FV-C Control FlowVis 2 x 2.5in. Complete Pool Flow Meter and Check Valve

Despite the fact that anything in the flow stream will add to the restriction on that flow, I decided I wanted to monitor the flow rate as an indicator of when to backwash or perform a compete filter cleaning. I've had this meter installed for about 6 months now and have backwashed twice in that time based on flow readings from this meter. There is a noticeable difference in flow rate before and after BW-ing, so it seems to be adding value to our pool system. The entire plastic meter is made of fairly heavy duty plastic and I suspect it will last a long time. I've 3-D printed a cover to keep the sun off the clear meter portion, but I don't know if that was really necessary. I can recommend this product if you plan to use your flow rate to schedule backwashes and filter changes.

My pool service company wanted $355 to change the flow meter that had a crack. We've discovered this is a known issue with this part but it is what it is. We decided since we only needed the clear top part & didn't have to cut any pipes we'd buy it from Amazon & replace it ourselves. It was a fraction of the cost. We changed it out it works fine. Hopefully we never have to replace the pipes but do expect the clear part to crack again but knowing we can get it for less on amazon takes away some of the pain

I really like this flow meter. Simple to install, straight forward. My pool has two skimmers and two deep end supplies. So the only place to put the meter is after the feeds from the skimmers and deep end supplies merge. No problem this feeds directly into the primary pump. Now the problem I should have seen before installing; the flow meter has a back flow preventer, not a bad idea, until you go to close your pool down for winter. When suppling air into the primary pump to blow out the return jets, deep end supplies and skimmers, the air can get to the return jets and deep end supplies( if you have a solar return on the outlet of the filter). However there isn’t a way for air to bypass the flow meter valve to blow out the skimmer lines. After 30 seconds of panic I realized I could remove the back flow flapper from the flow meter, reattach the cover plate and purge the skimmers. You need to remove a pin, spring and the flapper. Take a picture of the mechanism before taking apart and come spring it should go back together easily, the pin just slides out. The only way to avoid doing this would be to plumb a bypass line around the flow meter. Good luck…

June 2020 I purchased this flow meter and installed into my 2 inch plumbing pad between the filter and heater. It is now Sep 2026. The very same unit has been running now for 7 seasons without fail in my system. It reads 75 GPM (2 inch) consistently since installed. Note - my pool design spec drawings state that the pump filter system should deliver 75GPM and that is what the unit reads on a consistent basis. The flow meter will show slightly lower flow rates if I allow the filter PSI to rise to max limit for cleaning, or forget to check the baskets full of leaves in the fall, and it read slightly higher flow rate when I first open the pool and run the system without the pool outlet jet heads off which raises the flow rate to about 80-85 GPM. Hence, I believe it to be reasonably accurate and a nice additional tool to the pool pad. I have NOT experienced the clouding (reported by some) of the top plastic housing due to my equipment being mostly in the shade but not surprised it would happen if a pad is mostly in the hot sun for long durations. This type of clouding even happens to car lens due to the same factors. If I had the clouding issues, I would just try a lens polish to clear or replace the metering part of the assembly . I consider the unit worth having to know the pool GPM that one can use to set the pump schedule for pool water turn over. I would install it in my equipment pad regardless of sun clouding the lens. I'd just cover the FlowVis lens with something that would block Sun and that I could remove when I check my Equipment pad. There are lots of cheap functional options to solve this use problem that a pool owner could implement. I made a change to my equipment pad after three years of FlowVis use that necessitated a plumbing change involving the flow meter. The flow meter body and joints were fine. No leaks but I had to replace plumbing pipe that the FlowVis was in the path. I replaced the original FlowVis body with a Jandy body and swapped the flow meter mechanism into the Jandy body without issue. Been working fine since. (note - A Pentair body will not accommodate this flow meter mechanism) Important notes - I would not use this device as a check valve for a chlorinator nor swap it into a Jandy check valve that may be acting as the chlorinator check valve. A chlorinator check valve is best handled by one designed for that functional role. Research the topic if you need to know more for this reason. Also, maintaining proper pool chemistry (which I do - My heater is 25 years old - still running) and not allowing pool chem to wander all over will help any piece of pool equipment especially heaters and other metal based mechanical devices such as this flow meter (valve) last much longer in the water flow path. *A DIY pool guy - satisfied customer*

Honest review: I installed this check valve June 23rd 2023. The top clear plastic part already cracked and started to leak, approaching the 1 year anniversary. This cap is not under mechanical stress, during installation I tightened it by hand and made sure I was alternating the screws for an even seal, the part is not constantly under direct sunlight, etc. It just didn’t last… I just used epoxy putty so see if I can extend its service life until I have no option but to buy an entire assembly again just to use the new cap as a replacement, which will likely last a year only…. My two cents.

Works great! Installed into my pool plumbing to monitor my pool GPM on two speed Jandy pump FHPM 1.0-2. Measures 76 GPM on high speed and 36 GPM on low speed.

The flow meter works fine, is easy to read and was fairly easy to install. I can only assume it is accurate because I have nothing to compare it to. It loses a star because the gauge has to be removed from the fitting In order to cement the fitting into the pipe (don't want the cement to glue the valve shut!). No big deal but, as recommended, tighten the screws in a star pattern, similar to changing a tire - and don't over tighten! After turning on the pump, I tweaked a couple of the screws where a drop or two were seeping out. The biggest negative is the spring loaded gate (check valve) significantly restricts flow thereby making the pump work harder. Unfortunately, it's a mechanical device. As pressure (flow) increases, the flapper is pushed open thereby moving the indicator in the valve. At low flow rates, the flapper closes much more adding restriction. I have a 1-1/2 hp variable speed pump that runs at much slower speeds than a single speed pump so the gauge acts as even more as bottle neck. It is not perceptible to the pump that I can tell but I wonder how much harder the pump may be working and assuming it could shorten the pump life somewhat. In addition to "knowing" the flow, which allows me to optimize pump speeds/time, the check valve holds water in the lines to help keep the pump primed. Bottom line, it is worth the possible additional wear to the pump to optimize the pump schedule.

As many other reviewers have noted, this flow meter takes the guess work out of setting up your variable speed pump while allowing you to find the "sweet spots" to run the pump at maximum energy efficiency...thus saving you a good deal of money over the long haul. I attempted doing this for a couple years with my Pentair IntelliFlow variable speed pump by using the readings from the vacuum and pressure gauges and then applying those numbers to the performance chart for the pump. Once I installed this flow meter, I discovered just how from reality those vacuum and pressure readings along with the performance charts can lead you. In my case the numbers significantly over estimated my actual flow rate and as a result my pool was not getting properly filtered. Also, I need to run my pump at a higher RPM for a portion of the day in order for the bottom sweep, a Zodiac Baracuda, to clean effectively. With the FlowVis gauge I can dial in the exact RPM setting which will run my Baracuda and save me the most money. The gauge is not cheap, but without it I was flying blind even though I was using the best mathematical estimates I could find from pool maintanence web sites. Without a doubt it was money well spent.