Pool Plumbing 101 — PVC Sizes, Schedule, and Why Cheap Plumbing Costs You
The pipe under your deck is the most under-spec'd part of most Arizona pools. Here's what schedule, diameter, and layout actually matter.
Schedule 40 vs 80
Schedule 40 PVC is standard for pool plumbing — rated well past pool pressures. Schedule 80 is used for above-ground equipment-pad headers (more impact resistance) and for any line passing through a slab. Anyone selling you Sch 80 buried in the yard is upselling.
Pipe size matters more than pump size
A 2 HP variable-speed pump on 1.5" plumbing wastes 30% of its capacity to friction loss. 2.5" main lines + 2" returns are the AE spec on every new build. Retrofitting from 1.5" to 2" alone can save 200+ kWh/yr.
Layout that ages well
True unions on every equipment connection so future replacement is a 10-minute job. Dedicated suction line per skimmer (not tee'd together). Dedicated return per side of pool for even circulation. Air-relief loop above pool level on every suction line.
What goes wrong
Glued joints with no primer fail in 5–8 yrs. Buried fittings under deck = future leaks no one can find without expensive electronic detection. Undersized plumbing forces the pump to run longer to turn water over, burning electricity and shortening pump life.
