How to balance skimmer three way valve

[Hwmeador]

Looking for some advice on how to balance my skimmer on the far side of the pool. The far skimmer is coming into the left side of the three way valve and the close skimmer is coming into the “inlet”, then that feeds into the three way that balances with the pool drain. The way it is currently setup I can only reduce or stop flow to the far skimmer or shutoff both skimmers to the inlet of the pump. It looks like to me it should have been setup so each skimmer fed into each side of the three way valve. Right now the valve is open 100% but the skimmer at the far end of the pool does not pick up nearly as much debris and the water flow (velocity) is low at that skimmer.

Any advice on how I can balance this so I get better flow to the skimmer at the far end of the pool?

 

[Jimrahbe]

HW,

This is a typical way cheap pool builders plumb their equipment pads.

A better way to plumb your two skimmers would be with two 2-way valves in the vertical pipes, giving you total control over the two skimmers.

The best way to use what you have is to turn the valve upside down, which would allow you to shut off the near skimmer, then you can open it just enough so that it can be somewhat balanced with the far skimmer.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Hwmeador]

HW,

This is a typical way cheap pool builders plumb their equipment pads.

A better way to plumb your two skimmers would be with two 2-way valves in the vertical pipes, giving you total control over the two skimmers.

The best way to use what you have is to turn the valve upside down, which would allow you to shut off the near skimmer, then you can open it just enough so that it can be somewhat balanced with the far skimmer.

Thanks,

Jim R.

I’m going to ask a dumb question. How do I turn the valve upside down? Currently the valve can only turn 180 degrees, there is a block on the handle.

 

[PoolStored]

I’m going to ask a dumb question. How do I turn the valve upside down? Currently the valve can only turn 180 degrees, there is a block on the handle.

Turn it the 180 degrees, that is "upside down." The handle will be "UP" rather than "Down" like it is now. Then, slowly turn it back, say in increments of 5 degrees UNTIL, as @Jimrahbe said the near skimmer is

somewhat balanced with the far skimmer.

Think of it this way. On the opposite end of the handle, inside the valve is a "barn door." In the current position, the bar door is out of the way at the top of the valve. Turn the handle to 3 o'clock, the barn door will close off the far skimmer. Turn the handle to 12 o'clock and the barn door will close off the near skimmer. So with the handle up (12 o'clock), near skimmer will be off. As you move the handle from 12 TOWARD 3, you will allow a little more draw from the near skimmer and a little less from the far. Start with near off (12 o'clock) and slowly move toward 3 until the skimmers are balanced.

 

[Hwmeador]

I understand, maybe I should have clarified. In the position it currently is the valve can only move +\- 90 degrees. The handle cannot turn the 180 degrees as you describe to the the blockout.

Does this mean I should remove the top of the valve (8 screws) and clock the valve 180 degrees so it will block the far skimmer as you note? I understand the concept. Basically I block the near skimmer and then start opening the near skimmer all while beginning the close off the far skimmer. This turns the valve into close Skimmer 0% open and far skimmer 100% open and conversely.

 

[PoolStored]

I understand, maybe I should have clarified. In the position it currently is the valve can only move +\- 90 degrees. The handle cannot turn the 180 degrees as you describe to the the blockout.

Does this mean I should remove the top of the valve (8 screws) and clock the valve 180 degrees so it will block the far skimmer as you note? I understand the concept. Basically I block the near skimmer and then start opening the near skimmer all while beginning the close off the far skimmer. This turns the valve into close Skimmer 0% open and far skimmer 100% open and conversely.

Yikes! So, to be CRYSTAL clear, you can move the valve HANDLE from 6 o'clock (where it is in picture) to 9 o'clock. Let's start with getting that straight before we talk about what to do.

I can't see the brand/model of the valve. Can you remove the "bolt" in the center of the handle. It is just a knob you can unscrew. Then remove the handle and take a picture of the underside of the handle and the top of the valve so we can see the stops on both.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Does this mean I should remove the top of the valve (8 screws) and clock the valve 180 degrees

Yes

so it will block the far skimmer

NO.. flipping the valve 180 degrees should block the pipe directly below the valve, which you said was the near (close) skimmer.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Hwmeador]

Success. I took the valve apart this morning and flipped it. It seems like I now have decent velocity at my far skimmer. I’ll let it run a few days and quantify the volume of debris that each catches and make any further adjustments. Prior to valve swap the near skimmer caught significantly more stuff.

 

[proavia]

The cap/lid is still not correct. The word INLET needs to be on the right side port, if the left port and bottom port are the skimmers. This will prevent deadheading the pump. In 99% of installations, INLET needs to be on the port closest to the pump - no matter if the Jandy valve is on the suction side or return side of the system.

It's also not a good idea to cut the tabs off the handle or the lid to allow rotation where one wants. This will allow deadheading of the pump. Just take off the lid and set it correctly.

All Jandy valves come from the manufacturer with INLET set toward the bottom of the "T". It is up to the installer to change it to the correct port. Unfortunately, most installers don't understand this or just don't care.

 

[Hwmeador]

Success 2.0. I rotated the cap so the inlet aligns. I see what you are talking about, now the gate prevents anyone from turning and blocking the inlet. My handle does NOT have the tab cut and is still limited as it was designed. Thanks for the feedback. It would never have really been and issue for me but I understand why it should be installed and labeled correctly.

 

[PoolStored]

Prior to valve swap the near skimmer caught significantly more stuff.

Does the prevailing winds blow into the near skimmer? Prevailing wind will influence catching more stuff than balancing suction between them…

If the wind blows into both equally, you are good.