Bubbler valve

Drew80 · Apr 6, 2018

I have a brand new pool, and I'm still learning how everything works. We have two bubblers in the shallow end, and they're on the same return line as the spa jets. So right after the heater, the pipe goes through the 3-way valve and then splits into two 2-way valves - one for spa jets and one for bubblers.

If I open them both up completely, the bubblers get no pressure at all and the pump seems to struggle a little bit like it's sucking in air. Maybe the pressure going to the spa jets is actually reversing the pressure on the bubblers? I have to close the spa jets a little - 1 or 2 steps on the valve - and then the bubblers will operate. If I close the spa jets completely, the bubblers shoot 6 feet in the air.

I'm curious how people normally operate bubblers. Are they typically on the same return line as the spa jets? Is it normal to have to make slight adjustments to the valves like this? Is something just horribly screwed up?

I should mention that I only have one pump.

I would also like to personally thank my builder for disappearing on me mid-build so I have to figure all of this out myself. Thanks Josh. You're the best.

Picture below. Left is for bubblers, right is for spa jets

Dropbox - Screen Shot 2018-04-06 at 11.06.09 AM.png

Jimrahbe · Apr 6, 2018

Drew,

Not how I would have plumbed it, as you can't run the bubbler unless you are in the Spa mode...

On the other hand, with a single speed pump, no matter how you plumbed it, the amount of water that a water feature gets will change every time you open or close a valve. If you are in the Spa mode and close off the Spa jets you have to force all the water to go though your bubbles... and that is why they shoot 6 feet high...

Say hello to "Josh" for me... he must get around a lot, as I keep seeing his work crop up here all the time..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Drew80 · Apr 7, 2018

I think the logic is that, with just a single pump, I can turn on the bubblers and the spillover at the same time, which makes for running water all over the place. I might be giving them the benefit of the doubt on that one.

I should probably upgrade to a VSP. Seems like that would fix a lot of problems

Jimrahbe · Apr 7, 2018

Drew,

The advantage of a VSP is that no matter which valves are open or closed, you can always adjust the rpm to make the water features look the way you want...

I see you have automation... with automation, not having a VSP does not make any sense to me...

Not sure I understand your set up or not, but if you put the system in the Spa mode the spillover should not work at all..

Is this how your system works???

Thanks,

Jim R.

Drew80 · Apr 7, 2018

Well my builder is a jerk and just decided to skip town during the build. So I made some decisions in his absence that were probably a little dicey. The single-speed pump being one of them. I've never had water features before, so I didn't know any better.

Spa and spillover modes both turn the valve to the right, which gives me the option of jets and/or bubblers. Spa mode pulls from the spa, spillover pulls from the pool. So yes, spa mode doesn't make the spillover work, but if I have it in spa mode and turn the bubblers on it will drain the spa.

I actually agree with the logic of having the jets and bubblers on the same return, because I can put it in spillover mode then turn on the bubblers and have both water features on (if you consider spillover to be a water feature)

Jimrahbe · Apr 7, 2018

Drew,

I guess my problem is what happens if you manually shut off the Jets and the bubblers and then put it in the Spa mode or Spillover mode??? Would that not shut off all the water going to the Spa?

Maybe you have another water source for the Spa that I just do not see... ??

It makes sense that the Spa drains when the bubblers are on because you are sucking more water from the Spa than you can return to the Spa, because half of it is going to the bubblers.. This is just one reason I find your current plumbing odd...

No matter what, if it works for you, it works for me..

Jim R.

Drew80 · Apr 8, 2018

The only return to the spa is the jets, so shutting that off would cut off all water going to the spa.

I was puzzled by this as they were doing it, but I didn't know enough to argue. How would you plumb it?

Jimrahbe · Apr 8, 2018

Drew,

Generally things that are in the pool are run when in the Pool mode and things that are in the Spa are run in the Spa mode...

Putting any costs aside, as I am not spending any of my money, this is what I would do...

I would remove the bubblers from the Spa side and ensure that the Spa jets valve was locked in the full on position (or remove the valve all together)..

If having the bubblers on when in the Spa mode was NOT a requirement, I would plumb them into the pool return side and add an actuator to the current control valve, so you could turn them on/off with your automation..

If having the bubblers on when in the Spa mode WAS a requirement, I would plumb in a small water feature pump that sucked water from the pool side (even when in the Spa mode) and run the output of that pump to the bubblers through the current valve. Your automation could then turn the bubblers on/off by controlling the water feature pump..

I would replace the 2 HP pump that you currently have, with a 3 HP VS pump that would allow you to run slowly when generating chlorine, but also allow you to ramp up the speed to make your Spa Jets work perfect for you...

I suspect there are other options, but that is all I can think of at the moment...

Thanks,

Jim R.