Another intellivalve bites the dust

[Ahultin]

Friday evening before the long weekend we used the spa. When we were done we got out and turned off spa mode as normal. I happened to glance out not long later an noticed the spa was half empty. Walking over to the equipment our suction side intellivalve was doing the service me led dance. I moved it from service make to auto mode and heard what sounds like grinding gears . For anyone that followed the "intellivalve autopsy" thread a few months ago, this is infact the one that had the small rust spot forming on the pipe below the cable gland.

I am currently on the perpetual hold with pentair hoping to get them to send me a replacement instead of waiting for the tech that I did not particularly care for on last experience.

For reference, our pool has been up for not quite 1 yr (plastered June 8) and this is the third intellivalve failure (we have 6 total)

 

[Jimrahbe]

A,

Just kind of proves that not everything new is always better...

Sigh!

Jim R.

 

[5thofJuly]

Same here. Pool was finished last winter/spring. After opening this year I've had 2 intellivalves fail. Just past the one year mark. I'm not looking forward to replacing these constantly so if anyone has any suggestions on how to keep them alive or a better alternative I'm open to suggestions.

 

[Ahultin]

Same here. Pool was finished last winter/spring. After opening this year I've had 2 intellivalves fail. Just past the one year mark. I'm not looking forward to replacing these constantly so if anyone has any suggestions on how to keep them alive or a better alternative I'm open to suggestions.

It appears they fail from water intrusion. I just successfully rebuilt one for under $20 and minimal tools. The "face up" orientation appears to be the most susceptible to water intrusion as , likely contrary to intent, they are not sealed all the way around.
I detailed the process along with another member here:

Intellivalve Autopsy

When I opened up my pool this spring I learned that my heater bypass actuator wasn't working. I seemed to have fallen victim to the blinking Auto light like so many more on this site: https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/is-my-pentair-intellivalve-actuator-broken.255485/...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Ahultin]

2 intellivalves fail

additionally, if you are not up for the repair, let me know if you'd want to sell the dead ones.

 

[Ahultin]

Pool was finished last winter/spring

1 more comment lol, if this was a new build with all pentair equipment, the builder should have registered with pentair for the 3 yr warranty

 

[Jimrahbe]

A,

One of my favorite Songs...

I used to run a warranty repair shop where we often had to do product upgrades. Sometimes we had a lot to do in a short period of time.

As techs would complete a unit, they had a button to push that played the song "Another one bites the dust..." over the shop speakers.

Thanks for the memories...

Jim R.

 

[5thofJuly]

1 more comment lol, if this was a new build with all pentair equipment, the builder should have registered with pentair for the 3 yr warranty

I think this is what's catching me off guard. The contractor that installed our pool outsourced some of the pool equipment install. That's who I called about the failed valve, but I think I need to bring the contractor in as well. It mentions 3 year warranty in the contract on pumps, heaters, filters, etc., but I don't see anything about valves. They were both good to work with so I'll follow up with them, but regardless of the warranty situation at this point, I'm just annoyed that these are failing so quickly and searching through the forums it seems this is common. Your repair instructions are definitely worth keeping handy.

That said, is there any better alternative?

 

[Ahultin]

That's who I called about the failed valve

Call pentair direct and make a warranty claim

I'm just annoyed that these are failing so quickly and searching through the forums it seems this is common

It is annoying and looks to be a manufacturing issue (sealant is not applied all the way around allowing water intrusion)likely related to supply chain and trying to get these out quick. What was the orientation of your failed valves? Face up seems to be the most common failure. A bead of silicone around the seam would likely solve it.

That said, is there any better alternative?

Given that the intelligent features have not yet been implemented, without intervention (sealing) the standard cva24 would likely last longer. The upside would be longer life and ease of repair, the down side Is (to me) they are harder to setup.
I'm holding out for the firmware update that puts the intelligent into the intellivalves as three of my valves would really benefit from additional available stop positions.
The last tech that came said pentair wants him to replaces the intellivalves with the cva24. The logic is that of they fail, they can be repaired vs the intellivalves when they fail must be replaced. I don't know about you but I paid a premium for the intellivalves. I told him that logic was the equivalent of bmw telling an owner that your going to warranty replace thier 5 series with a Honda civic because it's more reliable an easier to replace... not going to happen! Now, when said BMW is out of warranty and you have to pay out of pocket for repairs, that civic might look pretty darn attractive

 

[5thofJuly]

And the other valve just died. These things are junk.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Get rid of the IntelliValve and find as many old CVA-24’s as you can. I have three on my pool and two spares in the closet with rebuilt parts for all of them. They’re going to cost a lot more today than they did 10 years ago when they were cheap (you could throw them away and buy new) but they are completely rebuildable AND they are SEALED so water is not an issue.

How Pentair allows this kind of garbage on the market is beyond me. What a way to trash your companies reputation. This is clearly the mark of a cheap 3rd Party manufacturer cutting corners to get product out the door on the delivery schedule of the buyer.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Get rid of the IntelliValve and find as many old CVA-24’s as you can. I have three on my pool and two spares in the closet with rebuild parts for all of them. They’re going to cost a lot more today than they did 10 years ago when they were cheap (you could throw them away and buy new) but they are completely rebuildable AND they are SEALED so water is not an issue.

How Pentair allows this kind of garbage on the market is beyond me. What a way to trash your companies reputation. This is clearly the mark of a cheap 3rd Party manufacturer cutting corners to get product out the door on the customers timetable.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

IntelliValve - likely to die in under a year.

CVA24 - you can beat it with a telephone pole and it will still work.

I have a CVA24 on my pool (I think it’s the intake actuator) that has been running since the pool was built … so 10 years of continuous service (knock on wood ). To me, that peace of mind is worth a lot more than any “features” that these “intelligent” (/snark) valves can offer.

 

[zio]

IntelliValve - likely to die in under a year.

CVA24 - you can beat it with a telephone pole and it will still work.

I have a CVA24 on my pool (I think it’s the intake actuator) that has been running since the pool was built … so 10 years of continuous service (knock on wood ). To me, that peace of mind is worth a lot more than any “features” that these “intelligent” (/snark) valves can offer.

I am on my 4th intellivale. Pentair keeps sending out the local pool service company and they keep replacing the valves. What should I do?

Do you think I can get Pentair to replace them with older units? The predominant issue is between switching from pool to spa modes. The valve will drain the spa into the pool.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

I am on my 4th intellivale. Pentair keeps sending out the local pool service company and they keep replacing the valves. What should I do?

Do you think I can get Pentair to replace them with older units? The predominant issue is between switching from pool to spa modes. The valve will drain the spa into the pool.

Pentair isn’t going to send you an older model CVA. They no longer support them. You have to find it online and install it yourself or ask your builder to use the old style CVA’s.

 

[Ahultin]

I am on my 4th intellivale. Pentair keeps sending out the local pool service company and they keep replacing the valves. What should I do?

if you are still well within warranty, i would let them keep replacing them as it costs them money so hopefully they improve the sealing to prevent the failures.
If you are so inclined, a bead of silicone caulk at the joint between top and bottom should prevent water intrusion and will likely greatly improve longevity while not impacting warranty