What is this? And where do I get a new one?

[mrpunchy]

Is it some kind of air intake? My father in law said there was a long time ago some Styrofoam in it and it made it bubbly at the steps.

Thingy in question.

Inserted above return.
Forgive the dirt, well have been getting storms constantly.

 

[Suziqzer]

I'm just guessing.. but wonder if that is meant to be a valve to allow air to go through the returns at the steps to create air bubbles. Is there another valve in your plumbing to allow the step returns to run? or are they already running?

I don't have an in ground, or experience with anything like that, just what it looks like to me at first glance.

 

[mrpunchy]

They are running now. I can change the flow at the pump area to only come out of the returns at the steps and it causes it to get more bubbly.

 

[JamesW]

That is an air intake control. It controls the amount of air going to the step return.

http://www.hottubworks.com/SpaParts/Plu ... ntrols.php

 

[mrpunchy]

Thank you!..