Pool Newbie: Question about pool modes and valve settings

Jump to latest Follow Reply
S

skalidindi

New member
Jun 23, 2022
3
95051
Hello, my question is very similar to this one: Poll Newbie: Spa mode vs Pool Mode...and some problems...

Right now when I run pool mode with the heater on, my spa jets turn on and then water spills over into the pool. The spa gets luke warm at best with the heater on because the water simply spills over.
When I run spa mode, it just seems to circulate water through the pool and spa does nothing.

I also suspect my values are operating backwards or completely wrong. Anyone got any ideas?

Thank you!

Edit: Just updated the images
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1092.png
    IMG_1092.png
    375.1 KB · Views: 14
  • IMG_1093.png
    IMG_1093.png
    491.1 KB · Views: 15
  • IMG_1094.png
    IMG_1094.png
    500.4 KB · Views: 13
  • IMG_1095.png
    IMG_1095.png
    463.8 KB · Views: 12
  • IMG_1096.png
    IMG_1096.png
    473.5 KB · Views: 12
  • IMG_1097.png
    IMG_1097.png
    482.8 KB · Views: 15
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum!
Sounds correct. Please upload your photos to the site instead of using a 3rd party hosting site. Once we can see the photos of your pool equipment area, we can help. Also please fill out your signature - the information helps us help you.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool
 
When you switch modes, does one valve move, or do two valves move? Photos of your equipment pad and of those valves in each mode might be illuminating.

Meanwhile, you may be able to figure it out yourself. In a pool/spa system like yours, there should be a valve that selects between pool and spa suction (to determine where the pump pulls water from), and another valve that selects between pool and spa return (to determine where the water goes after the pump has pushed it through the filter and heater). If you're lucky, the valves might even be labeled "pool suction", "spa suction", "pool return", and "spa return".

In spa mode, the valves should be set to spa suction and spa return; in pool mode they should be set to pool suction and pool return (if the return valve is only turned 90% of the way toward the pool side, that's ok too -- the idea is that even in pool mode, a little water is allowed to circulate through the spa to keep it from stagnating). There are also two other modes: spillover (pool suction and spa return, so water from the spa spills into the pool) and drain (spa suction and pool return, so all the water empties out of the spa).

What I think you've described is this: When you ask for pool mode (pool suction/pool return), you get spillover mode (pool suction, spa return). And when you ask for spa mode (spa suction/spa return), you get pool mode (pool suction/pool return). Is that correct?

Some valves have 3-way electrical toggle switches on their back: The switch positions are ON (normal) / OFF / ON (reverse). So if you have valves like that -- and especially if you see only one valve move when you switch between pool and spa mode -- then one explanation for your problem could be that the suction valve's switch is in the "OFF" position (so it never moves) and the return valve's switch is in the "ON (reverse)" position (so it moves backward). Switching them both to the "ON (normal)" position would make the valves work as expected.

But that's just a guess. Once you post photos of the equipment pad and valves, it'll be easier to diagnose what's actually happening.
 
Just uploaded the pictures to the site. I had trouble before because my pictures takes on my phone were too large. Also, I need to research about my pool still in order to fill out a signature. I honestly no idea about any of the specifics since I just bought my home.

Meanwhile, I will try to play with the valves in the afternoon tomorrow.
 
Welcome to TFP.

I circled and numbered three of your valves so we can discuss.

Valve 1 is your suction valve. It is missing an actuator on top of it for your controller to turn it between pool suction from your skimmers and spa suction. Right now it is set to pull water from your pool skimmers.

Valve 2 is your return valve. It has an automated actuator on top of it. That is what you are missing on valve 1. It changes your water returns between your pool and spa.

Valve 2 is set backwards which is causing the confusion with your POOL mode and SPA modes. On the side of the actuator you will find a 3 position toggle switch. The positions are 1-OFF-2. Flip the toggle switch from one side to the other and the valve should rotate 180 degrees. Then change your controller to POOL mode and your pool should operate normally.

Valve 3 is your solar control valve for your solar roof panels.

Tell us what model control panel you have and post a pic of it.


AE592DDD-3E47-487B-B2AE-41F9D8FCB7C1.jpeg
 
What does the label I circled in yellow say?

What other pipes are labeled?

E1358AA5-B9AA-4509-89EC-65B91A27216F.jpeg
 
Hi everyone,

So sorry for the late reply. The 3 way valve labeled #1 (suction valave) was installed improperly. I could not turn the handle to draw from the spa only. So after watching Youtube videos, I removed the diverter and installed it in the proper way so it can actually draw from the spa suction only. I also installed an actuator on this valve and made it face the same direction as the return valve. Now pool mode works properly and spa mode correctly circulates water from the spa back to the spa.

However, now I have a bigger issue. When I run spa mode, it seems to slowly drain water. I seem to lose about inch of water every 15 mins the spa mode runs.
Also, my pool for drained a bit after using spa fill mode to fill up my spa back up. I did not notice my pool's loss of water till the morning because it was dark outside and I was focusing on the spa.

In the morning, I was freaking out that I did something wrong and caused the pool to drain. However, I think I did the pipes right. Instead what seems to explain my issues is that the pipes from the spa suction to my machinery has a critical leak or issue. Hence, why that 3 way diverter was installed in such a way that you could not turn the handle to draw from spa suction previously.
Unfortunately, I just bought this home and was not told this and nothing was written down on the pipes to indicate this so I found out the hard way.

I see no obvious signs of leakage near my equipment, nor my roof for solar heating. And everything seems to be fine as long as I do not run spa mode i.e draw from spa suction. Even spa fill mode (pool suction and spa return) runs fine. This leads to me to believe that the pipes underground that involve the spa suction has a pretty bad leak.

My question now though is how much does it cost to fix an underground leak usually in California?

Note: I added pictures of current plumbing layout, pool depth
@ajw22 I also added a closeup for what the thing marked in yellow says.

Edit/New Question: The thing circled in red (#3) which is the valve for the solar. It has an actuator on it and I am assuming when I press on solar button on my panel box, that actuator should move. It does not move at all. Where should the wire for that actuator connect to on the panel box?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1196.png
    IMG_1196.png
    860.6 KB · Views: 9
  • IMG_1197.png
    IMG_1197.png
    822.2 KB · Views: 9
  • IMG_1198.png
    IMG_1198.png
    575.1 KB · Views: 9
  • IMG_1199.png
    IMG_1199.png
    828.8 KB · Views: 8
  • IMG_1193.png
    IMG_1193.png
    4.8 MB · Views: 8
  • IMG_1194.png
    IMG_1194.png
    437.2 KB · Views: 8
  • IMG_1195.png
    IMG_1195.png
    1.1 MB · Views: 4
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply