If needed, chop out a section of pipe and install this flow meter in the gap using PVC glue and some new PVC pipe. A typical model features an inlet and outlet with bulb-shaped housing in between, as shown in my drawing above. Inline or integrated flow meters are a section of a pipe with a flow meter installed inside it. Some units must be hardwired into your system, especially if they interact with your chemical feeders. They require power, so you will need electrical access. Blue-White makes good digital flow meters as well. They have an easy-to-read screen that should look like my illustration above. They tend to be much more accurate than their analog counterparts, and they aren’t that much more expensive. Digitalĭigital flow meters operate similarly to an analog model. Most DIYers can install one pretty quickly. Still, even a 4″ flow meter isn’t much more expensive. If you have a huge pool, you may have larger diameter pipes. This model is for 2″ pipes, so make sure to choose a different option that fits your setup. Here is an example of a good analog pool flow meter from Blue-White. They are relatively inexpensive, usually costing well under a hundred bucks for models up to 2″ pipe diameter. You can determine the flow rate by looking at the gauge’s indicator.Īn analog flow meter looks like an old mercury thermometer. I illustrated that setup in the drawing above. Your meter will fasten over the hole with a saddle or clamp, and its float valve will pressurize from the force of the water going through the system. You will need to drill a small hole in the top of your plumbing. The analog meter is the simplest and usually the easiest to install. Different Types of Pool Flow Metersįlow meters come in three different varieties: analog, digital, or inline/integrated. Furthermore, if you have installed a pool heating system, you want to ensure that it heats all of the water and not just some of it (for more on heaters, read my guides on the best pool heaters and best solar pool heaters). Without adequate circulation, the colder water on the bottom might never mix with the warmer air on top, making swimmers uncomfortable. Even without a heating system, the sun’s energy will warm the surface water of your pool. Good circulation helps expose all of the water in your pool to your sanitizing agents, ensuring that all water is treated adequately.įinally, good circulation is essential for maintaining the temperature of your water. It doesn’t matter if you have a saltwater chlorine generator, liquid or tablet chlorinator, ozonator, or UV sanitizer. The sanitizing chemicals you use need to be well-distributed to kill any contaminants. Second, good circulation will ensure that your pool’s water receives adequate sanitization. If you have poor circulation, you will have to run your filter for much longer to complete filtration. Larger debris will end up in your skimmer baskets, and your filter will catch smaller debris. This circulation is how you ensure that the filter media mechanically filters all your water. Good circulation is essential for a few reasons.įirst, your pool water should routinely and thoroughly cycle through the filtration system. The significant benefit of installing a pool flow meter on your pool is that, at a glance, you can see if something is affecting the circulation of your pool water. I refer to the plumbing and mechanical aspects of a pool collectively as a system.
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