New Build - Houston, TX Nov '24

[cm999]

After spending a lot of time researching pool equipment, rebars, PVC schedules, lights wattage and lumens, etc. and reading through this forum and talking with six different pool builders, I am about to sign with our pool builder. Before I do, I would appreciate any suggestion and feedback. I live in Houston, TX

I am going to get geotechnical testing done and get an engineer's letter for the pool structure. But below is proposed pool built by pool builder:

Pool Type - 2" raised Perimeter overflow with infinity edge (catch basin)
Pool Shape - Rectangle with deep in the middle
Pool Length - 38
Pool Width - 15
Pool Perimeter - 122
Pool Sqft - 739
Shallow depth - 3.5
Deepest depth - 4
Middle depth - 5.5
Spa - 7 x 7
Spa Depth - 3.5
Rebar - 8" OC with 1/2" Rebar

Pool Plumbing - Dedicated Suction, 1" Pipe, 1.5" Pipe and 2" Pipe
Main Pool Pump - Hayward TriStar XL
Pool Filter - Hayward 700Sqft SwimClear Cartridge
Total Lights - 6 x Hayward Nichless ColorLogic 12V 320 LED
Automation - Hayward OmniPL 4 Relay
Heater - Hayward H-Series 500K BTU
Structure - 16 x Bell-bottom concrete piers

Spa Jet - 8 x Waterway Jets


Water features -
Bubblers - 3
Mini Jets - 3
Pumps for perimeter overflow - 3 x Hayward TriStar VS950 2.7HP VSP
Pump for bubblers and jets - 1 x Hayward Tristar VS900 1.85HP VSP
2.5" Suction line
3" Suction line

Sanitizer -
Inline Chlorinator
Pentair BioShield UV sanitizer

Question -
My PB prefers Chlorinator + UV sanitizer over SWG. I read about Chlorine vs SWG but I couldn't find any claims validating his theory that Chlorine + UV is better in his opinion. Anyone knows about this?
There is no dedicated pump for Spa. He said you would have enough HP from your main pump for spa jets. Any recommendation?
Any other suggestions or feedback?

 

[pjt]

Shallow depth - 3.5

That's a bit too shallow. 4' is good for the shallow end(s).

Middle depth - 5.5

Probably a bit deep for people to stand comfortably. I would suggest 5'. (I have a 4-5-4 profile and it works beautifully.)

1" Pipe, 1.5" Pipe and 2" Pipe

What does that mean?

Sanitizer -
Inline Chlorinator
Pentair BioShield UV sanitizer

Delete both and get a SWCG. We get ample free UV from the sun.

My PB prefers Chlorinator + UV sanitizer over SWG.

That's bad advice, intentional or not. You definitely want a SWCG.

I read about Chlorine vs SWG

With a SWCG, your sanitizer is still chlorine. It's generated fresh onsite by the SWCG.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Pool Plumbing - Dedicated Suction, 1" Pipe, 1.5" Pipe and 2" Pipe

Where is 1" pipe being used in the pool?

Spa Jet - 8 x Waterway Jets

How many GPM per jet do you need to get a good massage experience?

What is the GPM x 8 of the pump flow you need to the spa jets?

I doubt your filter pump can deliver that while running through the filter and heater.

Inline Chlorinator
Pentair BioShield UV sanitizer

Question -
My PB prefers Chlorinator + UV sanitizer over SWG. I read about Chlorine vs SWG but I couldn't find any claims validating his theory that Chlorine + UV is better in his opinion. Anyone knows about this?

Get a SWG.

The sun gives you more than enough UV for your pool.

Using Trichlor tablets in an inline chlorinator will add almost as much CYA as it adds chlorine. And within a year you will have too much CYA in your water and need to drain your pool to reduce it.

For some reason, Texas builders do not like SWG's. We have thousands of members in Texas and the SouthWest who needed to arm-twist their builder to install an SWG or install it separately later. Few people remove a SWG for a inline Chlorinator.

SWG How It Works - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

UV Systems - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

TriChlor - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

CYA - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

There is no dedicated pump for Spa. He said you would have enough HP from your main pump for spa jets. Any recommendation?

Have your builder put a second set of drains in the spa for a dedicated spa jet pump.

It is a small additional cost in what you are spending for your pool.

If your builder is wrong, which I believe he is, you will not be able to fix it later. You will be stuck with disappointing spa jets.

I believe it is better to over-design than under-design in things that will be expensive to change later.

Your builder is giving you typical builder speak.

 

[ajw22]

In case you have not seen these...

Construction Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

How to select pool equipment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Heater Bypass - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[cm999]

Thanks @ajw22 and @pjt I will forward those questions to my PB and also read those Best Practices.

 

[cm999]

Reply from PB -

The spa does have dedicated drains in there. Usually in Houston, you would use a spa for 2 - 4 hours on any given day. The system will be configured to stop filtering when you're using spa. This will give you 10GPM per spa.
@ajw22 - The 1" pipe is used for shower plumbing. I asked him to add a shower outdoor

@pjt - Yes, I am still debating middle depth to 5' as well. 3.5' on shallow end was more for little kids to play. I'll reconsider. Thanks.

I also asked him to change from Chlorinator + UV to SWCG system. He pushed back a little to understand my needs better and then he modified it.

 

[ajw22]

10 GPM per spa jet is not adequate.

Insist he show you the head calculations for your spa and the pump curves to validate his claims if you choose to follow his advice. The numbers will not work out.

Read Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

Pump Basics - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Pump Plumbing Head Curves and Operating Points - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[pjt]

3.5' on shallow end was more for little kids to play.

Kids grow fast. You may even consider a shallow shelf for young kids to play.

He pushed back a little to understand my needs better

Remember it's your pool, your money, and you are the final decision authority.

 

[kimkats]

Spa Depth - 3.5

Have you talked about bench height? Make sure there is a step in the corner you most likely will use to get in and out of the spa.
-Benches-Have a couple different heights for different sized people and wants. Some people like the water to come over their shoulders. Some middle of the chest. Just something else to think about. LOL

Make sure there is a light by the equipment pad for when you have to go out to do something on a dark and stormy night.

 

[agjr85]

Go 4' and 5', 5.5 is not comfortable to walk in unless your family/guests are tall. I'm 6' and I'm struggling in 5.5 part of our pool. The 3.5 is annoyingly too shallow for adults, and kids will outgrow it quick.
They play more in the tanning ledge with a depth of 8 inches.

We have a spa with 6 jets and it functions fine (3hp pump), but we do lose filtration in the pool (way smaller pool, 90 perm feet). With 8 jets I'd say your are borderline on needing a dedicated pump, which in that case I would do 10 jets (get some at the feet level).

SWG for sure

+1 for a light in your equipment pad

Have a drain connected near your hose bib area, this way when you or your pool boy/girl cleans your filters it is all in the same area.

I assume auto fill is included

Get a robot for your cleaner, unless you are doing in-floor cleaning system.

Looking forward to the pictures of the build.

 

[cm999]

It took some time for permitting. Here's few pictures on the pool!

 

[cm999]

Few more