I think you were suckered on being required to install the variable speed pump. This rule/law if it exists can only be applicable to new installations by pool companies.

I had a pool installed a few years ago with a dual speed pump, which according to the builder was required by the "new" rules to reduce energy consumption (federal variable speed motor requirement?). We never use he low speed option as it is useless. Can't even develop enough head to push water to the top of the roof. Shortly after the install, I wanted a larger pump to increase the flow rate on my open weir overflow from the spa to the pool and told the builder I would accept a single speed 2.5 hp (the pump manufacturer did not make the 2.5 hp pump in a two speed version) in lieu of the existing 2 speed 2 hp pump. They said they could not do because of the "rule" but I was at liberty to buy a single speed and install it my self. I opted to live with the smaller pump, but if it ever fails I will be doing just that.

Variable speed pumps in an of themselves do not save energy but somehow the industry has convinced the regulatory bodies that they do. Good for them as they typically cost 3 to 4 times the cost of an equivalent single speed pump. A more efficient motor/pump combo will save energy, whether it's single speed, dual speed, or variable speed. You can reduce energy consumption if you run the variable speed pump at a low speed but this is because you are pumping less water. You can achieve the same result by running a single speed pump less hours in a day.

In the past year they changed that rule from dual speed to variable speed. Maybe your right, but T&D refused to install a regular pump as they no longer had anything but variable speed motors. So I then called 3 other pool service companies and was told the same thing. In fact was told anything over 1/2 HP which I needed, is not even being manufactured anymore. However there is two SIGNIFICANT advantages to this pump. It has a 4 year vs a one year warranty and it is much much less noisy. I have solar panels on the roof and when the pump starts it runs faster to get the water up there, but after that it slows down and continues to pump through the solar just fine. And this is truly a variable speed pump, vs dual speed.

Maybe they don't save energy, but my electric bill dropped.

And please explain how it can only be applicable to new pools if they no longer make the motors?

I'm looking at an internet site that offers the single speed pump I was referring to earlier. I would post a link but I think its against the totv rules. google "single speed pool pumps" and you can find quite a few.

As for your electric bill dropping, I'll stand by my statement that you are pumping less water so it should drop.

It is less noisy because it runs at a lower speed and pumps less water per hour than the high speed setting.

This law only applies to "new residential swimming pools" not older pools.

Single speed pumps are being made and for sale, Google it

We like the variable pump.
Runs at 85% when solar is called for.
Runs at 60% if sconces and waterfall are on.
Runs at 50% if sconces and waterfalls are off.

the correct way to calculate solar panels the 4x12'

Is as follows, each one needs 4 gmp flow for max efficancy.

so if you have 7 panels you should have a flow rate exiting the roof as 28 gpm.

Call it 30.

There is only one way to know that it not by the % of power or hp or anything other than simple flow rate meter.

this is done by a permanent flow gauge inline on the pipe.

http://www.aquaticeco.com/images/sub...edium/WM10.jpg

I have been using these for over 20 years on aquariums and ponds

Passed in 2011 and went into effect March 15 2012. I read the whole bill and no where did I see new pool vs replacement components for previously installed pools. I called T&D and asked them about this and they said it applies to new and replacement. Of course they do have a vested interest in selling the higher cost replacement motors. Will keep checking. So those single speed pumps can't be used according to Florida law. One company I looked up actually said it would not ship to Florida, California or Hawaii. Others did not say that.

Florida Energy Law requirement, House bill 849 removed the specific
requirements for pools and spas that was originally laid out in law and replaced it with a requirement that pumps, motors, controls, heaters, and portable spas must instead meet the requirements in the Florida Energy & Conservation Code. Therefore, the specifics of what one must meet for pool & spa energy efficiency that were originally laid out in law are now found in the Florida Building Code. Chapter 4 of the 2010 Florida Energy &
Conservation Code provides the specifics, which requires the following:

a. Residential filtration pool pump motors cannot be split-phased, shaded-pole or capacitor start-induction run types.
b. If the total horsepower (HP) of a residential filtration pool pump or filtration pool pump motor is 1/2 HP or larger than the pump and pump motor must have at least two speeds.
c. Residential pool filter pump controls, for use with a multi-speed pump, must be capable of operating at a minimum of two speeds.
d. Default pool filtration speed must be a speed that results in a flow rate that will NOT turnover the pool in less than six hours, and any high speed override must default back to the pool filtration speed in less than 24 hours. This allows solar pool heating systems to run at higher speeds during periods of usable heat gain.
e. Thermal efficiency of gas and oil-fired heaters must not be less than 78%.
f. Heat pump heaters shall have a coefficient of performance at low temperature of not less than 4.0 (COP).
g. Natural and LP gas-fired heaters shall not be equipped with constant burning pilots.
h. All heaters shall have a readily accessible on-off switch that is mounted on the outside

Found the answer on existing pools.

