Jandy Valve -- it's Broken but why do I need to replace it?

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Lucky13F

Lucky13F

Well-known member
Jun 9, 2020
62
Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Pool Size
21000
Surface
Vinyl
See from the photo... I made a couple notes on it.
The placement of this Jandy Valve makes no sense to me.
If it's there to prevent inflow from the skimmer basket / bypass the skimmer basket -- I have no understanding of why it's necessary.
In the 7 Summers I've lived in my house and had this pool - I have never had a reason [that I know of] to use it to shut off that flow.

Present Day:
It is cracked. Air is being sucked in.
There is no true way to permanently fix it - needs to be replaced.
I could buy a replacement on Amazon for ~$35

I am here to ask this:
Why bother replacing it at all?
Or I could buy a few pieces of PVC and do away with it.

What should I do?
As always... thanks in advance.

Untitled pool.jpg
 
Last edited:
No picture.

If you are talking about your suction side valve?

I would replace it. It can help with circulation. We generally recommend about 10% main drain and 90% skimmer. The main drain does little for your water circulation. Main point of the circulation is to disperse chemicals and skim the surface of the pool. Having it allows you to turn down the % coming from the main drain...
 
I'm talking about that Jandy Valve in the pic. The black thing.
If ON -- the inflow from Skimmer is unimpeded.
If OFF -- the inflow from Skimmer is stopped.

In either position the inflow from the side sucker can only be adjusted if I plug up the actual outflow in the pool itself.

Bottom line - you vote... for buying a new Jandy Valve. Right?
 
Without the picture, I thought you had a main drain. Sorry...

When you say side sucker, do you mean a port for a vacuum?

Closing off the skimmer allows the use of a vacuum...
 
sktn77a said:
If you never use it, just replace the valve with a T or just a 90 and block off the vacuum line.
Click to expand...
I would not do this.

I you do, there is no way to circulate water and sanitize the line once you cut it of. Bacteria will grow in there. If you cap off the pool side, you would have to leave the pipe open by the pump, or have a way to vent it.
If you cap both sides, I guarantee you will have bacterial growth over time and the line WILL become pressurized.
 
Lucky13F said:
See from the photo... I made a couple notes on it.
The placement of this Jandy Valve makes no sense to me.
If it's there to prevent inflow from the skimmer basket / bypass the skimmer basket -- I have no understanding of why it's necessary.
In the 7 Summers I've lived in my house and had this pool - I have never had a reason [that I know of] to use it to shut off that flow.

Present Day:
It is cracked. Air is being sucked in.
There is no true way to permanently fix it - needs to be replaced.
I could buy a replacement on Amazon for ~$35

I am here to ask this:
Why bother replacing it at all?
Or I could buy a few pieces of PVC and do away with it.

What should I do?
As always... thanks in advance.

View attachment 575139
Click to expand...
That's the wrong place to put a valve. It should be a three-way with the "inlet" port facing the pump so that the flow can be adjusted on either side (usually less from the skimmer). That's why you need a valve there. It can be done, even in that tight configuration.
 
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How do you intend to winterize your pool?

You need valves to air lock both suction lines after blowing them out.
 
Is the equipment below the water level ? That would make it worthwhile also.
 

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Lots of questions... so not sure where to begin --- a pool company guy once told me "oh - you have a sidesucker."

There is no drain on the bottom of my pool.
Next to the skimmer -- there is what appears to be another inflow but I was under the impression it was also a suction. It's literally 12 inches from the skimmer -- and seems to make no sense to me.
Last year when I has weak pressure - I capped it off. And stopped wondering what it actually is. Since I have that 2nd pipe there I presumed it was connected to whatever that other hole next to the skimmer is.

I agree that the Jandy seems to be in the wrong spot -- leaving it pointless. Sure, the next owner might appreciate me replacing the Jandy and re-installing it in the right spot -- but rather than risk the bacteria potential -- I'd rather just uncap that opening next to the skimmer - and once the suction is up to snuff -- be rid of the Jandy all together and save me $120 which seems to be the actual price after looking again on Amazon. Or maybe it's $60.

I'm inclined to just spend $10 on PVC parts and get it done -- then revisit in the Fall once the kids aren't staring at me to have a clean pool. If I need to re-do it, no one will be swimming and I can take my time.

Making the long and the short of it -- anyone object to me removing the Jandy for now, cementing some PVC on to fix the broken seal -- and couching this all until the Fall?
 
Lucky13F said:
Lots of questions... so not sure where to begin --- a pool company guy once told me "oh - you have a sidesucker."

There is no drain on the bottom of my pool.
Next to the skimmer -- there is what appears to be another inflow but I was under the impression it was also a suction. It's literally 12 inches from the skimmer -- and seems to make no sense to me.
Last year when I has weak pressure - I capped it off. And stopped wondering what it actually is. Since I have that 2nd pipe there I presumed it was connected to whatever that other hole next to the skimmer is.

I agree that the Jandy seems to be in the wrong spot -- leaving it pointless. Sure, the next owner might appreciate me replacing the Jandy and re-installing it in the right spot -- but rather than risk the bacteria potential -- I'd rather just uncap that opening next to the skimmer - and once the suction is up to snuff -- be rid of the Jandy all together and save me $120 which seems to be the actual price after looking again on Amazon. Or maybe it's $60.

I'm inclined to just spend $10 on PVC parts and get it done -- then revisit in the Fall once the kids aren't staring at me to have a clean pool. If I need to re-do it, no one will be swimming and I can take my time.

