In-floor cleaning systems

[cwstnsko]

I have the Paramount PV-3 sytem in my Shotcrete pool with Pebble -Sheen. It's 2.5 years old with no issues and it make the pool VERY low maintenance. The system does not increase back pressure as it changed circuits, it DECREASES back pressure as it hold two circuits open simultaneously during the switch. I do run higher back pressure than pools w/o in-floor, but it hasn't casued any issues to date.

I've heard reports of LONG TERM problems (20+ years) on pools with in-floor systems due to the cyclic pressure on parts of the system.

With regard to problems with the heads, that's a function of the complexity of the heads. Heads with lots of moving parts (springs, ratchets etc.) have more probems than simpler designs (like the PV-3)

Some brands of heads are VERY expensive.

AFAIK, all of the systems need the gear mechanism in the distribution valve changed every 5-10 years.

In-floor is not cheap, and adds more components to maintain, but it dramatically reduces the amount of time spent sweeping and vacuuming the pool.

[beary]

We wanted the in floor system but couldn't find a gunite pool builder who had experience with them in Oklahoma City. The one we did find only installs vinyl pools and he has installed a lot without complaints. The systems we did look at had life-time warranties on the heads and I was told the companies are very good with customer support because they want the systems to catch on. While in floor systems are still new in the U.S., they have been popular in Australia for a long time. There is one builder in our area that is starting to install the system and has a demo pool to show how they work. After watching it for a while, I think they would be worth the cost.