How To Set Up In Ground Pool Equipment - Part 2 - Features

The middle of this picture contains most of the pool equipment required to set up the special features of this pool. These features include a waterfall, 4 laminars, and 2 bubblers in a shallow sun shelf. It also includes a separate filtering system to keep the debris from clogging the feature equipment.

This picture shows a closer view of the features equipment. The features pump is a Hayward 3HP Super II Single Speed Pump. This pump draws water from a main drain in the bottom of the pool and discharges it into the feature's filter. From the filter, the water is diverted through a series of valves to the various water features.

Pool Drains - the white strips at the bottom of the pool. Two were installed for this pool system: one for supplying water to the main circulation pump (Part 1) and one for supplying water to the feature's pump discussed above.

This pool system has three types of water features: a Waterfall, two Bubblers installed in the bottom of a shallow sun shelf, and 4 Laminars projecting columns of water into the pool. These features are controlled by five diverter valves.

In normal operation water from the filter is diverted to the left to the second valve. The yellow "T" superimposed on the top of the valve show that the port to the right has been closed off - the top of the "T" is across the port. The purpose of this path will be discussed later. Also note that this valve is labeled "Auto". It has an actuator mounted on top so that it can be activated automatically through a programmed control box in the house. This feature will also be addressed later.

The second valve controls the flow of water to the waterfall. With the yellow "T" is its current position, the majority of the water will flow to the waterfall with some going to the other port.

This picture shows the Waterfall mounted in the wall of the pool.

The third valve controls flow to the Bubblers. With the yellow "T" in its current position, the flow to the Bubblers is almost shut off. To operate the Bubblers the yellow "T" would have to be closer to a vertical position. There is a forth valve (manual) between the two Bubblers. This valve is used to balance the height of the two Bubblers. Without this valve you would have no way to adjust the relative heights of the two Bubblers.

This picture shows the two Bubblers that are installed in the floor of the shallow sun shelf.

The third valve also adjusts the flow of water to the Laminars. If the handle (yellow "T") is set horizontally like shown, all the water will flow to the Laminars and none to the Bubblers. If set vertically, all the water goes to the Bubblers. If placed at an angle, water will flow to both Bubblers and Laminars. Note the valve labeled "CK". This check valve keeps water from backing out of the Laminar lines when the pump is shut off. The Laminar jets are installed in the deck above the water line. To operate correctly, the Laminars must be able to maintain water in their lines when the pump is not running.

This picture shows the front side of the Laminar piping. Note that there are four separate ball valves on the four lines going to the Laminars. Just like the Bubblers, these valves allow you to balance the relative heights of the Laminars so that they are all the same.

This picture shows one of the four Laminars that projects a column of water from the deck into the pool. As stated above, the height and projection of each of these Laminars columns can be adjusted with separate valves in the piping.

This 2 HP Blower injects air into the Spa jets and Bubblers water lines to increase the pressure in the lines. It is this increased pressure that produces the height in the Bubbler columns.

The automated valves 1, 2 and 3 provide single button control of the water features from the control panel inside your house. For example, if I wanted to turn on just the bubblers, I could push the "Bubblers" button and valves 1, 2 and 3 would automatically move to divert flow to just the Bubblers. In this example the valve configuration would be set as indicated by the yellow "T" on the picture. The handles on valves 1 and 2 would move to shut off flow to the Laminars and the Waterfall while leaving the path to the Bubblers open. Note that valve 1 is positioned at an angle, which allows water to flow both left to the Bubblers and right.

The path to the right from valve 1 goes to Bypass and Waste. The feature's pump generates a flow rate of 120 GPM. The Bubblers operate at 20 GPM and would not be able to take the full 120 GPM from the pump. So the bulk of the water flow, 100 GPM, must be diverted back to the pool though the bypass line shown here. The other option in this configuration is to dump the water to the ground through the Waste line. In the picture the Waste line is blocked. By manually turning valve 5 to a horizontal position, water would be diverted to the Waste line as well as flowing to the pool through the bypass line.

This concludes our guide on setting up equipment for in ground pool water features. Click here to return to the Overview for other pool equipment options.