Does spa spillover work when in the spa?

[miltonmom]

Hi all,
Our PB recommended a 3' spillover and we really like that idea from a water "noise" and aesthetic standpoint. Our design is a 16 x 32 with a 7 x 9 spa on the far side of the length. We were wondering if the spillover works when the spa is in use or what if the spa is not in use but we still want the spillover (off season).
We will of course ask our PB as well.
Many thanks!

 

[JJ_Tex]

Think of your pool running in 3 modes:
Pool - The pool drains and skimmers suck in the water to the pump, and is returned to the pool returns. The spa is still.
Spillover - Similar to the above, except a return in the spa turns on and causes excess water to spillover to the pool
Spa - The spa drains suck in the water and is returned to the spa. Nothing spills over and the pool is still.

Assuming you get automation you can schedule the above modes accordingly. Just keep in mind that the spillover function constantly running will cause your pH to rise quicker.

 

[Nikilyn]

While you are in the spa, especially with blowers and jets, the water will go over the spillway. You won’t hear the noise of the waterfall because of the jets but you’ll see it.

 

[Dirk]

JJ explained the three modes when you have a spa. And you can certainly can sit in the spa while in spillover mode. But the reason you wouldn't is water temp. Unless you want to "soak" in pool water temps, or heat your entire pool to spa temps, you can't enjoy a nice hot jacuzzi in spill over mode because all the hot water will be dumping over the spillway and the spa will never get significantly warmer than the pool...

You can turn on the spillway whenever you want to enjoy it, but you'll lose all the heat each time. Folks with stand-alone spas sometimes keep their spa covered and heated 24/7, so that it's ready at a moment's notice. In-pool spas can't really be run that way. I think you could do it for a few days at a time, but you need to mix the spa with the pool regularly (usually every day) so that the chemicals all balance. You generally chlorinate the main pool and then pump pool water into the spa (during spillover mode) so that the spa gets chlorinated and whatever has collected in the spa gets flushed into the pool. You call for spa heat some number of minutes before you use it (depending on how fast your heater can heat it up). You have to heat it up each time, and most folks don't leave their in-pool spa hot 24/7. I think it's possible to, with the right combination of automation and scheduling, but I don't think most folks do that.

 

[miltonmom]

@Dirk, @ Nikilyn, @ JJ_Texas - thank you all very much - great input! @ JJ_Texas - hope y'all are all right over there!