How can I save money with pool equipment?

nickchaffee — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:42:06 +0000

Are you going to feed a bandit?

How much water can be drawn in and pushed out efficiently has several variables. Pumping horsepower, impeller design, piping sizes and piping distances, fittings, equipment, elevations +/- together with the level of filtration applied and the status of clean filtering during operation.

Harmonizing hydraulic balance within the plumbing system allows a determination to be gained as to pump selection not the other way around. In order to select the correct pump an understanding for the engineering principals involved must be gained, calculated and anticipated.

The over consumption of electricity from an improperly designed pumping system can equate to thousands of dollars of wasted money over the life of a swimming pool. Another bandit of energy is the under sizing of the main electrical conductor, the wire run between the pool equipment sub-panel and the main electrical panel.

This calculation is much like the friction losses in a plumbing system with a key note being that the voltage losses are after your electric meter so, you are paying for the loss of kilowatt usage even before you have a chance to put it to good use.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

What is the percentage of voltage loss during operational function of the filtering system and the pool cleaner?
What gauge wire has been specified and what is the distance of the entire wire run?
What is the electrical efficiency percentage rating of my pump at the designed flow rates?

Note: If your pool builder can’t answer these questions upon presenting a design, you probably won’t like your future electric bills either.

Anatomy of a Swimming Pool

nickchaffee — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:57:20 +0000

The Anatomy of a Swimming Pool

Design
Layout
Excavation
Steel Reinforcement
Plumbing & Utilities
Gunite
Tile, Rockery & Masonry
Concrete Flatwork
Equipment Placement
Plaster
Start-Up

Design Considerations

Area Usage
Functionality
Proposed Elevations
Proposed Grade Transitions
Shapes & Size
Dimensional Proportions
Exposures
Views
Screening
Color
Sound
Lights
Textures
Surfaces
Structures
Features

Elements of Design

Topographical Survey
Grading
Landscape
Hardscape
Pavement
Irrigation
Lighting
Surface & Hydrostatic Drainage
Swimming Pool
Spa
Water Features

Control System
Control System Capacity
Control Panel’s Type & Locations Points
Pool Lighting
Pool Plumbing
Spa Lighting
Spa Plumbing
Water Feature Lighting
Water Feature’s Plumbing
Special Feature Lighting
Special Feature’s Plumbing
Pool High Voltage Electrical Conduit Network
Pool Low Voltage Electrical Conduit Network
Spa High Voltage Electrical Conduit Network
Spa Low Voltage Electrical Conduit Network
Water Feature’s High Voltage Electrical Conduit Network
Water Features Low Voltage Electrical Conduit Network
Special Feature’s High Voltage Electrical Conduit Network
Special Features Low Voltage Electrical Conduit Network
Natural and LPG Supply Distribution System
Insect Abatement Systems
Fiber Optic Conduit Routing
Illuminator Locations
Audio Sound Systems Conduit Routing
Audio Sound Systems Distribution Points
Video & Monitor Conduit Routing
Video & Monitor Systems Components
Water Surface Sonar Motion Monitor System
Outdoor Heating System
Remote Control Capability

Fee Based On-site consultation (1-Hr min. @ $125.00/hr.)
Acceptance of fee based Preliminary Conceptual Design Contract (per Quote)
Dimensioned plot plan showing footprint of entire house (Supplied by Client)
Establishment of the Design Considerations Criteria (DCC)

Operational Functionality

FULL SCOPE DESIGN

Introduction of Services

Designing an outdoor environment generally involves expressing multiple layers of information for the benefit of developing a well-rounded understanding for the requirements. These multiple layers express the requirements for each element of development as an individual portion of the work. It is important to realize that a design’s sole purpose is to articulate a meaningful conclusion of intent for the requirements.

These drawings are generally provided to those who will be providing cost projections for the associated cost for construction. In order for an installer (Contractor) to apply the desired standards for quality construction, the requirements must first be clearly expressed. These expressions in the context of affective design are refereed to as the Plans and Specification ¹ of intentions. In the absence of a defined specification of intentions, any installer will be in a position to apply his/her own set of standards when interpreting only lines on a drawing. In such cases, it is often true that many benefits and contributions of sound design are negated or subordinated to a type of installation that reflects sub-standards in the absence of defined specifications.

