Surface calculations can be made to estimate the desired volume of water flow. A small, trickling waterfall will need just 5-15 gpm, but a large cascade or waterfall can use 50-150 gpm. Less tumbling, more falling.Ĭascades and waterfalls require the most flow of all water features, however like the rest, it depends on how it is constructed. A waterfall, on the other hand, may have one or two tumbles, but at the end has a fall of several feet into the pool. Cascades & WaterfallsĪ cascade is when water rolls over several rocks or slabs before it tumbles into the pool. And when 6 or more jets are used, a secondary pump with it’s own pool suction intake may be required or desirable. The main feed line from the equipment pad to a deck jet distribution manifold is 1.5″, or 2″ is used when several deck jets are installed. A throttling plug is also installed between each bucket, to allow for balancing the flow between deck jets.Ī deck jet system should have a small secondary filter (cartridge filter) installed on the line, to remove small debris before it reaches the housing. When installing several deck jets, 1″ PVC pipe is used to run between the “buckets”, or the housing of the deck jet, which mounts flush with your pool deck. A valve allows the user to send water to the deck jets, or it can be automated with valve actuators and a controller. Each deck jet uses about 10 gpm, and they are fed by a dedicated pipe from the equipment pad. Special non-turbulent design, and nozzles deliver a tight stream of water with air removed, so clear you can see through it.ĭepending on how many deck jets you have and how high and far you need the arc of water to be, the flow requirement will vary. They can be fitted with LED colors, for lighted streams of water that shoot up over the deck and into the pool. Laminar deck jets are de rigeur for the modern pool, but also add a certain playfulness to an inground pool.

Depending on the design of the sconce, your pipe may need to run through the wall to meet the back of the sconce, or some sconces will have a hose attached to it, which runs through the wall to meet your pipe. To keep flow equal between several wall sconces, the 1.5″ pipe will meet a tee fitting, where it can be distributed into equal size and length pipes, to connect to the sconce on the back of the wall.

The wall sconce plumbing line connects into a 3-way valve on the return side manifold, to allow the user to divert water from the normal wall returns, to the wall sconce returns.įrom the valve installed at the equipment pad, a 1.5″ line can be run over to a point behind the raised wall, mid-point between sconces. Typically, wall sconces have a dedicated line, that runs from the return side of the pool equipment. Each sconce may need around 5-10 gpm, depending on size. Wall sconces may have a slightly larger flow requirement than bubblers, depending on how many you use, and how much water you like to see flowing. There are so many ways to make a wall sconce, and with a variety of materials, to match your pool design, and are used to enhance a Mediterranean, modern, southwestern or natural theme. They can be a lion’s face, or larger stone bowls, scuppers, or open spillways. Wall Sconcesįor the inground pool with a raised wall over one side of the pool, wall sconces have classic appeal. Smaller bubblers (spouting frog, urinating boy), may use hose as small as 3/8″ for water supply and need only 1-2 gpm. A 3/4″ 2-way valve should be installed just before the bubbler, to allow flow control, or to shut it off completely. From the 3/4″ port on the tee fitting, 3/4″ flexible PVC hose is glued, and run over and into the fountain. The return line pipe is cut at the point closest to the bubbler, and the tee fitting installed as a pipe coupler. Typically a reducing tee fitting is used, 1.5″x1.5″x.75 inch. They usually do not have a dedicated line coming from the equipment pad, but will tap off of a return pipe.

Bubblers can also be placed in the floor of a tanning shelf, or shallow area of the pool, as additional returns.īubblers typically have a low flow requirement, around 5-10 gpm (gallons per minute), but it can vary according to size.

In many cases, bubblers sit on the edge of the pool, surrounded by various plants and flowers. In the bubbler category is everything from spouting sea animals, mermaids, turtles, frogs to copper or stone bowls or rock-filled planters that spill over into the pool.

Pool waterfall wall