Spa attached to pool problem with jets.

[robl45]

I have an attached spa on my pool with 4 jets. jets work great, yet one jet has barely any pressure. I usually run the spa without the filter in and if I take the filter basket out as well, the pressure is kind of there on the one jet with a problem, but still 20% of the strength of the other 3. If I try and block the other 3, the water just starts coming out the venturi valve. Anyone seen this or have any ideas? I'm guessing its something with the plumbing that I can't reach but maybe someone has some ideas.

 

[jblizzle]

Sounds like the jet may be partially blocked? I would try pulling all the jets out (they are fairly deep in the holes and should unscrew) and see if anything is in there. Try running a bit without the jets in and maybe something will come out. At least this is free to check out.

I have 3 returns on a bench seat in my pool and one of them never has the same flow as the others. They all used to match before we got the pool resurfaced, now they don't. I have been unable to find the problem since there are not true "spa jets" in mine. Hardly ever turn them on so I do not worry about it.

 

[Richard320]

It does sound like a glogged pipe. Could be as simple as a small bit of loose plaster or some grit has worked its way down and is blocking the back side Or... is it possible that that one particular jet is plumbed to the pool returns or some sort of bypass so that some water always flows through the spa?

 

[robl45]

There are no heads on the jets, I believe I never put them back on. If there is a blockage, I don't see how I could fix it without ripping up the deck.

 

[Richard320]

There are no heads on the jets, I believe I never put them back on. If there is a blockage, I don't see how I could fix it without ripping up the deck.

How about a cheap drain snake? This one's less than ten bucks at Lowes. I'd try running it through backwards first, that is, the end without the spiral thing, from the spa towards the pump.

 

[jblizzle]

The venturi jets are usually like 4-6" inside of the pipe. These are not the eyeballs that point the flow.

They may look like this:

 

[robl45]

No eyeballs. Took them out long ago. If I did the snake, wouldn't it just hit the venturi?

 

[jblizzle]

Yes, if you have them. Which is why I suggested trying to remove the venturi.

 

[robl45]

There is one venturi, I believe its cemented in, how would I remove it?

 

[jblizzle]

There should be one "nozzle" for each jet (like my picture). Maybe I was not using the word venturi accurately in this case.

 

[novca]

Maybe before removing it try sticking a coat hanger or similar into the jet from the front to see if that dislodges anything. That has worked for me in the past.

 

[mas985]

You can remove jet nozzles with a socket wrench and a long extension. Once removed, you can run the jet pump and clear any debris that was stuck behind the jet nozzle.

 

[robl45]

There are no nozzles, its just straight pipe coming from the wall, I never put the nozzles back in when they did the diamond brite.

 

[mas985]

Just to make sure we are talking about the same thing.

I am talking about the nozzles that are deep within the spa wall and look like this:

But I am NOT talking about eyeballs that look like this:

So did you remove the eyeballs or nozzles or both?

 

[robl45]

How do I know if I have the first picture? I definately don't have the second picture.

 

[jblizzle]

Put some goggle on and look in the hole.

Or just get out your ratchet and extensions and try to find the right socket to fit it (looks like might be 1/2" socket)

 

[mas985]

I think most nozzles use a 9/16" socket.

 

[robl45]

It was a 916 socket. Got the piece out, ran the jets and a dime size piece of plastic came out. Wish I knew this 10 years ago. Thanks so much.

 

[jblizzle]

Awesome.