Simply generating a drawing that reflects shape, elevations, and dimensions will not provide enough information in which to attain comparative pricing between Contractors. The subjectivity that a highly competitive arena forces upon competing construction firms often requires estimators of many firms to apply a developed understanding for the defenselessness of non-specified residential landscaping. In simple terms, if it’s not called out on the plans it isn’t identified as a requirement.

On the other side of the coin, many Designers and Architect’s do not have a broad enough knowledge base in which to fully express the sometimes very involved layered mechanics of an entire residential outdoor environment. When analyzing any project (from a construction prospective) the graphic expressions of a plan most often require a correspondence to further definitions, thus construction details & specifications become a requirement in order to arrive at the expressed intention. These missing fundamentals are an integral part of design; providing a comprehensive direction for the intentions and will leave much less to misguided interpretation.

Defining the applicable standards requires knowledge of multiple engineering disciplines together with the appreciative value of ascetics enhancements. The expression of one without the other simple sets the client up for an escalation of construction cost. Developing fissures and fractures in the foundational understanding for the prescribed requirements are to often the result of inadequate design. The resulting “change orders” and escalating construction cost are most always a point of contention and can for the most part be avoided with the application of a skillful, knowledgeable design service.

A well-rounded understanding for these multiple disciplines require many years of exposure. This very necessary education in the implementation of good design is derived over time from experience. An osmotic education of having rubbed against “projects done well and not so well” is invaluable. The conveyance of such information in a diagrammatic fashion sufficient to extrapolate an absolute cost estimation really requires some level of appreciation for the physical realization for the results. In laying the foundation for such design directions, we start with the reliance of having been involved since “1978” with many collaborative efforts constructing domestic and international design/build projects. Through the application of sound engineering directions, we provide our clients with the highest level of today’s knowledge and the most comprehensive expressed understanding for the prerequisites of successful project completion.

Comprehensive design doesn’t cost, it pays for it’s self through the savings of the otherwise occurrences of unexpected requirements for incomplete directions. The following is a primary outline for the requirements in a Preliminary Conceptual Design.

Preliminary Conceptual Design (PCD)

This is generally a single page plan drawn to scale and reflecting the layout of both Hardscape ²and Softscape ³ considerations. Other elements of the design such as landscape planting areas are designated and identified as a zone in which more in-depth discussions can advance the Designer understanding for a client’s desires. At this stage of design, a client can explore the range of possibilities that may exist between extending to the Designer, “artistic licensee” or providing directions geared toward a narrower frame in which to draw his/her picture. At this junction, a great importance should be weighed against whether a melding of the minds can be reached between the Client’s desires and the Designer’s perceptions of possibilities for both the space and usages of the outdoor environment.

REQUIREMENTS

DISCUSSION SUBJECTS OF (DCC)

Preliminary Conceptual Design Presentation (PCDP)

The presentation will consist of a meeting between client and designer at the offices of Dynamic Poolscapes Inc. During this meeting the graphic design, expressions involving intent of the sixteen discussion subjects of the Design Consideration Criteria will be further discussed. During this meeting, a revision can be implemented as directed by the client. This revision will be inclusive of the original (PCD) quotation additional revisions will be billed at the regular consultation rate. If required the client may request the provisions of an Engineer’s Cost Estimate (ECE) upon finalization of the (PCD). This preliminary projection of construction cost can allow for a more definitive revised design direction.

Engineer’s Cost Estimate (ECE)

On a fee basis a preliminary cost estimate can be performed for the projected construction cost on the basis of the (PCD). This information will be preliminary and will be expressed in a spreadsheet style framework broken out by categories i.e. Grading, Plantings, Irrigation, Lighting, Concrete, Masonry, etc. absent of definitive conclusion as to specific engineering requirements but, applying industry standards otherwise. The (ECE) does not represent a bid proposal to perform the work scope; it is an opportunity to identify the associations between concepts and current economic realities for construction cost. In doing so a client’s priorities can be appropriately applied and design revisions can more effectively address the desired directions of development.

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