Problem number 5,000 trying to open my pool - In floor system issues

pdilow · May 11, 2019

For those that haven't read my previous posts asking for help, this is my second year of pool ownership and my first year of managing it myself. It's not going HORRRRRIBLE, but I wouldn't give myself a good grade yet.

We have a Paramount in-floor cleaning system (that I actually do like) that seems to be acting up. It's a 6-port system, and it seems one of the ports has an issue. I added a pressure valve to the top of the port module. The pressure is anywhere between 20-25 psi when it's happily running, but when it switches to one valve in particular the pressure drops to about 10 psi, and the pool return it switches to starts blowing out a lot of air.

- Does this mean there could be an issue with the plumbing for this port? Which is underground...
- I thought all of the in-floor jets/ports got their water from the same source...so if there isn't a dedicated supply line for this one port how is air getting introduced to only this one valve?
- Could it just be the floor jet isn't popping up and is broken/stuck?

I caveat this all by saying my pool is still disgusting. I can't see the floor valves yet, but I'll jump in if I have to. I've attached a picture of the return that's blowing out air. The directional thingy blew off awhile ago so it's flowing straight out. Any thoughts/ideas? Could it just be the floor jet isn't popping up and is broken/stuck?

**Side note** I've finished installing the new Pentair pump, decided to switch to a Sta-Rite System 3 filter (tired of my skin being chewed up by fiberglass), and installed the IntelliChlor system! Only tiny leaks, haha. **

Dodger · May 11, 2019

pdilow said:
Could it just be the floor jet isn't popping up and is broken/stuck?

In my mind, it's more like the opposite. If the pop-up(s) in that zone were stuck in the down position, there would be less of a free pathway for all that water flow, and pressure would build up back at your valve while in that zone.

pdilow said:
I've attached a picture of the return that's blowing out air. The directional thingy blew off awhile ago so it's flowing straight out.

Can you explain "directional thingy" a little more?

Are you referring to the pop-up head in the floor?

pdilow · May 11, 2019

Dodger said:
In my mind, it's more like the opposite. If the pop-up(s) in that zone were stuck in the down position, there would be less of a free pathway for all that water flow, and pressure would build up back at your valve while in that zone.

I was thinking the same thing. It doesn't make sense to me...

Dodger said:
Can you explain "directional thingy" a little more?
Are you referring to the pop-up head in the floor?

I was hoping I'd get away with my excellent pool terminology. Dang. I looked it up, it's just the threaded return down jet. So instead of the return on the wall blowing down, it's just blowing straight out like in the pic.

Dodger · May 11, 2019

pdilow said:
I was hoping I'd get away with my excellent pool terminology. Dang.

Sorry if I'm just confused, but is that 6th zone with 10 psi tied to the wall return and no floor return? If that's the case, then it makes a lot of sense to me that the pressure would be much less. It's a full-sized return fitting, versus a restricted flow pop-up.

What kind of zone pressures did you observe last year? Were all 6 zones in 20psi range?

jimmythegreek · May 11, 2019

If your missing the threaded eyeball tot he return you have lots of flow through a straight pipe and that's gonna steal pressure from somewhere. You have to figure out what's tied into what. Get you pool slammed and clean then worry about the popup

pdilow · May 11, 2019

Dodger said:
Sorry if I'm just confused, but is that 6th zone with 10 psi tied to the wall return and no floor return? If that's the case, then it makes a lot of sense to me that the pressure would be much less. It's a full-sized return fitting, versus a restricted flow pop-up.

I believe the pressure is supposed to remain the same with each zone. Looking at some pictures of the pool from last year with clear water, there are 10 floor jets and 4 wall/down jets. If my math is correct, I'm confused. I believe some rotate while others are fixed.

Dodger said:
What kind of zone pressures did you observe last year? Were all 6 zones in 20psi range?

I did the most useful thing I could possibly do last year when the pool was running, and paid attention to absolutely nothing. According to some reading I've done, the in-floor system needs a minimum pressure of 20psi for each zone in order to work properly and get the floor jets to pop up.

jimmythegreek said:
If your missing the threaded eyeball tot he return you have lots of flow through a straight pipe and that's gonna steal pressure from somewhere.

Good to know on the eyeball. Makes sense. It blasted off to the bottom of the pool when things first got going because it wasn't threaded on well. I'll try and fish it out in the morning.

jimmythegreek said:
You have to figure out what's tied into what. Get you pool slammed and clean then worry about the popup

This may be a dumb question, but would it ok if I use some type of colored dye once the pool water is clear to figure out what goes where? The company that designed my pool went out of business and there are no permits/drawings that I can find.

PoolguyinCT · May 11, 2019

I’m a paramount dealer.. psi will always drop when pushing through a wall return vs a floor nozzle.

pdilow · May 11, 2019

PoolguyinCT said:
I’m a paramount dealer..

You, sir, are my new best friend.

If we have a 6-port module with 10 floor jets and 4 wall returns, is there some rhyme or reason to this madness? We're a single pump system. We have one main floor drain connected to (I believe) a debris in-deck canister, and then we have a skimmer. Those two lines combine underground somewhere and and come up near the pump as only 1 line. When the water comes back to the pool, this is where I get lost...

From there there are 14 options for the water to get back to the pool (10 jets and 4 wall returns). The 6-port floor module is next to the pool and away from the rest of the pool equipment. Next to the module there's also a 2-way valve on a pipe that briefly comes out of the ground. I thought that valve might have something to do with the in-floor module, but it doesn't. Whether it's on/off, the module still goes. Now I'm thinking maybe it's to adjust the water coming out of the 4 wall returns so the pressures are all happy and friendly?

I appreciate all of the help I've received here from everyone. Hoping someday I can know what I'm doing and help others in return.

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Problem number 5,000 trying to open my pool - In floor system issues

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