I noticed today that when I turn on my water features by flipping the actuator toggle that the actuator stays partially open when activating the water features. This is causing some water to flow into spa return, pool return and in floor cleaner. It does close off the water features when activated the other way. So my question is it normal to only open the water features partially? I don't know if when the pool was built that they set Cam on actuator to possibly do this so some water would still be spilling in from the spa or returning back to the in floor cleaning jets and the pool. Is this normally or should it close that stuff off completely? Thanks
Water features Valve
- Thread starter NoNameGolfer
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,400
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Show us pictures of the valve and your equipment pad.
Usually you want some water flowing to the returns and some to the water feature. But the setup is up to you.
What water features are we discussing? Can it take the full flow rate of your pump?
Usually you want some water flowing to the returns and some to the water feature. But the setup is up to you.
What water features are we discussing? Can it take the full flow rate of your pump?
It appears to have been cammed. They may have done that to reduce the flow to the water feature.
It can be reset to full open if needed.
Pictures would help identify the type of actuator.
It can be reset to full open if needed.
Pictures would help identify the type of actuator.
Here are a couple of pictures of the valve open and closed. I assume it was set this way to still allow the spa to fill from the return line. I also just saw that when activating this it leak some.small drops of water from the the seal around the valve. So need to fix that. 
Can you also show the 3-way valve and plumbing that is in front of your pump for suction? That is the plumbing that is to far right in the photo.
The photos you show are for the return side. There is a double set of 3-way valves. The top 3-way valve controls flow to the pool/spa to the left and flow to the right is the water fountain plus another feature (?). Also, when the top actuator is open for flow, it goes to the right and the first junction is a Tee to a vertical pipe with a blue handle valve that is open but the flow also continues to the right but the picture cut it off. Where does that flow to as well?
The lower 3-way valve controls flow between the spa to the left (??) and to the 3 pipes to the right. You may want to tell us what each of the vertical pipes go to, to better understand the flow.
There could be some reason for the actuator to allow water to the other returns (going to the left of the top 3-way valve) such as too much flow to the fountain so that cammed actuator allowes to divert some flow back to the pool.
The photos you show are for the return side. There is a double set of 3-way valves. The top 3-way valve controls flow to the pool/spa to the left and flow to the right is the water fountain plus another feature (?). Also, when the top actuator is open for flow, it goes to the right and the first junction is a Tee to a vertical pipe with a blue handle valve that is open but the flow also continues to the right but the picture cut it off. Where does that flow to as well?
The lower 3-way valve controls flow between the spa to the left (??) and to the 3 pipes to the right. You may want to tell us what each of the vertical pipes go to, to better understand the flow.
There could be some reason for the actuator to allow water to the other returns (going to the left of the top 3-way valve) such as too much flow to the fountain so that cammed actuator allowes to divert some flow back to the pool.
So the 3 pipes under the actuator in the middle of the picture are spa return, pool return and in floor cleaning pop-ups. The actuator to the left of the 3 pipes control the spa jets. The pipes that are cut off are the water features. There are 4 pipes each with a valve that controls a left and a right deck fountain into the pool and left and right bubblers that are on a shallow walk in area in the deep end of the pool. Here is another picture to show the other equipment.
Everything is working fine with the actuator set partially open when using the water features. I just didn't know if that was normal. The big issue I'm having now is the spa (raised spa) drains down to the pool water level when the pump is off. I have already replaced the check valve in spa return line and that didn't seem to help. I also replaced the inside door and o-rings in the 3 way pentair valve on the suction side along with a new actuator for that valve. Spa works great if the pump is running. Doesn't leak, jet works fine and it keeps its water level just below the spillover into the pool but it drains down every night now. Running out of ideas.
Everything is working fine with the actuator set partially open when using the water features. I just didn't know if that was normal. The big issue I'm having now is the spa (raised spa) drains down to the pool water level when the pump is off. I have already replaced the check valve in spa return line and that didn't seem to help. I also replaced the inside door and o-rings in the 3 way pentair valve on the suction side along with a new actuator for that valve. Spa works great if the pump is running. Doesn't leak, jet works fine and it keeps its water level just below the spillover into the pool but it drains down every night now. Running out of ideas.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,400
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,825
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
There is no telling why the actuator was originally cammed to stop before the valve fully closed.
