Which pipe goes where?

[szobell]

I am looking for any suggestions you might have for how I can stop the flow to one of these two pipes. (Marked in Red)

I am trying to tune my in floor cleaning system, and I think that I’m having a challenge where the cleaning system is pulling from the floor, and thereby not going through the filter.

We purposely connected these two inputs to feed the 5 hp pump that goes to one of the water features. That works well because I never have the water feature and the cleaner on at the same time but I am thinking that I do not want the twin inputs going into the Cleaner. So I’m trying to figure out how I could block off one of the two inputs so I can verify where that is being pulled from the pool, from the skimmer, or the floor. Any suggestions welcome.

 

[needsajet]

Food coloring might be handy. You can use an old testing reagent bottle and squeeze out a drop of food coloring near the inlet you're checking.

For the two marked pipes, I would leave those pumps turned off, in which case no flow would be coming in through their suction lines.

 

[szobell]

The challenge is I am not sure where the inlets of those 2 pipes are. I think one is the floor (one In front of 5hp water feature) and the other is to the skimmers (one in front of cleaner).

Ultimately I think I want to add one more electric valve so I can have 2 settings:
1) when the cleaner is on it only pulls from the skimmers (to pull leaves in the skimmer) while the Pool is pulling from the bottom to the filter.
2) When the water feature is on the valve is open so it pulls from both pipes (floor and skimmer) to feed as much water as possible.

I just don’t want to cut into my pipes until I know if my guess is correct as to where those have inlets from.

In the pool I have a 3 input channel drain, 2 skimmers and 2 in-wall returns as well, so determining what goes where is a challenge. I have most of it mapped, except those 2. I should have paid more attention when we built it a couple of years ago.

 

[proavia]

When the IFCS is activated there should be water being pulled from the main drains and the skimmer. If there is no water being pulled from the main drains when the IFCS is active, the floor debris has no where to go and thr infloor will just blow it around.

The two suction lines you marked allow either or both of the plumbed pumps to pull water from both sources simultaneously. The suction line with the least resistance will probably have a slightly higher flow rate.

The IFCS should run on filtered water. Makes no sense to send unfiltered water thru the IFCS water distribution valve and popups.

Show us the rest of the plumbing and the IFCS water valve(s).

Your builder did you no favors by not marking each pipe and pump.
Do you have the plumbing schematic?

Does the pool have an infinity edge, catch basin, etc?
What is the purpose of each of the 5 pumps?
Automation system(s)?
Tell us a whole lot more about your pool by filling out your signature with pool, all pool equipment (include manufacturers and model numbers) and test kit info.

 

[needsajet]

So, for example, turn all pumps off but one. Go around all possible inlets and check with the food coloring. Repeat for the other pumps with only the pump you're investigating being the one pump that's running.

I just noticed the cross connection between two suction lines. I'm not sure why a pool plumber would do that. Perhaps that cross connection can be eliminated. It's not normal for two pumps to suck water like that. Is there some control that only allows one or the other to run at any given time?

Could you explain, numbering the pumps 1 to 5 from left to right, what is the purpose of each of those pumps?

 

[proavia]

I just noticed the cross connection between two suction lines. I'm not sure why a pool plumber would do that. Perhaps that cross connection can be eliminated. It's not normal for two pumps to suck water like that. Is there some control that only allows one or the other to run at any given time?

Yeah, that is weird. But it would allow a relatively unobstructed suction flow to either pump. And the check valve near each of those two pumps will prevent any backflow of water thru a pump that is off.

Could you explain, numbering the pumps 1 to 5 from left to right, what is the purpose of each of those pumps?

And include the model number and HP as well.

 

[szobell]

Ok, a bit more details and another couple of pics.

What I *think* it is supposed to be doing. When IFCS Feature Group is on:
1) Main Pool pump is on full 3000 rpm and valves to skimmers are closed and fully pulling only from channel drain in the deep end.
2) IFCS pump in on at 3000 rpm pulling from cross connect pipes. I know it is pulling somewhat from skimmer (good - pull in debris).
But here is the problem that I suspect:
I am pretty sure IFCS is pulling from the bottom channel as well. Which means dirt will go right back out as it doesn’t go through the filter as only the pool / spa pump goes through the filter.

So I’d love to find a way to really see where those two cross connect come from. Plug one, turn on pump and see where it is pulling from, then repeat from the other side.

If that is what is happening, I think I need to put an electric valve on the cross connect so I can close it in cleaning mode.

I guess the best solution would be to ensure only the IFCS pump is on, then do the dye test as y’all recommended that would at least confirm to me it is pulling from the 2 places.

Then I can cut and put in the valve on the cross connect as its purpose is to feed a bunch more water to the slide / waterfall. (I wanted gushing). Can I install a valve at 90 degrees on the cross connect? I don’t think I have clearance to put it straight up. But that seems like a real pain.

I do not have a schematic

I was told they ran about 4k feet of pipe as the equipment area is past the pergola against wall.

 

[needsajet]

Sounds like a reasonable thing to try. If adding a fixture on the cross connect, you could go up then across. It's hard to know without trying it, but it also looks to me as though a valve would fit on the existing line, with the valve offset to one side. You'll have little to no flex either way, so a union (aka barrel union) will be needed anyway.

 

[szobell]

Sounds like a reasonable thing to try. If adding a fixture on the cross connect, you could go up then across. It's hard to know without trying it, but it also looks to me as though a valve would fit on the existing line, with the valve offset to one side. You'll have little to no flex either way, so a union (aka barrel union) will be needed anyway.

Barrel union! I had not even contemplated that possibility. Thank you!!

 

[proavia]

Yup - testing each pump individually is needed.

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