Swimming Pool Plumbing

Why do pool builders always skimp or rush through the plumbing?  If it is done wrong or looks like junk, no one will be happy.  The worst part about rushing through it is, you only save about an hour!

Straight lines and having everything symmetric is always more appealing to the eyes, but not always possible.  Excessive use of 90 degree elbows will hinder water movement and add a lot of friction loss.

Penguin Pools builds and designs pools to meet Federal Guidelines for flow, turnover rate, entrapment protection, and placement of returns.  Differences in plumbing setups and equipment sizing will affect water clarity, chemical usage, and overall operating costs from month to month.

Lets try to make this simple.

• As water moves through pipes it creates friction, slowing it down . . . just like the air against your car as you drive down the road.
• Each 45 degree elbow slows the water down a little and even more so with a 90 degree elbow . . . just like taking a turn in your car.
• You can go faster down a straight road, but must slow down at a bend & even slower for a corner.

Each time the water slows down due to friction or an elbow, the less water you are moving though your filter and sanitation system.

Your pool water must turn over once (1 time) every 6 hours !!!

If something looks wrong, SAY SOMETHING.

There is no way this plumber or pool company got paid, how do you even think to plumb somethinglike that?

These are pictures that were taken off sites where pool companies were “showing off” their plumbing setups.

Penguin Pools builds and plumbs pools so that the the equipment pad isn’t more of an eye sore than it already is.

Penguin Pools also does some standard things that other companies, we just found out, don’t do in the Milwaukee & Minneapolis area.

• Each suction line gets their own valve . . . helps for suction auto cleaners.
• Main drains aren’t plumbed to skimmer.
• Each return line gets a dedicated line, not plumbed together . . . easier to fix or replace lines years down the road.  It also makes for better water pressure throughout the system
• Water features, especially fountains, all get dedicated lines with valves.  That way you can dictate exactly how much water gets to each water feature.
• Penguin Pools only uses actuator compatible (diverter) vales for future expansion . . . ball valves are cheap and less “beefy”.  Usually Pentair’s Diverter Valves are used.

Swimming Pool plumbing doesn’t have to brain surgery.  Simply make it look pretty and ALWAYS use glue & primer rated for swimming pools.  Oatley products at Home Depot, Menards, Lowes, or any other hardware store is no good.  It will dry out and crack over time leaving you with tear drop leaks.

When using threaded fittings, do NOT to glue them.  Penguin Pools use top rated Teflon tape with magic lube or silicone.  The seal will be better and yet you don’t have to worry about getting the fitting out.

When Penguin Pools builds or rehabs a pool, we always try to prevent problems before they occur.  We always make sure one of the return lines doesn’t have a valve on it.  Many companies, we don’t, valve off each return line even when there aren’t water features.  There is no real reason to restrict flow to the returns, so we don’t do it.  When water features are present on a pool we will valve off each water feature and each return MINUS 1.  That way if someone (kids) accidentally closes all the valves, there will be one return still moving water so your system doesn’t explode or blow some connections.

While we feel we can fix or help any situation, there are some that are just past the point of return . . . like below.

Please contact Penguin Pools if you want a free quote or if you need us to rework the plumbing on your current swimming pool equipment.