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Pool return inlets

Posted by Mark on February 9, 2010 at 2:35pm in Pool Service Topics

Hello guys,

Could any of you give me your thoughts on return inlets being positioned in the floor.

I have a pool i am about to start, the original pool company has placed the pipework in the pool floor, they are to be placed on a slope ( pool being slope/flat/slope) Does anyone have input on this as i dont think it will create good circulation. prefer to see them in the walls personally.

 

 

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Replies

  • Rick Larson February 10, 2010 at 11:17am
    On top of the other reasons mentions, floor returns help make sure there are no dead corners where you will typically get your algae growth. Ever notice how quite often the first spot to grow algae will be the bottom corners? Wall inlets may never deliver enough chlorine to those areas to ensure enough residual.

    In more northerly areas the wall inlets directed upwards help prevent the surface from completely freezing. Some will drain a pool below the skimmer but continue to run the pump.
  • Bruce Hudson February 10, 2010 at 10:11am
    Mark,
    Floor returns will actually outperform wall returns for both heating and mixing/filtering. Wall returns are more convenient, and are useful to disturb the surface giving that inviting shimmer and to mask debris or finish irregularities. Floor returns are regaining popularity in neg edge/wet edge pools where surface disturbance would be undesirable. In these pools a mirror-smooth surface can only be achieved with well designed floor inlets. With some experience, I think you will learn to love floor inlets.
  • Glen Brandsema February 10, 2010 at 8:05am
    Floor returns in an indoor pool are also used to add ozone, "if it an't broke, don't fix it" that's what my Father always said.
  • Mark February 9, 2010 at 10:32pm
    Hello,
    Thanx for the input guys, i should have mentioned this is for an indoor pool.
    Is it possible you could go into more detail for your reasoning, difficult to convince a client these days without details.
    I guess everyone has google these days and they think they know everything... again many thanx for the input
  • Tony VanLierop February 9, 2010 at 7:35pm
    Floor returns can beneficial, heat rises. Several pool companies use an in-floor cleaning system to distribute filtered, heated water. My suggestion in cold climates is to not use floor returns as they are hard to properly winterize. I agree with Glen that dedicated return lines in the wall would optimize performance. You would want to valve them separately after the heater.
  • Glen Brandsema February 9, 2010 at 6:41pm
    Great way to heat a pool, I would add some wall returns on a defecated line as well. It's all about gpm and what you need to turn the pool over in 8-10 hrs.
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