BIO103: Intro to Equipment

1. BIO103: EQUIPMENT BASICS
Pool & Spa University

2. EQUIPMENT BASICS
➤ Pool equipment is the heart of the pool; properly functioning
equipment is key to keeping a pool clear and safe for use.
➤ Trying to clear a pool with only chemicals—when the real
problem is the equipment—is like trying to clean viruses
off a computer with a dying hard drive.
➤ This course will cover equipment basics only and the flow of
water in the system.
➤ All equipment wears and breaks down over time; it’s
important to check equipment regularly for proper operation
and to repair or replace old equipment that is not functioning
its best.

3. This is a general overview diagram of a typical in-ground
pool. Over the next few slides, we’ll go over the main flow of
water and each piece of equipment that relates to it.

4. FLOW OF WATER
➤ The flow of water begins in
the skimmer located on the
side of the pool.
➤ Water and debris pass
through a weir door; this
door prevents debris from
flowing back into the pool.
➤ Inside the skimmer box is a
skimmer basket; this is the
first line of defense to keep
debris away from the
moving parts in your pump.

5. FLOW OF WATER
➤ In-ground pools may also have
a main drain; this is
positioned in the bottom of
the pool and provides
additional circulation.
➤ Water from the skimmer
and the main drain go to
the same place: to the
pump.
➤ Many pools are equipped
with valves that can shut
off water flow from the
main drain and/or skimmer.

6. FLOW OF WATER
➤ The pump controls the flow of
water in the pool; it is one of
the two most important pieces
of equipment when it comes
to your pool.
➤ There are two main pieces
to the pump: the motor and
the hair & lint pot; the
hair & lint pot contains a
basket, sometimes called a
pump basket. It is the last
line of defense to protect
the moving parts of the
pump.

7. ➤ All pieces of equipment we’ve talked about thus far—the
skimmer, the main drain, and the plumbing right up to the
pump—are considered the suction side of the system. Water is
being sucked into the pump.
➤ Leaks on this side of the pump tend to be air leaks,
preventing the pump from sucking enough water through
the system.
➤ Everything past the pump is considered pressure side; water is
being pushed through the rest of the system and into the pool.
➤ Leaks on this side of the pump tend to be water leaks,
because water is being pushed through the system and will
take the path of least resistance, like through a bad gasket.

8. FLOW OF WATER
➤ The filter is the other major
component of a good equipment
system; this is where small
debris is captured and filtered
out.
➤ Exact filter operation varies
depending on the type of
filter.
➤ There are three main filter types:
sand, cartridge, and
diatomaceous earth (DE).
➤ For many pools, this can be the
last item before water returns to
the pool.

9. FLOW OF WATER
➤ Some pools are equipped with a
pool heater that helps heat the
water.
➤ In addition to extending the
pool season, warmer water can
help chemicals dissolve better;
however, warmer water is also
more prone to algae growth
and clouding, and sanitizer
tends to be consumed faster.
➤ There are a variety of heater types
—propane, natural gas, solar,
electric—but all are plumbed after
the filter to prevent debris from
getting caught in them.

10. FLOW OF WATER
➤ Water returns to the pool through
inlets, or return jets, located in the
pool. All pools have at least one;
but the more return jets, the better.
➤ Return jets should face 45°
downward to provide circulation
to the bottom of the pool.
➤ If the pool has more than one
return jet, adjust all jets to point
either slightly left or right to
create a “whirlpool” effect at the
bottom.
➤ Some pools may also have ports
at the bottom of the pool that
function as return jets.

11. FLOW OF WATER
➤ Many pools are equipped with sanitation systems of some kind;
these are almost always the last item plumbed in line and should
be several feet from the heater. If placed anywhere else in line, the
highly sanitized water can cause damage to other equipment.
➤ Some pools are equipped with a chlorinator or chlorine feeder;
this is a large tube that is filled up with chlorine tablets and can
be adjusted to change the amount of water flowing into it.
➤ Some pools use an electrolytic cell, also called a chlorine
generator, to turn salt into chlorine.
➤ Commercial operations will generally have a liquid feeding
system, equipped with probes, that automatically feed chlorine
and/or acid into the system.

12. A FINAL NOTE
➤ This only covers the most basic
layout of pools; there are
plenty of other options—
attached spas, fountains,
waterfalls, automatic vacuums,
to name a few—that can
complicate the flow of water.
➤ Some systems may lack a
component, like the skimmer
or the heater.
➤ No matter what, there will
always be a pump to pull and
push water and a filter to pull
debris out of the water.

13. CONGRATULATIONS!
You have completed the activity!