Skip to content
VillaPool

—Building a new pool

The plumbing between pool and plant

Hidden under the deck, the pipework decides how well the pool circulates. Good layout now saves problems for decades.

A pool’s water is drawn out through skimmers and drains on the suction side, pumped through the filter and any heating, chlorination or treatment equipment, and returned through inlets in the walls or floor. The pipes connecting these points run under the deck to the plant. Their size, length and the number of bends all affect how hard the pump has to work and how evenly the water circulates.

Construction guides follow a new pool from the first idea to the first swim, so each stage is easier to plan and to question.

A thoughtful layout balances flow between fittings, uses valves so sections can be isolated, keeps runs as short and straight as practical, and records where pipes run. Pressure testing before burial confirms the pipework is sound. Planning for later additions, such as a heat pump or water feature, avoids digging up the deck in future.

01Summary

What matters most here

  • Suction and returns

    Water leaves through skimmers and drains and returns through inlets.

  • Size and runs matter

    Long, narrow or bent pipes restrict flow.

  • Plan for later

    Spare connections avoid future excavation.

02Detail

Key parts

  • Skimmers and drains

    Where water is drawn from the pool.

  • Returns

    Inlets positioned so water circulates through the whole pool.

  • Valves

    Allow sections and equipment to be isolated.

  • Pressure testing

    Pipes tested before they are buried.

  • Records

    Drawings or photos showing pipe routes.

03Before you start

Ask for

  • A plumbing drawing

    With pipe sizes and routes.

  • Pressure test results

    Before burial.

  • Spare connections

    For future equipment.

—In practice

How to use this

Ask for a pipework drawing showing each line from the pool to the plant, with pipe sizes. Keep runs as short and direct as practical and avoid unnecessary bends. Ask for each line to be pressure-tested before it is buried, and for the routes to be recorded so future repairs do not mean digging blind under a finished deck.

Mistakes worth avoiding

Undersized pipes
Small pipes restrict flow and make the pump work harder for the whole life of the pool. Pipe size is decided only once.
No record of routes
Without a drawing, every later repair starts with guessing where pipes run under the deck and lifting the wrong slabs.

04FAQ

Common questions about this

Why does pipe size matter?
Undersized pipes restrict flow and make the pump work harder.
Why photograph pipes before burial?
It shows where they run if they ever need repair.
How far can the plant be from the pool?
Further means longer pipe runs; the design accounts for the extra resistance.
Can a water feature be added later?
More easily if a spare connection was planned.

05Read next

More pool guides on this

Filed under new pool construction. Every pool guide is listed on the pool guides page.

—NEXT

Planning the plumbing?

Tell us where the plant will go. We will explain how the layout affects circulation.

Describe your pool+971 56 181 0106WhatsAppNew Pool Construction