Plumbing help: Pool pump just burnt up so might be the right time to reconfigure.

[jack9ife]

Hello THP community!

I was hoping I could borrow someone's expertise. My wife and I bought a Florida home that needs a lot of work. We love the home... or what it can be through some elbow grease and long hours after work. We have been making strides to fix a TON of handy man problems. Most of the house was "renovated" by a handy man when the previous homeowner was out of country. Almost all of the work done we've had to get replaced as most things weren't up to code (picture s traps instead of p traps under the sinks, really unlevel tile work, no outlets on the kitchen island, cheap Chinese shower heads with SUPER high flow causing issues with septic tanks, broken irrigation system because they were stealing water from canal illegally then lied and got caught ect...)

I only give you this prelude to explain the previous homeowner didnt always do things the correct way and it's been like solving a puzzle to figure out the how and why all over the house.

We didn't plan on "tackling the pool" problem until we had more budget in the coming year or so as we got it clean and safe to swim. I woke up to our waterfall being off and a tripped breaker on my pool pump. When I flip the breaker - the pump buzzes and smokes... we turned that back off via breaker. Sooo here's where I'm hoping you can come in and help. The pool is seemingly underpowered as I have to turn off the Spa Return (JETS) completely, turn the Pool Jets valve to 50% and that's with TWO of the pool jet returns plugged to have enough power for our waterfall not to dribble on the wall.

I assumed that I would need a TWO pump system in the future as I've seen a nieghbors setup that was like that. We want to use the spa as a spa but the pool heater is missing and an empty slab is where we presume it was. We also try to keep the waterfall on for 12+ hours a day or longer as it's a noisy street and it helps cut down the noise. I asked this question on reddit and they told me to come here.

Goal: Figure out what BEST CASE looks like. Is it a two-pump system? Can I get away with overpowering a 1 pump system? If I go two pump - what does that diagram look like? If I go one pump system, can I get away with only replacing the pump with say.... a 3 Hp Variable pump or do i need to upgrade my pipes, filters, soemthing else?

What heater, pump, otherwise combo would you install to make this system make sense?

Then what budget friendly options would you have to get me running again so I can get my little girl swimming again safely quickly? What size horsepower pump would you get? Variable? I'm looking to buy a single pump now but future-proof to a future two-pump system if that's what is reccomended.

Sorry in advance for the rambling - sneeking this post into my work day quickly.

I provided labeled photos to help explain and can answer most questions quickly. Inlet and outlet pipes (all exposed that I can see) are 2" if that helps.
Pool is roughly 14,000 gallons.
Pool filter is 150CC
Pump is Waterway Century 1.65 HP - currently burned out -- was looking at just replacing the motor so I don't have to replumb but will replumb if it's worth it to upgrade to a bigger motor or better overall pump.

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

Pool Returns (JETS) in the photo 1 of 4 and 3 of 4 are currently plugged by previous owner.

 

[FLOMOPOOL]

First - NICE looking pool

Whatever you do remember that it is important that the input pipe to the suction side of the pump is at least 5x the diameter of the pipe, for example, if it is 2" pipe, it should be at least 10" long, but at least 12" is better. AND, it should be unobstructed, meaning no diverter, no, coupling, etc. = a straight shot of 12" into the pump. All this means less flow restriction into the pump. Likewise, same logic for the pipe coming out of the pump on the pressure side as well.

 

[1poolman1]

You have floor returns, they are not jets as the spa has.

If you want a separate pump for the waterfall you will also need a separate suction line to supply it, which you don't appear to have now. A new line would have to be drilled in the pool and run to the equipment pad.

Your Waterway Champion pump (Century makes motors) could be replaced with a Waterway Power Defender PD270 with little re-plumbing.

As a VSP, it could be set to run at a speed that would make your waterfall "happy," have the power to give good jet action (7 is a lot of jets) when the spa is used, save money with its ability to run slower RPM and still meet the needs of a waterfall and SWG when normal filtration is needed.

If you contact Inyo Pools, they have the parts (impeller, diffuser, etc. they should be able to tell you what you need) to turn your existing pump into a PD270 with the addition of a Nidec Neptune NPTQ270 motor (the one used by Waterway) for less than the cost of a new pump.

You have the typical Florida-tiny filter at 150 sq. ft. With all the foliage in and around the yard, if you have room it would be good to get one at least 300 sq. ft.

The breaker labeled #1, for the filter pump should be replaced with a 20A ground-fault breaker to meet code.

The existing Intermatic timer could be used exclusively for the SWG as a VSP comes with its own control on top of the motor.

The port below the skimmer is probably an equalizer port, designed to try to keep the pump supplied with water if the level in the pool should drop below the skimmer opening.

Since #4 in the picture is not clear as to whether there is a pipe into the ground, the valve has that side "off," and it looks like it is capped, it could have been for some future use, "just in case."