Things may look great on demonstration videos and promotional materials, but in reality do they work as well as advertised?
The best persons to obtain an opinion about the functionality, reliability and benefits of any swimming pool component are the people who must operate and clean pools - the pool service technicians.
Pool Builders and Specifiers - Special Motivation
Why do pool builders and designers specify in-floor cleaning systems?
That's simple: Profit Margins and Manufacturer Incentives.
In-floor cleaning systems provide a substantial profit margin to the pool builder. The manufacturers also provide quantity discounts and incentive trips to exotic locations for installing their equipment.
Really Functional?
Take a poll of pool service technicians. An overwhelming majority of them will tell you that in-floor cleaning systems are a waste of money and energy. Why? They simply do not function as advertised.
Energy Efficient?
Most in-floor cleaning systems do not filter the pool water. They merely push the dirt and debris around in hopes of it falling into a drain. With the implementation of the VGBA Safety Act, suction inlets (drains) have so little suction at them, that they cannot possible suck debris into them. The debris must be pushed into them. And the debris must be pushed gently so as to not cause it to swirl and float in suspension.
In-floor systems merely capture the debris in a mesh bag or canister. Fine particles pass right back into the pool.
The pump required to operate the in-floor cleaning systems is a large energy eating beast - usually a 2 to 3 horsepower pump operating at full speed.
Ugly
The floor of the pool will be visually marred with plastic "sprinkler heads." Though they retract flush into the floor, they cause visual clutter. And because they are in the actual structure of the pool, they cannot be removed if one tires of looking at them.
Pressure side cleaner
Though also ugly, with their hoses and robotic head. However, they can be removed and stored away while swimming or hosting a party. No indication that it ever existed is left behind.
Most pressure side cleaners utilize a small 3/4 horsepower booster pump. Though they also use a fine mesh bag to collect debris, they do not risk pushing debris into suspension. The booster pump is located after the primary filter and heat source, so the cleaner is actually assisting with the heating and circulation of your pool.
When clean-ups require the collection of bulk debris, such as twigs, leaves and branches after a storm, the booster pump can be attached to cleaning devices to speed the collection process.
So why would you spend thousands of dollars for an in-floor cleaning system? Doesn't make sense does it?
If you still have any doubt, as the people who actually the clean pools what they think !
Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
www.AquaticTechnology.com
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management, Pool Plans & Engineering
Office: 408-776-8220
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com
Major Markets Serviced:
San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.
The best persons to obtain an opinion about the functionality, reliability and benefits of any swimming pool component are the people who must operate and clean pools - the pool service technicians.
Pool Builders and Specifiers - Special Motivation
Why do pool builders and designers specify in-floor cleaning systems?
That's simple: Profit Margins and Manufacturer Incentives.
In-floor cleaning systems provide a substantial profit margin to the pool builder. The manufacturers also provide quantity discounts and incentive trips to exotic locations for installing their equipment.
Really Functional?
Take a poll of pool service technicians. An overwhelming majority of them will tell you that in-floor cleaning systems are a waste of money and energy. Why? They simply do not function as advertised.
Energy Efficient?
Most in-floor cleaning systems do not filter the pool water. They merely push the dirt and debris around in hopes of it falling into a drain. With the implementation of the VGBA Safety Act, suction inlets (drains) have so little suction at them, that they cannot possible suck debris into them. The debris must be pushed into them. And the debris must be pushed gently so as to not cause it to swirl and float in suspension.
In-floor systems merely capture the debris in a mesh bag or canister. Fine particles pass right back into the pool.
The pump required to operate the in-floor cleaning systems is a large energy eating beast - usually a 2 to 3 horsepower pump operating at full speed.
Ugly
The floor of the pool will be visually marred with plastic "sprinkler heads." Though they retract flush into the floor, they cause visual clutter. And because they are in the actual structure of the pool, they cannot be removed if one tires of looking at them.
Pressure side cleaner
Though also ugly, with their hoses and robotic head. However, they can be removed and stored away while swimming or hosting a party. No indication that it ever existed is left behind.
Most pressure side cleaners utilize a small 3/4 horsepower booster pump. Though they also use a fine mesh bag to collect debris, they do not risk pushing debris into suspension. The booster pump is located after the primary filter and heat source, so the cleaner is actually assisting with the heating and circulation of your pool.
When clean-ups require the collection of bulk debris, such as twigs, leaves and branches after a storm, the booster pump can be attached to cleaning devices to speed the collection process.
So why would you spend thousands of dollars for an in-floor cleaning system? Doesn't make sense does it?
If you still have any doubt, as the people who actually the clean pools what they think !
Paolo Benedetti, SWD, Principal
Aquatic Technology Pool and Spa
www.AquaticTechnology.com
International Swimming Pool Consulting and Design, Aquatic Consulting, Watershape Consultants, Expert Witness, Hydraulic Design, Landscape Architecture, Construction Management, Pool Plans & Engineering
Office: 408-776-8220
Email: info@aquatictechnology.com
Major Markets Serviced:
San Francisco, Palo Alto, Atherton, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Clemente, Pacific Palisades, Escondido, Scottsdale, Seattle, Phoenix, Tempe, Portland, Aspen, Vail, Park City, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Madison, Detroit, East Hamptons, South Hamptons, Cape May, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cherry Hill, Toms River, Salt lake City, Boise, Denver, Santa Barbaara, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Oceanside, Big Sur, Napa, Sonoma, Sausalito, Danville, Belvedere, Montecito, Palm Springs, Midland, Manhattan, Greenwich Village, Osaka, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, London, Seoul, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Cairo, Istanbul, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Bonn.
