Pop up head valve? leak

Hi and welcome to TFP

Please fill out your signature with your pool info. See my signature to give you ideas on what to include.

You have what looks like an A&A water distibution valve. It's either a 5 port or 6 port valve. Your lower housing is cracked and needs to be replaced - it can not be repaired as it is under pressure when the pump is running. Here is an example of a 5 port lower housing: AA Manufacturing 5 Port Lower Housing 518150 Top-Feed Water Valve-1.5 in
It could also be a Gould water valve. In any case, the lower housing will need to be replaced - this will require cutting the old lower housing out and installing a new lower housing. If you are comfortable cutting PVC and gluing it all bafk together, this can be a DIY job. If you aren't comfortable doing that, hire it out.

You will need to open it and identify which specific valve it is and how many ports it has. Use the link above and have a look around that website to identify the exact valve and port configuration you have. For the A&A water valves, there are the older style with acrylic balls or the newer type with T-valves. So possibly just a bit more to determine. You can do a Google search for - A&A manufacturing 5 port water valve - and find a schematic of the valve insides to help with opening up the valve and getting it back together correctly.

I will let other members weigh in on the pool light issue as there are several possible causes.

I just had my A&A 6-port actuator (water valve) replaced. I was about to replace it with the same version and found out I could have it replaced with their newest model. The new model works much better (and no longer uses acrylic balls). If you are not sure which actuator you have, A&A customer service should be able to look it up in their records.

If you are able to have it upgraded by an A&A installer, you will have a lifetime warranty. (The lifetime warranty is only for the original homeowner.) You can also ask A&A about pricing of the old and new models to have a good idea if it may be cheaper to upgrade the unit instead of replacing it.

The model the OP shows can have either acrylic balls or the T-valves found in the newer units (it can not have a combination of both). The acrylic balls themselves are no longer available - so if those are compromised you would have to replace them with a T-valve retrofit kit.... or replace the entire water valve assembly.

While the part to replace the entire water valve is almost 2x that of just the lower housing, it may be bemeficial to replace the entir water valve as then youwould have all new parts inside of it. The usual wear item is the gearset and there is no telling at this point what condition the present gearset is in. If having someone do the install, the cost difference should be minimal.

The valve that @JRB100 had installed looks like the A&A low profile water valve.

Dud47 said:

thank you so much for your replies! Apologies on the delay of response I had to go out of town. I think based on your reply it seems best for me to have a professional come and take care of it as I don’t think I have the knowledge to do it correctly and I’d hate to do something wrong. Do you know if just typical pool stores work with these or is there somebody specific i.e A&A directly that I should reach out too?

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You may wish to call A&A (they are in Phoenix) and ask if they have a recommendation or two. If I was having someone do this for me, I would want them to actually know what they are doing - and not just any "typical" pool store would be qualified. The most difficult part is gluing all 5-6 pipes into the valve base all at one time. You can also ask A&A if the low-profile valve that @JRB100 had installed is now the replacement for your top feed valve.

JRB100 said:

I just had my A&A 6-port actuator (water valve) replaced. I was about to replace it with the same version and found out I could have it replaced with their newest model. The new model works much better (and no longer uses acrylic balls). If you are not sure which actuator you have, A&A customer service should be able to look it up in their records.

If you are able to have it upgraded by an A&A installer, you will have a lifetime warranty. (The lifetime warranty is only for the original homeowner.) You can also ask A&A about pricing of the old and new models to have a good idea if it may be cheaper to upgrade the unit instead of replacing it.

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Hi JRB100.
I like the cover you have for your pump motor. Did you make that yourself? Does it help to soundproof it a little also apart from keeping out the elements?
Thanks

YonnyPiscinas said:

Hi JRB100.
I like the cover you have for your pump motor. Did you make that yourself? Does it help to soundproof it a little also apart from keeping out the elements?
Thanks

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You can buy that cover Here.

YonnyPiscinas said:

Hi JRB100.
I like the cover you have for your pump motor. Did you make that yourself? Does it help to soundproof it a little also apart from keeping out the elements?
Thanks

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I ordered the cover off of Amazon but have seen it sold by other vendors. It was around $60. I alway intended to make one and finally gave up the wait. I have to say it was worth it...very sturdy. It does help with the noise level, but I cannot honestly say how much. I started using it the same time i replaced my single-speed pump with a variable.

proavia said:

@Dud47
You may wish to call A&A (they are in Phoenix) and ask if they have a recommendation or two. If I was having someone do this for me, I would want them to actually know what they are doing - and not just any "typical" pool store would be qualified. The most difficult part is gluing all 5-6 pipes into the valve base all at one time. You can also ask A&A if the low-profile valve that @JRB100 had installed is now the replacement for your top feed valve.

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I HIGHLY SUPPORT giving A&A a call. Their web site (aamfg.com) has a way for you to search for installers in your area: On their home page, follow the link in the upper right corner "find a builder".

When I started asking for quotes I included a few of their recommended installers and some I found on my own. I went with one of their recommendations and have been exceptionally pleased with their knowledge and ease with which they were able to repair my system.

(The other companies said they have workers familiar with in floor systems, but my questions about different aspects of the work left me feeling I would regret choosing them.)

I also recommend not replacing the crack portion of the acutator but having the unit upgraded. Your installer should be able to confirm it would come with a lifetime warranty.

Dud47 said:

I think I’m going to have to have a professional take care of this. Of course every scenario and installer is different but do you have a ball park of what I should be looking at cost wise to get mine replaced to ensure I’m not getting stiffed as I’m not knowledgeable on these? Thanks!

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I will pull up my paperwork and PM you some details. I had several parts of my system upgraded and most are separate line items.