Does the law apply to existing pools and spas? Yes
a. Manufacturers will most likely continue to make single speed pumps and pump motors for non-pool filtration purposes, therefore it is the installers’ responsibility to choose and install a compliant model whenever replacing a pool filter pump or pool filter pump motor.

Found a link to a document from the Florida swimming pool association that explains it in English.

http://www.floridapoolpro.com/indust...0Code%20QA.pdf

Keith, one other point to be mindful of and the need for a flow meter is the pump % can not take into account how your plumbing is done, which dramatically affects the flow rate.

If that flow thru your solar panels is too fast or to slow it can dramatically effect the temperature of your pool.

Just took my first look at this thread and here's my summary for the original poster:

1) Build your pool after you build the house. You will save significant $. If your lot does not have good southern exposure for solar panels, you will pay hundreds more to heat the pool each year.

2) Have T&D build your pool. They will design exactly what you want and build reliably. If their customer backlog is too long, PM me for the name and cell phone of probably their best construction supervisor.

3) Consider building a pool/spa combination. Unless you just have to have a large pool for some reason, consider a small one linked to a spa. It's fabulous to have both and the linked water flow eliminates spa maintenance.

4) Have Jack's do your solar panel job and have him put in as many panels as will fit.

5) l2ridehd's cost figures are the most accurate I've seen. So it looks like a nice pool is well within your budget.

6) If you are going to do your own maintenance, put in a salt chlorinator. If you have the maintenance done, save a grand or so and put in a standard chlorine system.

T&D and Jack's Are "The Best"
 

T&D is absolutely the best general contractor for any type construction that we have ever used, here or up north. Their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction is legendary. In our case, because of a change in the building code after our original birdcage was built, we wound up with the portion added on looking slightly different from the original. With not a whole lot of resistance, T&D simply sent the entire crew out, tore down the entire birdcage and re-built the whole thing to the newer code. I don't know how much that cost, but I'm sure it wasn't cheap. I want to emphasize that they didn't have to do that, but did it to make me happy.

When they finished the project (construction of a spillover spa and outdoor summer kitchen to our pool and the necessary expansion of the birdcage), they send a landscaping crew out to both clean up and install all new sod to any lawn area even slightly damaged during the construction process.

You can't go wrong with either T&D or Jack's solar. Both are busy for a reason and definitely worth waiting for if they can't begin construction immediately. Design-wise, T&D has forgotten more about creating great-looking pool and deck designs than many other pool contractors ever knew.

Also, the use of rooftop solar panels and the use of the roll-up solar blanket during the coldest three months or so of the year will keep your pool at about 75 degrees with virtually no increase in the utility bill (in our case, natural gas).

Wow.... T & D certainly has a loyal following! I will be speaking w/ them at my Design Appt and see what the sticker shock will be for a fiberglass pool/spa and birdcage.

Thanks again!
Angie

Does T&D do fiberglass?

Someone a few posts back, said that T & D did their friend's fiberglass pool. Due to the major cost savings, if we do decide to build a pool (hope so!), this is most likely, the way we will go.

pool
 

we own a pool and would NOT trade it for the world!! We are in every day in the summer and humidity here. Nothing like your own pool. Advantages go in whenever you want, day and night, get the chair and spot you want, quiet, can sit and read a book in shade anytime, NO bugs surrounding you or chairs, we keep at temperature we enjoy, no one playing music if you want quiet, and on and on. Nothing like dinner on lanai and swimming at night in the quiet under the moonlight. so romantic

BEST thing we ever did was put our pool in !!! Right out our back door and no need to worry if anyone else is sick etc...BEST INVESTMENT we ever made. Easy to care for. No leaves in pool like up North. Vacuum goes around cleans it. Not like yrs ago.

I HIGHLY Recommend a pool in Fla. I could never live here without one. If you like the water in the HEAT, go for it. You won't regret it!! did i mention we LOVE OUR POOL??