Actuator and returns

[adamfrey]

Hello,
So I heat my spa and then later when the filter runs in pool mode, it sends some of the pool's cold water into the spa (basically un-heating the spa). I know this is to make it have a nice overflow into the pool...its only like a 2" drop so it is not like it is a necessary sound.

Is this the correct "flow" or was it engineered without trying to keep the hot water in the spa? I would prefer to try to keep the hot water in the hot tub if I can.

Any ideas or options? I guess I could it in spa mode during the cold months or I just heat it when we want to use it. I live in Georgia so we don't have to winterize or drain things.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Adam,

In the Spa mode the water should be sucked from the spa drains, heated and returned to the spa jets.. The spa should not be overflowing into the pool. In the Pool mode, when you do not want to heat the spa, water is added to the spa to cause it to over flow..

If you are trying to keep your spa hot, when in the pool mode, this will not work..

Show us a few more pics of all your valves.. You should have two automated valves to switch between the pool and spa modes.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[adamfrey]

Jim, that is exactly what is happening. There is another automated valve just north in the picture. I wonder if it would ever we worthwhile to put in a manual valve on the "Spa return" when in pool mode, so I could 1) keep the hot water in the spa and 2) still filter the pool during the winter. Then in the summer you can just leave the valve so it flows to both spa and the pool when in pool mode? Any thoughts...of course this is all being asked at the end of wanting this functionality!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Adam,

As far as I know, you can't use the spa and still filter the pool at the same time... It is either one or the other..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Adam - I do what you are trying to do all of the time. I just cant tell from your picture if you have a single valve on your line that returns to the spa while in pool mode.

If you do, simply turn valve off and it will keep your hot spa water in the spa when you switch back to pool mode.

This was very convenient this winter if the kids wanted to "swim" in the spa during the day, and then get back in the spa at night. I would turn turn the spa return valve off, switch it to pool mode when done in the spa for skimming, etc, then switch back to spa when we wanted to use the spa again. The heat would be mostly retained and back up to the desired temp in a few minutes.

My only caution is that you would not want to do this for long periods of time without some careful scheduling. If you turn off the spa return, you are essentially creating two bodies of water and run the risk of not properly chlorinating or filtering one of those bodies.