Diverter valve or entire multiport valve replacement?

[wuffers]

So I’ve been fighting to get my pool opened this season, and while I have it at a teal blue color, it’s still cloudy and I cannot see the deep end.



Chemistry is still a bit off as I only got my Taylor kit yesterday, and I was using pool store’s testing results to adjust the water (I know, I know..). If my first FC test was correct, I’m around 42.5 with 0 CC, with CYA at 55.

Anyway, I was noticing some dirt coming back out from when I was vacuuming using filter mode, and I finally disassembled the multiport valve.

This was its state before cleaning, so it totally makes sense that I’m getting crud back into the pool:




I’ve cleaned up as best I can:



So it looks like I definitely need a new spider gasket. Has anyone just replaced the gasket on the diverter itself (Pentair 272512), or I am assuming that it’s probably just easier to replace the whole part since the gasket is glued in.

Now the question I have is, there are some scuffs and abrasions on the bottom part of the MPV, along the outer circle.

Will a new diverter and gasket be enough, or do I really need to replace the entire MPV? When replacing the diverter, do I lube the spider gasket (one video specifically said not to)? Also, does it matter if there is some sand/dirt in the bottom sections?

 

[1poolman1]

So I’ve been fighting to get my pool opened this season, and while I have it at a teal blue color, it’s still cloudy and I cannot see the deep end.

View attachment 513223

Chemistry is still a bit off as I only got my Taylor kit yesterday, and I was using pool store’s testing results to adjust the water (I know, I know..). If my first FC test was correct, I’m around 42.5 with 0 CC, with CYA at 55.

Anyway, I was noticing some dirt coming back out from when I was vacuuming using filter mode, and I finally disassembled the multiport valve.

This was its state before cleaning, so it totally makes sense that I’m getting crud back into the pool:

View attachment 513224
View attachment 513225

I’ve cleaned up as best I can:
View attachment 513227
View attachment 513228

So it looks like I definitely need a new spider gasket. Has anyone just replaced the gasket on the diverter itself (Pentair 272512), or I am assuming that it’s probably just easier to replace the whole part since the gasket is glued in.

Now the question I have is, there are some scuffs and abrasions on the bottom part of the MPV, along the outer circle.

Will a new diverter and gasket be enough, or do I really need to replace the entire MPV? When replacing the diverter, do I lube the spider gasket (one video specifically said not to)? Also, does it matter if there is some sand/dirt in the bottom sections?

There really should never be sand in the MPV. You may have a broken lateral.

 

[JamesW]

Be careful about leaving the spa drained because if it rains while the spa is drained, the spa can be pushed up by ground water.

 

[JamesW]

The sand might be from the pavers.

Are you getting a lot of sand in the pool from the pavers?

Are you vacuuming the sand into the filter?

 

[wuffers]

There really should never be sand in the MPV. You may have a broken lateral.

When I replaced the sand with glass media earlier the laterals looked fine. A bit scuffed but no visible large holes for the filter media to go through.

Be careful about leaving the spa drained because if it rains while the spa is drained, the spa can be pushed up by ground water.

It’s not completely empty. I drained it some to look at the broken jets (or at least what I think are broken jets), but thanks for the tip!

The sand might be from the pavers.

Are you getting a lot of sand in the pool from the pavers?

Are you vacuuming the sand into the filter?

Yes, we had interlock contractors relevel the back area. I suspect they powerwashed stuff into the pool and even swept sand and rocks for the reseal back into the pool. They were the ones who dumped the cover back into the pool.

I’ve vacuumed to filter, thinking we got most everything out with the silt and leaf rakes. Last few have been vacuumed to waste.

 

[revitup]

So I’ve been fighting to get my pool opened this season, and while I have it at a teal blue color, it’s still cloudy and I cannot see the deep end.

View attachment 513223

Chemistry is still a bit off as I only got my Taylor kit yesterday, and I was using pool store’s testing results to adjust the water (I know, I know..). If my first FC test was correct, I’m around 42.5 with 0 CC, with CYA at 55.

Anyway, I was noticing some dirt coming back out from when I was vacuuming using filter mode, and I finally disassembled the multiport valve.

This was its state before cleaning, so it totally makes sense that I’m getting crud back into the pool:

View attachment 513224
View attachment 513225

I’ve cleaned up as best I can:
View attachment 513227
View attachment 513228

So it looks like I definitely need a new spider gasket. Has anyone just replaced the gasket on the diverter itself (Pentair 272512), or I am assuming that it’s probably just easier to replace the whole part since the gasket is glued in.

Now the question I have is, there are some scuffs and abrasions on the bottom part of the MPV, along the outer circle.

Will a new diverter and gasket be enough, or do I really need to replace the entire MPV? When replacing the diverter, do I lube the spider gasket (one video specifically said not to)? Also, does it matter if there is some sand/dirt in the bottom sections?

Don’t waste your time trying to replace the spider gasket. Just get a new diverter which includes the gasket. It’s like $30. I’ve replaced it multiple times, it’s easy.

 

[JamesW]

Never vacuum sand into the multiport because it ruins the multiport.

Even if you vacuum to waste, the sand still gets into the multiport and ruins it.

You can vacuum with a vac-plate in the skimmer with a skimmer sock in the skimmer basket to catch the sand or using a side pump to avoid using the system altogether.

 

[wuffers]

Don’t waste your time trying to replace the spider gasket. Just get a new diverter which includes the gasket. It’s like $30. I’ve replaced it multiple times, it’s easy.

Based on the comments so far, I think I'm going to just replace the whole MPV. I'll keep the older one for parts. Unfortunately, the cheapest I could get the diverter part is ~$80 CAD, without going through the hassle of using my US forwarding service. Local in-stock for that part was ~$120 CAD taxes in.

Never vacuum sand into the multiport because it ruins the multiport.

Even if you vacuum to waste, the sand still gets into the multiport and ruins it.

You can vacuum with a vac-plate in the skimmer with a skimmer sock in the skimmer basket to catch the sand or using a side pump to avoid using the system altogether.

That's not something I've noted when I searched for how to get rid of sand in a pool, but now that I've seen it firsthand, will keep that in mind. I'm guessing the MPV was already in that state though, as I only started vacuuming about 2 days ago since I didn't own a vac-plate yet. It certainly didn't help that the pool guy's portable filter (seen on the right side in the pool picture) that I kept running was spewing whatever it was vacuuming back into the pool, as I proved that by putting a filter sock on the outlet. I'll probably just try to vacuum to waste using his filter instead.

In any event, I put the cleaned parts back together while waiting for my new MPV to arrive. Hopefully it will filter some so I can see to the bottom of the pool.