Ep 145 Pool Hydraulics: Could Save You Thousands or Cost You Thousands with H2Outdoor Living

On today's episode Mike Farley is joined by guest Hunter Gary of H2 Outdoor Living from Middle Tennessee, to discuss how Hunter entered pool design and launched his design firm three years ago and a newer build/GC arm. They focus on why detailed construction and hydraulic plans matter to prevent costly, hard-to-fix underground plumbing problems and to ensure apples-to-apples bidding. The epsiode outline homeowner red flags and checkpoints, including clean, well-laid-out equipment pads, photo documentation, flow meters, and builders who can explain pump curves and turnover rates. They emphasize larger plumbing, variable-speed pumps, cartridge filters, proper circulation, quieter systems, safety/entrapment avoidance, Venturi skimmers, in-floor returns/cleaning, and correct design of perimeter overflows and vanishing-edge basins, including surge capacity and filtration/sanitation.   Discover more and connect: https://h2outdoorliving.com/ https://www.farleypooldesigns.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns https://www.instagram.com/farleydesigns/ https://www.instagram.com/luxuryoutdoorlivingpodcast/   Watch episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikeFarleyDesigns/podcasts   00:00 Podcast intro 01:17 Meet Hunter Gary 02:07 How He Started 03:44 From Service to Design 07:41 Million Dollar Challenge 08:43 Launching His Company 10:20 Design Process Explained 12:41 Why Working Drawings Matter 15:41 Hydraulics Intro 17:54 Equipment Pad Clues 20:14 Photos and Hydraulic Plans 24:40 Circulation and Filtration 29:23 Pipe Sizing and Efficiency 34:15 Noise and Suction Lines 36:58 Pumps for Water Features 39:58 Turnover and Flow Meters 41:11 Flow Meters and Turnover 42:35 Venturi Skimmers Explained 43:49 Main Drains vs Skimmers 44:51 Service Knowledge Pitfalls 48:12 Hydraulics Are Just Math 50:22 Perimeter Overflow Returns 52:51 In Floor Circulation Systems 54:31 Vanishing Edge Basin Design 58:17 Equipment Pad and Expansion 59:40 Elevation and Split Equipment 01:01:29 Entrapment Safety and Drains 01:04:20 Budgeting and Spare Lines 01:08:27 Personal Q and A Wrap Up 01:12:06 Final Thanks and Mission