Let’s Circle Back Through The Plumbing

It is easy to overlook the unseen components of a pool, including the plumbing. The pipes underground, the parts hidden behind the pool walls, and even parts submerged in the deep end that are only visible when diving for lost pool toys.

Plumbing is a vital aspect of a pool's infrastructure. Just as the rebar forms the skeleton of a pool, plumbing acts as the veins, circulating water throughout the pool and spa. Without it, the pool would not function properly. Each component of a pool's circulation system is equally important, as they all play unique roles in ensuring the water is clean, healthy, and suitable for swimming by constantly moving it in and out of the pool.

The Anatomy of Your Pools Circulatory System:

*These plumbing diagrams are only examples.

Having a good understanding of a pool's plumbing means being familiar with the various components of the system and how they work together. This includes things like the pump, filter, valves, and plumbing lines. By understanding the pool's plumbing, you can more easily diagnose issues when they arise and make informed decisions about how to address them.

By understanding the pool's plumbing, you can also take steps to maintain and optimize the system for efficient operation, which can save energy and money in the long run.

Skimmer:

The skimmer contains a basket that collects debris such as leaves, twigs, and bugs before they enter the plumbing lines. It also has something called a weir, a door that opens when water passes through, and closes to prevent debris from entering the skimmer basket and plumbing.

Suction Lines:

Alright, so the water has made its way through the skimmer basket, now it's time to take a ride down the suction line. It's basically a big ol' pipe, usually made of PVC. It connects the skimmer to the pump, like a water slide for your pool.

Pump:

The suction lines don't just move water on their own, the pool pump does the heavy lifting. When the pump is turned on, it creates suction that pulls water through the suction line and into the pump.

Think of the pump as the heart of the pool, it pulls water in and then pushes it through the filter via the suction line, just like how your heart pumps blood.

Important: Running a pool pump without water can be detrimental to the pump. It needs water to function properly and if there is not enough water or none at all, the pump can be damaged. To avoid this, it's important to keep the water level in your pool high enough to constantly flow into the skimmer, but not so high that it covers the skimmer.

Filter:

After leaving the pump, the water flows into the filter to get cleaned. The type of filter you have will determine what it removes from the water, it can range from larger debris such as leaves and bugs to smaller particles like hair and bacteria."

Return Lines:
With the water now clean, it flows back into the pool through the return lines. These are PVC pipes that run from the filter to the pool returns, and their purpose is to bring the clean water back into the pool.

Return Jets:

Return jets, also known as return inlets, are small openings in the pool wall that allow the cleaned water to flow back into the pool. Proper positioning of these jets is crucial for maintaining proper circulation of the pool water. It's also important to position the return jets in the shallow end strategically to prevent water from becoming stagnant over the steps.

Main Drain:

Every in-ground pool and spa is equipped with at least two main drains, which are located at the bottom of the deep end. These drains play a crucial role in pool safety as they are used to pull water from the bottom of the pool and send it back to the pump for filtration and circulation.

And… The Water:

It may not seem obvious, but water is an essential component of a pool's plumbing system. Without it, the pump won't function, the filter will become damaged, and diving into the deep end could lead to accidents.

Maintaining the correct water level in your pool is crucial for the plumbing system to work efficiently. During hot weather, evaporation can cause the water level to drop and during rainy weather, the water level can rise and cover the skimmers, disrupting the plumbing and circulation.

It's important to remember that water is not just something you swim in, it's also an essential part of the pool's equipment and systems, and keeping it at the right level is key to keeping everything running smoothly.