Check valves

[V0x]

Hello again all. So somehow when a pool repair person came to look into my sand filter blowing sand into the pool through their tinkering things got worse.

1.) Made sand dispersion worse as for a while some sand maybe one or two handfuls would blow out of jets especially after backwashing and now after they left there's enough sand to fill a 5 gallon bucket half way. Guy said when they monkeyed with it to test if it was laterals or what that it very well could have made the lateral sand leak worse. So his solution is try to replace laterals and sand for a few hundred and risk there being other related issues now or later OR bite the bullet and cheapest option is to replace with new unit of same model for $1500.00. I have changed the sand in filter one time before so I could try to replace laterals myself to save $ but again no promises that will resolve the issue after all that effort and sweat in the AZ sun.


2.) See attached pics. Since they came now all the sudden my spa that spills over into the pool has been dropping several inches a day until pool cycles at night, then it drops again mid day. He said likely could be check valves, but that it could be a decent penny to address that as they "don't make those check.valves anymore" and we'd be doing quite a bit of re-plumbing to replace everything. Per pics it seems like there are two different size check valves, two on left seem smaller than the two on the right.

I welcome your thoughts. In the meantime I am having the wife ask the neighborhood on FB for other recommended pool companies to try to get a second opinion.

 

[PoolGate]

For $1500 replace the sand/de total mess with cartridge filters and never have to deal with that again.

 

[V0x]

He said cartridge or DE filters would be more $. $1500 is to replace with exact same Hayward 311sx sand filter. I've also heard cartridge filters have their own nuances.

 

[PoolGate]

IMO sand and DE are obsolete. The only reason they are still sold is because pool builders insulate filter makers from what costumers really want. Filters also have nothing to do with water clarify which they used to believe.

What nuances? Clean your cartridge once or twice a season and be done with the mess of backwashing.

 

[1poolman1]

Hello again all. So somehow when a pool repair person came to look into my sand filter blowing sand into the pool through their tinkering things got worse.

1.) Made sand dispersion worse as for a while some sand maybe one or two handfuls would blow out of jets especially after backwashing and now after they left there's enough sand to fill a 5 gallon bucket half way. Guy said when they monkeyed with it to test if it was laterals or what that it very well could have made the lateral sand leak worse. So his solution is try to replace laterals and sand for a few hundred and risk there being other related issues now or later OR bite the bullet and cheapest option is to replace with new unit of same model for $1500.00. I have changed the sand in filter one time before so I could try to replace laterals myself to save $ but again no promises that will resolve the issue after all that effort and sweat in the AZ sun.


2.) See attached pics. Since they came now all the sudden my spa that spills over into the pool has been dropping several inches a day until pool cycles at night, then it drops again mid day. He said likely could be check valves, but that it could be a decent penny to address that as they "don't make those check.valves anymore" and we'd be doing quite a bit of re-plumbing to replace everything. Per pics it seems like there are two different size check valves, two on left seem smaller than the two on the right.

I welcome your thoughts. In the meantime I am having the wife ask the neighborhood on FB for other recommended pool companies to try to get a second opinion.

Different size check valve for different size plumbing. On the left, 1.5." On the right 2." Some sand may have gotten into the valve and not allow the gate to close allowing the spa to drain. You can

IMO sand and DE are obsolete. The only reason they are still sold is because pool builders insulate filter makers from what costumers really want. Filters also have nothing to do with water clarify which they used to believe.

What nuances? Clean your cartridge once or twice a season and be done with the mess of backwashing.

After seeing this statement so many times, I have to ask every one that believes filters have nothing to do with water clarity to remove their cartridge or DE grids, or run their sand filter on recirc, for a couple of weeks and see how well chemicals alone keep the water clear. Filters remove the debris that chemicals, especially chlorine, reacts with and in the process gets used up. Less debris, less reaction, more chemicals available to do what is needed. Chlorine can keep algae from growing, kill germs, etc. but will not remove the inorganic junk that is continuously falling into a pool.

 

[V0x]

IDK. I have a friend that switched from sand to cartridges at a couple of rentals and said he wishes he never did. Either way doing that or any other filter than same.model he said would up the cost for the filter and also for needing to re-plumb it all.

 

[V0x]

Different size check valve for different size plumbing. On the left, 1.5." On the right 2." Some sand may have gotten into the valve and not allow the gate to close allowing the spa to drain. You can

After seeing this statement so many times, I have to ask every one that believes filters have nothing to do with water clarity to remove their cartridge or DE grids, or run their sand filter on recirc, for a couple of weeks and see how well chemicals alone keep the water clear. Filters remove the debris that chemicals, especially chlorine, reacts with and in the process gets used up. Less debris, less reaction, more chemicals available to do what is needed. Chlorine can keep algae from growing, kill germs, etc. but will not remove the inorganic junk that is continuously falling into a pool.

Thanks for the response, but I don't see the end of your sentence about what I can do about the valves.

Some sand may have gotten into the valve and not allow the gate to close allowing the spa to drain. You can

 

[1poolman1]

Thanks for the response, but I don't see the end of your sentence about what I can do about the valves.

Those valve are still made. Since they are unionized, you can also carefully open them up to see what problem, if any, there is.

 

[V0x]

Those valve are still made. Since they are unionized, you can also carefully open them up to see what problem, if any, there is.

Is one able to thread them off and replace them or is it PVC glued to where that's not possible? Any suggestions on what to search online for replacements? IDK if I need same exact brand/model or if any 2 and 1.5 inch check valve will do. Thanks!

 

[PoolGate]

Different size check valve for different size plumbing. On the left, 1.5." On the right 2." Some sand may have gotten into the valve and not allow the gate to close allowing the spa to drain. You can

After seeing this statement so many times, I have to ask every one that believes filters have nothing to do with water clarity to remove their cartridge or DE grids, or run their sand filter on recirc, for a couple of weeks and see how well chemicals alone keep the water clear. Filters remove the debris that chemicals, especially chlorine, reacts with and in the process gets used up. Less debris, less reaction, more chemicals available to do what is needed. Chlorine can keep algae from growing, kill germs, etc. but will not remove the inorganic junk that is continuously falling into a pool.

Lol I'm not suggesting no filter.

 

[1poolman1]

Lol I'm not suggesting no filter.

Just a rant.
It appears that your valves are Flo Control brand (a Burbank, CA company). They are available. Wild west Pool Supply has a large selection, in both 1.5" and 2". I have no affiliation with them, but have bought from them when I couldn't get something from one of my distributors.

You should be able to loosen the union, slip the body out, use the O rings that come with the new valves in place of the old, put some good pool lube on them, slide the new body in place making sure the arrow is pointing in the direction of flow, tighten the unions and you should be good.

Don't over tighten or you will be cutting them out and replacing the whole thing, which is, really, not that hard.

 

[V0x]

Just a rant.
It appears that your valves are Flo Control brand (a Burbank, CA company). They are available. Wild west Pool Supply has a large selection, in both 1.5" and 2". I have no affiliation with them, but have bought from them when I couldn't get something from one of my distributors.

You should be able to loosen the union, slip the body out, use the O rings that come with the new valves in place of the old, put some good pool lube on them, slide the new body in place making sure the arrow is pointing in the direction of flow, tighten the unions and you should be good.

Don't over tighten or you will be cutting them out and replacing the whole thing, which is, really, not that har