Making the long and the short of it -- anyone object to me removing the Jandy for now, cementing some PVC on to fix the broken seal -- and couching this all until the Fall?
Click to expand...
Your pool, your money, your choice. No objections, just observations.
If you remove the valve and just connect the two suction lines, the skimmer and "side sucker" (dedicated cleaner port), based on your description, you will lessen the flow into the skimmer and may make it worthless. It is your first line of defense in keeping the pool clean.
You will also need to put a code compliant cover over the open cleaner port as you will have created a very dangerous entrapment hazard right at the elevation in the pool that it could cause the most harm to someone.
 
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OK -- so here is where I am at.

1: I added a "spare parts screw" to try and replace the Jandy Valve screw. It fit snug and tight. Is it perfect - Highly doubt it. But it's there for today.
Turned pump to Filter - very low pressure - so might be it did zero.

2: Pool is getting greener - it's 2 days until Friday and no school for the kids.
I switched the pump Recirculate. Outflow was strong [lower case] from main outflow into pool.
Removed the plug from the side sucker - Outflow is STRONG [UPPERCASE] from main outflow and second outflow stronger than it's been for a while.

3: Added chemicals I needed desperately so they could disperse in the pool flow.
Need to wait 4 hours before next step.
But I feel like I can fix things much more calmly and thoughtfully if the pool starts to look bluer.

4: Neighbor stopped by and we discussed the Jandy situation -- clearly the cuts I was considering would have been useless for reasons an in-person inspection made obvious.
And taking the shortcut of just using PVC without a new Jandy would be throwing good money after bad -- I need to truly be in for a penny in for a pound.
So I will buy a new Jandy 3-Port Valve before making cuts in a different spot so I can install it where it should be and do it right.
Then I will go get the new PVC connections and update the set up properly.

5: Still seems I need to do something to that "sidesucker" hole which, for the first time I can remember - is sucking water in HARD.
Do I need a flap cover like someone mentioned above or will the new Jandy do the trick or do I re-plug it?
Again - seeing my pool beginning to turn blue at all is letting me think more clearly. [pun not intended - but apropos!]
So I need to cross that bridge still.

6: I want to find a product to seal the cracked piece in the other section of PVC while correcting the other issue. I'm think silicone or Epoxy or maybe a Flex seal product -- since the PVC cement did not do the trick, presuming I applied it in the right spot.

I hate long, multi-faceted posts like this turned into -- prefer posting about one thing at a time, licking my wounds, and fixing it - then on to the next thing.
So sorry about the super long multi-faceted post.
 
Lucky13F said:
OK -- so here is where I am at.

1: I added a "spare parts screw" to try and replace the Jandy Valve screw. It fit snug and tight. Is it perfect - Highly doubt it. But it's there for today.
Turned pump to Filter - very low pressure - so might be it did zero.

2: Pool is getting greener - it's 2 days until Friday and no school for the kids.
I switched the pump Recirculate. Outflow was strong [lower case] from main outflow into pool.
Removed the plug from the side sucker - Outflow is STRONG [UPPERCASE] from main outflow and second outflow stronger than it's been for a while.

3: Added chemicals I needed desperately so they could disperse in the pool flow.
Need to wait 4 hours before next step.
But I feel like I can fix things much more calmly and thoughtfully if the pool starts to look bluer.

4: Neighbor stopped by and we discussed the Jandy situation -- clearly the cuts I was considering would have been useless for reasons an in-person inspection made obvious.
And taking the shortcut of just using PVC without a new Jandy would be throwing good money after bad -- I need to truly be in for a penny in for a pound.
So I will buy a new Jandy 3-Port Valve before making cuts in a different spot so I can install it where it should be and do it right.
Then I will go get the new PVC connections and update the set up properly.

5: Still seems I need to do something to that "sidesucker" hole which, for the first time I can remember - is sucking water in HARD.
Do I need a flap cover like someone mentioned above or will the new Jandy do the trick or do I re-plug it?
Again - seeing my pool beginning to turn blue at all is letting me think more clearly. [pun not intended - but apropos!]
So I need to cross that bridge still.

6: I want to find a product to seal the cracked piece in the other section of PVC while correcting the other issue. I'm think silicone or Epoxy or maybe a Flex seal product -- since the PVC cement did not do the trick, presuming I applied it in the right spot.

I hate long, multi-faceted posts like this turned into -- prefer posting about one thing at a time, licking my wounds, and fixing it - then on to the next thing.
So sorry about the super long multi-faceted post.
Click to expand...
If the suction port is threaded (most likely 1.5") and you don't want to use it get a Hayward SP1022B plug (pool store) and plug it. At the equipment, cut out the bad valve and the plumbing. Cap the line that you plugged in the pool with a 1.5" PVC cap (hardware store. Don't glue it, just push it on tight, it will stay. Someone may want to use it as a cleaner port someday.
Run the other line (skimmer) directly into the pump and you're done.

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I just ordered a new 3-way Jandy arriving tomorrow. Once it arrives - I'll got to get the PVC and install it.
In the meantime - I went out to add chemicals after the 4 hours was up -- and noticed that despite my pump being on Recirculation it drained out to the street.
I opened the vari-flow and looks like the spider gasket was rotting away.
So... ordered a replacement. Arriving tomorrow.
Shut it all down until I get these 2 things done.
 
Got my new Jandy Valve -- ordered the bigger one of the 2 and turns out the old one is the smaller openings -- but I guess it's fine.
Just got back from Home Depot with a ton of PVC and some cement -- I'm nervous to make the first cuts -- but ultimately gotta bite the bullet.
Kids are all home from school today so harder to "dive in" 100% -- as soon as I can I will.

Also got the Vari-Flow Spider Gasket in the mail -- but did not realize I needed special Gasket Maker Glue and could not easily find it in Home Depot -- so I ordered it for delivery on Amazon arriving tomorrow.
No need to rush it at this point I guess. My pool is a swamp at the moment. And there is a chance if I get the Jandy in today I can get the pump going on Filter without losing water.

Baby Steps...
 

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