I received only 2 posts to my first queries so maybe a more pointed question is in order? Pointed question is below if you want to skip the explanation!
So I'm getting to rebuild my pool pad and in all my research I couldn't find an answer to the above question. I have a pool that was built in the early 80's and I believe had a major remodel around 2005(Pebbletech, Ecomatic ESC 36 SWG, Hayward 30" sand, Heliocol Panels).
Right now, to control the force/flow of the Spa returns(4 of them) I have a Pentair 3 way valve that is after the Solar panel return and I can either send all flow to the Pool returns, all flow to the Spa returns, or a combination. Or if the Solar panels are closed then the water entering the 3 way is coming right out of the filter.
My normal running set up is 50/50 with the Spa drain open slightly so most Spa water is going over the spillway into the pool. As you can imagine, in this set up the water going to the Spa returns isn't getting fresh chlorine as it isn't going through the Ecomatic cell and this normally isn't an issue as the spa is getting enough water that it doesn't stagnate. Using the Spa is another story....yet we may only run it for 3 hrs at the most and usually far less...so I just switch back over to my normal running conditions and everything goes back to normal in an hour or so.
I think that before the previous owner put in the Solar panels and used the Pentair three way for flow control instead of an old 2 inch gate valve that must have directly fed the Spa returns from water coming out of the heater....right next to that, on a 1.5 inch line is a Jandy valve that must have replaced an old Gate valve that was leaking based on the way the Jandy is plumbed in. The original owner told me during a quick rundown when we bought the house that I never needed to touch the Gate valve for the 4 Spa returns or the Jandy valve and to only control the Spa return flow with the Pentair 3 way. He had the Gate valve for the 2 inch spa return open and the Jandy valve on the 1.5 inch check valve line closed.
So my questions are....since I'm repiping pretty much everything do I need to replace the Gate valve on the spa returns which would in effect give it two points of flow control? and does the Spa Check Valve need flow control from the Jandy 2 way valve? When I open the Jandy valve on the 1.5 in line that runs to the spa wall fitting, water comes out forcefully but why would a Check valve have that kind of flow?
Is the fitting in the Spa wall even a Check Valve.......?? What else would it be? Somebody at the local pool store supposed that's what it was when I explained where it was. Any Help would be appreciated.
So I'm getting to rebuild my pool pad and in all my research I couldn't find an answer to the above question. I have a pool that was built in the early 80's and I believe had a major remodel around 2005(Pebbletech, Ecomatic ESC 36 SWG, Hayward 30" sand, Heliocol Panels).
Right now, to control the force/flow of the Spa returns(4 of them) I have a Pentair 3 way valve that is after the Solar panel return and I can either send all flow to the Pool returns, all flow to the Spa returns, or a combination. Or if the Solar panels are closed then the water entering the 3 way is coming right out of the filter.
My normal running set up is 50/50 with the Spa drain open slightly so most Spa water is going over the spillway into the pool. As you can imagine, in this set up the water going to the Spa returns isn't getting fresh chlorine as it isn't going through the Ecomatic cell and this normally isn't an issue as the spa is getting enough water that it doesn't stagnate. Using the Spa is another story....yet we may only run it for 3 hrs at the most and usually far less...so I just switch back over to my normal running conditions and everything goes back to normal in an hour or so.
I think that before the previous owner put in the Solar panels and used the Pentair three way for flow control instead of an old 2 inch gate valve that must have directly fed the Spa returns from water coming out of the heater....right next to that, on a 1.5 inch line is a Jandy valve that must have replaced an old Gate valve that was leaking based on the way the Jandy is plumbed in. The original owner told me during a quick rundown when we bought the house that I never needed to touch the Gate valve for the 4 Spa returns or the Jandy valve and to only control the Spa return flow with the Pentair 3 way. He had the Gate valve for the 2 inch spa return open and the Jandy valve on the 1.5 inch check valve line closed.
So my questions are....since I'm repiping pretty much everything do I need to replace the Gate valve on the spa returns which would in effect give it two points of flow control? and does the Spa Check Valve need flow control from the Jandy 2 way valve? When I open the Jandy valve on the 1.5 in line that runs to the spa wall fitting, water comes out forcefully but why would a Check valve have that kind of flow?
Is the fitting in the Spa wall even a Check Valve.......?? What else would it be? Somebody at the local pool store supposed that's what it was when I explained where it was. Any Help would be appreciated.
