutions just for you.

www.pentair.com

Of course, it's isn't FREE free: there is a travel fee ($45) and install fee for the pump is 70 and for the filter is 90 (edit, I meant *parts* fee--the labor is free). Not sure why the filter is more, as it seems to me that it is simpler and with fewer things that could go catastrophically wrong, but whatever.

You are paying fro the install one way or the other. It is baked into the price.

Just wondering if anyone else has had any experience with their service. I suspect they contract with local pool guys, so it may be just some random guy who shows up, but that is unclear. I am in the West-of-Boston area. I intend to be around the entire time because I like this kind of thing and hopefully that won't bother them too much.

You never know who you will get and what their quality standards and experience is. It is a Crud shoot.

You know what you will get if you do it.

4. Will they install my own jandy valves I bought on the main supply/return or insist on putting in whatever Crud they arrive with. I also have my own multi port, and all the fittings. I'm kind of wondering if anyone has had any luck removing the parts fee if they just use all my parts--including my glue, haha.

Depends if you give the installer $20 when you ask him to use your valves.

I doubt there will be any credit for using your parts.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

I had Leslie's sell, deliver, and install a new booster pump. The guy arrived wearing a Leslie's shirt, for what that's worth. The installation labor fee was $216. I don't think there was a travel fee unless it was baked in. So "free" labor sounds like a good deal. The guy knew what he was doing and it all worked out fine.

 

[snuggles]

I had Leslie's sell, deliver, and install a new booster pump. The guy arrived wearing a Leslie's shirt, for what that's worth. The installation labor fee was $216. I don't think there was a travel fee unless it was baked in. So "free" labor sounds like a good deal. The guy knew what he was doing and it all worked out fine.

Yeah I'll have a full summary of my experience. It was worth it for me because I had such trouble getting an undamaged filter delivered that I wanted some other person responsible for the install in case there were any issues. As it turns out, I was 100% correct to do so, as the filter AND pump both have issues.

The guy was extremely professional and nice, but I have to say I don't think he was that experienced and made some mistakes eg did not use lubricant on the o rings and REALLY tightened them with a tool--not by hand. Also just didn't seem to have a clear sense that bending even long runs of pvc was a bad idea. I had to keep an eye on things to make sure he didn't break anything because I got nervous that he would put strain on the subs coming out of the ground and I'd get a break... yikes.

In the end, I think I would have done a better job, but I liked the guy, it was free, and I really like that there is an installer to come fix any equipment issues (and there are a few, which I will post about separately).

Schedule 40 PVC cutting, fitting, and gluing is no different then DWV. Just use all schedule 40 pipes and fittings.

PVC Repair - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

If you are getting EC parts you will get the EC warranty.

It is all described in...

Pool Product Warranty Information

Whether you are planning a pool party for friends and family or prefer the serene sensation of a calm pool, Pentair has the pool and spa solutions just for you.

www.pentair.com

You are paying fro the install one way or the other. It is baked into the price.



You never know who you will get and what their quality standards and experience is. It is a Crud shoot.

You know what you will get if you do it.



Depends if you give the installer $20 when you ask him to use your valves.

I doubt there will be any credit for using your parts.

Yup. It was about what I expected: not as clean a job as I would have preferred, but free, and he will deal with the equipment issues, which is really a huge benefit for me.

He ended up using all my parts for reasons I won't get into, but he was really nice about the whole process and gave me a significant discount on the parts charge.

 

[snuggles]

Follow up on how leslies works. I have a separate thread on the pump, which appears to have bad bearings.

Resonance or whine from superflow vs

Just installed this EC-342001. One issue has been a pretty annoying resonance when it runs. At certain speeds it turns into a high pitched sound that carries quite far. At higher speeds this is masked by the water and fan noise but at low speeds it is distracting. I have to bring the speed down...

www.troublefreepool.com

I also noticed that whenever I start the pump and it primes, or really just whenever I increase the speed from low to high, the return jets shoot out a bit of DE into the pool. It's not -a lot-, but it's not nothing. I have charged the filter with the correct amount and pressure is right where it should be, but still... concerned that there is a tear or leak. I am loath to open the thing as it was -just- installed by leslies, and I suspect that the "if you touch it you own it" rule applies here.