Maybe it's to keep from deadheading the pump if all the water feature valves were set to closed.
Do your water features presently produce the look you want or are they underpowered?
Maybe it's to keep from deadheading the pump if all the water feature valves were set to closed.
Do your water features presently produce the look you want or are they underpowered?
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,825
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Thank you. I agree. My biggest issue now is determining why my spa is draining down to this level overnight when the pool is off.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,400
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Is the drained down spa level equal to the pool water level?
The drained down spa level is below all the spa jets and returns which would indicate it is not draining through the return side.
I suspect the spa is draining through the suction side until the spa and pool water level equalize.
You changed out that suction side 3-way valve, then that could still be leaking or could be excluded.
I see there is a return at the bottom of the spa (next to the spa drain). Is that linked to the fountain side or to the spa return you mentioned as one of the vertical pipes. That spa return has a blue valve on it and could be leaking back to the pool returns.
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,825
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Is the spa draining down a new issue?
If so, what was done just before this started happening?
Is the spa draining down and matching the water level of the pool?
It is also possible that the check valve in the spa makeup line has gone bad - it's below the valve just tomthe right of the backwash hose. I believe you can verify if it's the problem by refilling the spa and fully shutting the that valve, then turn the pump off for the night. The maeup line may feed the bottom return that @HermanTX referenced above.
If so, what was done just before this started happening?
Is the spa draining down and matching the water level of the pool?
It is also possible that the check valve in the spa makeup line has gone bad - it's below the valve just tomthe right of the backwash hose. I believe you can verify if it's the problem by refilling the spa and fully shutting the that valve, then turn the pump off for the night. The maeup line may feed the bottom return that @HermanTX referenced above.
So the water is draining down to the pool water level. Which is below the jets but still above the spa return line in the bottom of the spa. I recently replaced the check valve in that line when this started but didn't help. I did a leak test with dye and it appears when the pool is off that dye is going into the spa drain which is closed by the 3 way pentair valve on the suction side. Could it just be gravity as all my pipes are below the raised spa. I did recently replace the insides of that pentair valvenon the suction side but I am not seeing any water coming back into the pool from pool drain or skimmer and when running the spas water levels in spa stay constant. Water being sucked out from spa drain and returned through spa jets.
The return in the bottom of the spa is spa return not linked to my water features. It creates the spa spillover into the pool. It has a check valve below the blue valve and I replaced it already but that wasn't it as it was draining down before and after I replaced. It.
Yes. It is a new issue and it started when I had to fix the 3 way pentair valve on suction side that control the spa drain. The pool is 16 years old so most of these blue handled valves don't close completely and I'm concerned if I force it closed it will bust the handle. Maybe I'm concerned for nothing about that.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,400
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
The problem is one or the other.
Do not assume a new valve works better then the old one. We see lost of quality problems with many parts.
I would put a winterizing plug in the spa spillover spa pipe. If the spa still drains then it points to the drains.
It can be difficult getting a diverter valve to be perfectly positioned to no water leaks around the diverter paddle. Just a slight offset from closed can cause the leak.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,400
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
The teeth on the paddle were cracked and it wasn't working correctly with actuator is why I changed it. The spa wasnt leaking down prior to that and the 3 way pentair valve on the suction side had no visible leaks. There are still no visible leaks in that valve. I understand what you are saying about getting the paddle lined up properly. I have checked it 3 times now and it appears correct but I guess not. Because of the shared pipe going across to the pool drain, vac hose and skimmer I would have thought I would see the water returning to the pool when draining down or if it isn't closed completely then it would also pull water from the skimmer or main pool drain along with the spa drain when in spa mode and I would have thought it would make the spillover into the pool eventually start happening when in spa mode but that isn't happening either. I would simply replace the entire valve with a new one if the company that built this pool didn't connect everything with t- connectors and elbows.
