Spa draining into pool on pool mode when the pump is off

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denise111

Member
Apr 26, 2022
20
Riverside, CA
Hello, I am a novice at this but I feel I am getting steered in all different directions and spending a lot of money and going nowhere. My spa is draining into my pool when it is in pool mode and the pump is off. When I turn the pool off in spa mode it does not drain. It is draining past the jets jn the spa. So far we replaced check valve, both diverters, had actuators adjusted, put in new gaskets and to no avail still draining. Had 3 pool guys look at it, and it is not fixed.
The last man said that I had to cut out the 3 way valve and replace it because it is probably worn inside. My concern is that when he adjusted the actuator manually the water held in the spa. But when we put the actuator back on it drained over night. This man again guaranteed me this will fix the problem. Now if your going to ask me about all the piping I have no knowledge of all that and how it works. I just know what we have done and I am desperate to fix the problem. Also, my pool pump is leaking but I doubt that is the problem and so does that last pool guy. Any ideas? Should I have him cut out and replace the 3 way valve? Or am I going to be disappointed once again?
 
Welcome toTFP! :wave:

Post a few pictures of your equipment pad showing all the equipment from different angles.
Also post a few pics of the pool.

How are you testing and chlorinating your pool?
 
Denise,

I agree with Gene, we need several pics of your equipment pad.

When the spa drains down, does it stop just below the jets, or does it drop several inches below the Jets?

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
proavia said:
Welcome toTFP! :wave:

Post a few pictures of your equipment pad showing all the equipment from different angles.
Also post a few pics of the pool.

How are you testing and chlorinating your pool?
Click to expand...
I had these pics in my phone . We have a salt water pool. Also no leakage because all the water is leaking into the pool .
 

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Take some more equipment pics from further away so we can see the entire pad in each pic.

Is the spa water draining down to the same level of the pool water?
 

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Denise,

When the water drains down well below the jets, the problem is almost always with the Intake valve.

This assumes the make-up water, that causes the spillover comes in on the jets and not a separate pipe in the bottom of the spa.

One way to test this theory is to temporarily plug the spa drain and see if the spa holds water overnight.

I reread your initial post and if I read it correctly, you said...
denise111 said:
when he adjusted the actuator manually the water held in the spa
Click to expand...

If that is true, then the actuator is not closing the valve (I assume the Intake valve) all the way. As another test, I'd remove the actuator from the Intake valve and manually close the Spa Drain line and see if the Spa held water.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
Denise,

When the water drains down well below the jets, the problem is almost always with the Intake valve.

This assumes the make-up water, that causes the spillover comes in on the jets and not a separate pipe in the bottom of the spa.

One way to test this theory is to temporarily plug the spa drain and see if the spa holds water overnight.

I reread your initial post and if I read it correctly, you said...


If that is true, then the actuator is not closing the valve (I assume the Intake valve) all the way. As another test, I'd remove the actuator from the Intake valve and manually close the Spa Drain line and see if the Spa held water.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Yes when he closed it manually it held but when we used the actuator it did not hold. I asked him about this and he said the 3 way valve is not working and that we had to cut it out and replace it. This is my concern because I don't want to replace the 3 way valve for nothing. He says its 100 percent the problem. How can I tell if the actuator is working or not? It seems to be parallel with the pipes when it changes from pool to spa mode and back.
 
denise111 said:
Yes when he closed it manually it held but when we used the actuator it did not hold. I asked him about this and he said the 3 way valve is not working and that we had to cut it out and replace it. This is my concern because I don't want to replace the 3 way valve for nothing. He says its 100 percent the problem. How can I tell if the actuator is working or not? It seems to be parallel with the pipes when it changes from pool Tok spa mode and back.
Click to expand...
 
Jimrahbe said:
Denise,

When the water drains down well below the jets, the problem is almost always with the Intake valve.

This assumes the make-up water, that causes the spillover comes in on the jets and not a separate pipe in the bottom of the spa.

One way to test this theory is to temporarily plug the spa drain and see if the spa holds water overnight.

I reread your initial post and if I read it correctly, you said...


If that is true, then the actuator is not closing the valve (I assume the Intake valve) all the way. As another test, I'd remove the actuator from the Intake valve and manually close the Spa Drain line and see if the Spa held water.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
which is the intake valve the valve next to the salt cell or the valve next to the motor?
 
when it drains down, are the surfaces of the spa and pool at the same level, ie at equilibrium? if so, it means that one of the 3-way valves (drain or return) is partially open or leaking, providing a way for water in the spa to flow to the pool.
 
denise111 said:
which is the intake valve the valve next to the salt cell or the valve next to the motor?
Click to expand...

Denise,

The valve in front of the pump, is called the "Intake" valve, as it selects where the water comes from. It either comes from the Spa drain or from the Pool Skimmers/Main Drain.

The valve after the heater and SWCG cell is called the "Return" valve as it selects where the water goes. Back to the Spa or back to Pool.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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stevo777 said:
when it drains down, are the surfaces of the spa and pool at the same level, ie at equilibrium? if so, it means that one of the 3-way valves (drain or return) is partially open or leaking, providing a way for water in the spa to flow to the pool.
Click to expand...
the water is at equilibrium . Yes I think its partially open but why? is it due to the actuator not closing the diverter completely? Or is it the 3 way valve is worn inside and the diverter is not sealing properly? My pool tech says its the later one. But I don't understand why when he closed the valve manually the pool did not drain: if the diverter is not sealing properly it should leak either way right? If I turn the pool off after the spa is running the water holds. If I turn the pool off after the pool is running it drains.
 
Denise,

Did they already change out the "guts" inside the 3-way valve?

I can't understand how the valve can manually shut off but not shut off when using the actuator. :scratch:

Did they try to adjust the actuator, or replace the actuator?

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
Jimrahbe said:
Denise,

The valve in front of the pump, is called the "Intake" valve, as it selects where the water comes from. It either comes from the Spa drain or from the Pool Skimmers/Main Drain.

The valve after the heater and SWCG cell is called the "Return" valve as it selects where the water goes. Back to the Spa or back to Pool.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Jim,
Should I let the pool repair guy cut out my 3 way valve and replace it ? Is this the proper diagnosis? Can you give me your opinion considering all the items above I mentioned? Or should I do something else?
Thank you for your time.
Denise
 

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