I have a call in with them and they say they will send out the same tech to assess the two issues, but I'd love to get some feed back from the forums: does this look like an issue or is this fairly typical with DE filters. The exact model is the Pentair Quad DE 100--it has cartridges that are filled with DE. A neat hybrid I guess?

New video by Solh Zendeh

photos.app.goo.gl

Note that there are clouds at the top of the frame obscuring the other jets (three total) are shooting out roughly the same amount. It's really hard for me to judge how much it is, but certainly when I run the robot it is picking up a bit, so it's happening daily.

Any advice on if this is normal very welcome.

I regret that I didn't have the guy open the filter in front of me to confirm everything looked ok inside. He had opened it at leslies when he picked it up and said it all looked good, but honestly I had had TWO filters delivered to me with significant internal damage to the filters, so I kinda wonder if he was just not looking that carefully...

 

[ajw22]

I also noticed that whenever I start the pump and it primes, or really just whenever I increase the speed from low to high, the return jets shoot out a bit of DE into the pool. It's not -a lot-, but it's not nothing. I have charged the filter with the correct amount and pressure is right where it should be, but still... concerned that there is a tear or leak. I am loath to open the thing as it was -just- installed by leslies, and I suspect that the "if you touch it you own it" rule applies here.

I have a call in with them and they say they will send out the same tech to assess the two issues, but I'd love to get some feed back from the forums: does this look like an issue or is this fairly typical with DE filters. The exact model is the Pentair Quad DE 100--it has cartridges that are filled with DE. A neat hybrid I guess?

@JoyfulNoise has a quad DE filter.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

There's an internal o-ring on bottom manifold that seals the return pipe from the tub where all the dirty/DE water is. If that o-ring was not lubed, it will allow DE water to get past it. Sometimes it's intermittent and the DE will eventually "seal" the leak but, once the pressure is go, the leak can open up again. The other area that can leak are the Quad cartridges at their top and bottom rubber boots. Those rubber boots have to seal against the top and bottom manifold. I always apply a little bit of silicone lube right around the sealing surface so that the cartridge fits snuggly and seals against the black plastic manifold. If the tech didn't lube it, then that's another point of incursion for dirty/DE water. The final part that needs to be checked is the metal screen on the internal air bleed tube. If that metal screen is damaged in any way, DE can get past the filters into the return line.

 

[snuggles]

There's an internal o-ring on bottom manifold that seals the return pipe from the tub where all the dirty/DE water is. If that o-ring was not lubed, it will allow DE water to get past it. Sometimes it's intermittent and the DE will eventually "seal" the leak but, once the pressure is go, the leak can open up again. The other area that can leak are the Quad cartridges at their top and bottom rubber boots. Those rubber boots have to seal against the top and bottom manifold. I always apply a little bit of silicone lube right around the sealing surface so that the cartridge fits snuggly and seals against the black plastic manifold. If the tech didn't lube it, then that's another point of incursion for dirty/DE water. The final part that needs to be checked is the metal screen on the internal air bleed tube. If that metal screen is damaged in any way, DE can get past the filters into the return line.

Ok awesome! I would do this myself but I think I’m going to just wait for the tech to return to look at this and the pump—best to leave it alone so I cannot be blamed. But for sure I’ll have him open it up and we’ll lube and inspect as you suggest.

Many many thanks.

Edit: and of course the most important thing I’m confirming is: basically -zero- DE should return to the pool, correct? DE in the pool means something is wrong—always?

I just want to be sure if the guys says “oh yeah a little coming back is ok” I can be confident that is not correct, you know?