Hello, we have had our pool for a couple of months, so learning a lot. When we heat our spa (it's the same level of the pool), it heats nicely, but we feel cold water coming from a single floor jet. This jet is connected to the other pool jets, so when in pool mode they are all flowing and when in spa mode they are off. But this floor jet in our spa is somehow allowing cold water to enter the spa. Is this normal? If there is a way to prevent this, what would it be? We can use our spa as is, but we would like to stop this cold water from coming in, so the heater doesn't have to kick on as often. Thank you for all your help!
Cold water in spa
- Thread starter dunidake
- Start date
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,150
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Welcome to TFP.
Post pics of your equipment pad.
Especially the pipes and valves around your pool and spa returns.
Post pics of your equipment pad.
Especially the pipes and valves around your pool and spa returns.
I will take one in the morning and post. I'm assuming the pic should be taken while the system is on spa mode? Thank you!
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,150
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
We've seen a few pools where the PB had a pass-through between the spa and pool using a standard 1.5" port. Not ideal but not unprecedented.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,150
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Yeah, I figure he has a spa makeup line that is staying open in spa mode.
Last edited:
Certainly possible.
But I meant we've literally had 2 pools that had a straight piped 1-2 foot line between the the pool and spa basin. Unfettered, unadjustable pass through.
This is the pipe (see middle of spa) where water comes out of cold. As soon as I get home I will update with the other photos of the equipment pad.
The one 3' above the rebar, vertical?
That seems to dissappear into the earth, and I can't follow it. It's not obviously attached to your wall returns.
I think Allen is right, that's its your make-up line. But we're still guessing.
Looking forward to additional photos.
Yes, the vertical pipe in the middle of spa - and we know it’s connected to the pool jets because when in pool mode there is water coming out of it just like the wall jets in pool.
The 3-way valve directly above the pipe labeled "Pool Return" should turn when switching between pool and spa modes. I can't tell from the photo whether it has a motorized actuator. It should. But it looks like it's in the same position in both modes. Lacking an actuator, you'll need to turn it by hand to not send water to the spa when in spa mode.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,150
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
The return actuator is on the right side before the SWG cell and it is in different positions between the POOL and SPA modes.
The SWG only chlorinates the pool in POOL mode and the spa gets no chlorine boost when in SPA mode.
I see that now, thanks. I was fixating on the red arrow in the first photo.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,685
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
The pictures indicate no water should be exiting the spa fountain when in spa mode. So the valve under the actuator is leaking or the actuator is not fully closing the valve.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,150
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,150
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
There is no check valve on the pipe labeled POOL RETURN and my guess is in spa mode a siphon forms sucking pool water up the POOL RETURN pipe and then down the SPA FOUNTAIN pipe which I suspect is the center pipe in the spa.
You can turn the diverter valve above POOL RETURN 90 degrees counter clockwise to close the SPA FOUNTAIN and see if that stops the cold water.
Then we can discuss using the SPILLOVER feature in your automation to maintain the spa water.
You can turn the diverter valve above POOL RETURN 90 degrees counter clockwise to close the SPA FOUNTAIN and see if that stops the cold water.
Then we can discuss using the SPILLOVER feature in your automation to maintain the spa water.
This is the spa fountain pipe
Attachments
- May 3, 2014
- 62,685
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40