Pool Equipment Setup

Most pools and spas follow a similar setup. A typical pool or spa setup will look like this.

If installing a heater, it needs to be placed after the filter but before the chlorinator.

The main drain is in the deepest part of the pool. It has a pipe into its side which goes to the skimmer box. It also has a hydrostatic valve which lets water into the pool. If the water level outside the pool shell gets too high, in a flood for instance, this stops the pool from lifting out of the ground or cracking.

The skimmer box has a weir door at the front, which floats vertically when the pump is off stopping leaves and debris from going back into the pool. Inside is a plastic skimmer basket that collects leaves and other debris, stopping it from going through to the pump. Most pool owners put a skimmer sock on the skimmer basket to collect even finer debris.

A hole in the side of the skimmer box connects to the main drain, which allows suction, which can be varied by an adjustable plug. The hole in the bottom of the skimmer box connects to the pump and is called the suction line.

The water level of the pool should be kept between halfway and two thirds of the way up the weir door. Too high and leaves will not be skimmed from the surface, too low and the pump may run dry and burn out.

The return to pool is an adjustable eyeball fitting which can direct water to a part of the pool where algae may grow. The eyeball would normally be pointed towards the bottom of the pool; it should NOT be pointed up to the surface. There are usually two or three returns in an average pool.