Spillway basin does NOT maintain water level.

[ucanfindme1]

Hello, we’re the new kids in town. This is our first backyard pool adventure. We have a simple pool, small pool … with an overflow/spillway (basin), it’s designed to function with the spillway set off (low) or set on (high) …

the basin is connected to the system. When the spillway feature is on, the water level reduces drastically, probably because of increase pump action pump flow. When the spillway feature is off, the pool has a natural slow easy flow of water barely over the edge … a tranquil waterfall flow effect … the basin should hold all the water at level and function for return (include) back into pool system … round and round and round …

yet, the basin seem to empty quite a few inches within a few days …

is there a leak, or do the pumps valves whatever need to be adjusted …

it can’t be nature evaporation … our hot tub spa is 104’ and doesn’t lose half as much …

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Can you post some pics of the equipment pad? We'd like to see all the plumbing and valves on your pad.

 

[ucanfindme1]

Welcome to TFP! Can you post some pics of the equipment pad? We'd like to see all the plumbing and valves on your pad.

 

[mknauss]

our hot tub spa is 104’ and doesn’t lose half as much

Is this a separate, covered unit? Not connected to the pool?

 

[ucanfindme1]

Is this a separate, covered unit? Not connected to the pool?

Correct, our hot tub spa is not connected to pool … it’s a stand alone at other end of backyard …

I referenced it, comparing the realization that natural evaporation does happen, but is not drastic …

 

[mknauss]

A covered hot tub is not correlative to your pool as far as evaporation.

You do have significant evaporation from your pool, but it will effect the overall pool, not just the basin. You likely have an autofill to keep the pool filled.

The overflow / basin complicates your pool. Also creates lots of aeration which increases evaporation and raises pH.

 

[JamesW]

What is this?

 

[JamesW]

When the spillway feature is on, the water level reduces drastically, probably because of increase pump action pump flow.

That's normal.

When the spillway feature is off, the pool has a natural slow easy flow of water barely over the edge … a tranquil waterfall flow effect … the basin should hold all the water at level and function for return (include) back into pool system … round and round and round …

yet, the basin seem to empty quite a few inches within a few days …

That might be a leak or evaporation.

Do the bucket test to see why you are losing water.

Bucket Test

This is a simple method of leak detection is done by marking water levels on … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

If it is a leak, your chemical levels will be going down.

If it is evaporation, your chemical levels will be going up.

What is happening with the chemistry?

 

[JamesW]

You have more surface area on the pool, so you can get more evaporation.

The movement of water over the edge also increases evaporation.

The temperature of the water makes a difference, so the hot tub will lose more per surface area than the pool, but the pool has more surface area.

What temperature is the pool maintained at?

 

[ucanfindme1]

What is this?

View attachment 494789

Some UV tech clean water whatever …

 

[ucanfindme1]

A covered hot tub is not correlative to your pool as far as evaporation.

You do have significant evaporation from your pool, but it will effect the overall pool, not just the basin. You likely have an autofill to keep the pool filled.

The overflow / basin complicates your pool. Also creates lots of aeration which increases evaporation and raises pH.

TY, I do understand hot tub spa has nothing to do with pool … I was comparing … spa water is 104’ and not evaporating as much as (basin) … and spa is not covered during daytime …

the pool does have an auto-fill device whatever … the main pool maintains water (level) … basin seems to empty 6 inches within 24 hours … yet water is flowing into basin (from) pool … either basin is pumping more out (back into) system process , than the main pool is (flowing) in to basin … in versus out // out versus in ??

 

[ucanfindme1]

That's normal.

That might be a leak or evaporation.

Do the bucket test to see why you are losing water.

Bucket Test

This is a simple method of leak detection is done by marking water levels on … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

If it is a leak, your chemical levels will be going down.

If it is evaporation, your chemical levels will be going up.

What is happening with the chemistry?

Chemz are holding and reading very well … we check every 6-7 days … about 4 weeks so far …

 

[ucanfindme1]

You have more surface area on the pool, so you can get more evaporation.

The movement of water over the edge also increases evaporation.

The temperature of the water makes a difference, so the hot tub will lose more per surface area than the pool, but the pool has more surface area.

What temperature is the pool maintained at?

Pool is natural temp … upwards of 75-80 daytime after mid-day … pool does not seem to have a water loss issue (auto-fill) … the overflow basin spillway is (supposed) to be designed to provide a soft slow overflow waterfall effect (into) basin … just like those park memorial walls have a water flow down along the sides …

the basin will start out full at (set) level …

** after we refill with hose …

during the day … next 24 hours … the basin will be way down quite a few inches …

so - either there is not enough water flowed in from main pool … or the pump whatever is pulling/pumping too much water from basin … more than main pool puts back in … ?

or there’s a leak in basin somewhere somehow ?