Check valve installed incorrectly

[RougePool]

I recently bought a house with a pool and I’m having an issue with the spa draining into the pool overnight. I replaced the check valve internals and it hasn’t become any better. I took a look at the installation instructions and see that it was installed in an orientation that is not recommended.

The check valve is installed on a vertical run of pipe and has the flow going downward through the check valve. So unfortunately gravity is fighting the seal of the check valve.

Other than redoing the piping to correct the orientation is there a way another to fix or improve this issue that others have done?

 

[jsygrls]

Posting a photo will help with responses.

 

[Jimrahbe]

RP,

90% of the pools I have seen, have the check valves installed just like yours.. That is not your problem.

Did you buy an OEM replacement flapper assembly? If not, the chances of it working is about 50%..

Did the original install get glue in the area where the flapper seals? This can cause a leak. You can often sand the area down to remove any glue.

Show us several pics of your equipment pad, and we can let you know if we see any other options, or tests you can run.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[RougePool]

Thank you for the reply.

Attached is the best photo I have right now, will need to take a better one when I get home. I circled the check valve in red and showed a line with the flow direction. You can’t see the entire check valve in the picture it’s behind some piping for my features. Hopefully this is good enough of a photo.

I didn’t buy and oem replacement I got one off amazon. I did clean the area of the valve where the flapper sits before installing it. Initially I did see and improvement and the leak was much slower but it is back to draining down the spa to the pool level.

Thank you for the help. I’m going to open it tomorrow and clean up the seating surface again

 

[Jimrahbe]

RP,

Please tell me what the front left valve/pipe is for..

The label shows "Spa?????"

For sure better pics would help.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[RougePool]

RP,

Please tell me what the front left valve/pipe is for..

The label shows "Spa?????"

For sure better pics would help.

Thanks,

Jim R.

It’s for a waterfall on the spa.

 

[Jimrahbe]

RP,

Just to be clear... I assume you are talking about the spa spilling over and into the pool.. Is that correct?

Spas spillover one of two ways.. One way it to just offset the automated return valve.. (what you have now).. The other way is to use a 'make-up' valve the sends a little water to the Spa, when in the Pool mode. Pools normally use either method, but not both at the same time.

I think that the valve marked "Spa????" is your make up valve.

If that is true, then you should not have your Return valve off-set the way you do.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[RougePool]

RP,

Just to be clear... I assume you are talking about the spa spilling over and into the pool.. Is that correct?

Spas spillover one of two ways.. One way it to just offset the automated return valve.. (what you have now).. The other way is to use a 'make-up' valve the sends a little water to the Spa, when in the Pool mode. Pools normally use either method, but not both at the same time.

I think that the valve marked "Spa????" is your make up valve.

If that is true, then you should not have your Return valve off-set the way you do.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Sorry I misstated what I thought that valve was. I was in a rush when I responded.

I agree with you and believe that it is the spa return line/make-up, ill need to close the valve to confirm. What is the concern with the valve partially closed? I’m not sure why the previous owner had it set this way.

Thanks

 

[Jimrahbe]

RP,

When you have a make-up valve that sends water to the spa, when in the pool mode, your Return valve.. (The automated right after the heater) should be in the full pool mode or full spa mode.. It should not be offset like yours is..

Not sure if this is part of your Spa drain down issue, or not, but my thought is... you should set up the system as it was designed, and then start troubleshooting your drain down issue..

Or... you could shut off the make-up valve and see if the drain down issue goes away..

Another way is to shut off the make-up valve, reset the Return valve to remove the off-set, and then use your automation system in the 'Spillway mode' to run your spillway.. Just schedule it to run twice a day for 30 minutes or so...

Thanks,

Jim R.