Heater Valve Question

[228newbie]

This is how the pool service guy told me to set my heat pump valves, the bottom is the inlet and the top is the outlet, on the inlet Jandy valve I feel as though the off should be facing up, but he told me this is the correct position. What's the correct position for this setup, because as per my understanding the bottom 3-way is wide open, sending some water to the heater and some bypassing it. Thanks in advance guys.

 

[wireform]

Yes and no. The bottom valve is sending both ways but you should never have two valves. The output of the heater should not have a valve and the bypass from the lower valve should be connected after the check valve. This set up can by mistake leave you pumping to the heater without the output being open which is called dead heading and can break the heater core.

 

[228newbie]

Yes and no. The bottom valve is sending both ways but you should never have two valves. The output of the heater should not have a valve and the bypass from the lower valve should be connected after the check valve. This set up can by mistake leave you pumping to the heater without the output being open which is called dead heading and can break the heater core.

The manual for the heat pump advises putting an isolation loop using 3 check valves, the installer used this setup to accomplish the same thing with fewer valves. Attaching excerpt from the manual. I am not a plumber by any means, but from what I am seeing (and my very limited knowledge) it looks as though the plumbing conforms to the manual's instruction.

 

[proavia]

The upper valve in your pic isn't needed. One Jandy valve at the inlet, one Jandy check Vlve at the outlet and one PVC 'T' will do it.

File:Heater Bypass Schematic.jpg - Further Reading

 

[bradgray]

The manual for the heat pump advises putting an isolation loop using 3 check valves, the installer used this setup to accomplish the same thing with fewer valves. Attaching excerpt from the manual. I am not a plumber by any means, but from what I am seeing (and my very limited knowledge) it looks as though the plumbing conforms to the manual's instruction.

View attachment 474825

I agree that the installer made a clever adjustment, and it does conform to the diagram shown.

But I also agree with Allan. Having 1 three-way on the intake, and then a CV immediately upon exit of the heater and then a Tee connected to the former three-way, is ideal. His attached diagram shows this in a visual way.

@wireform what do you think of OP moving the CV to the 3 way body in the same orientation, and then replacing the OG CV with a clear lid? Rather than replumbing and needing to replace the heater unions.

 

[proavia]

A check valve won't work in a 3-way valve body. It will work in a 2-way valve body.

It may be possible to use the next larger pipe sized couplers on the exterior of the heater unions. That is definitely possible on the Jandy 3-way valves and Jandy check valve (2"id/2.5"od - or - 1.5"id/2"od).

And a bit of gluing and at least one fitting could be saved by moving the oulet unikn with the 3-way to the inlet location and just replumb the rest, using the outside of the collars instead of the inside.

 

[228newbie]

I appreciate all the feedback, but at this time I am not looking to replumb the piping, just wanting to verify the proper positions for the two valves.

 

[mknauss]

If you wish to fully bypass the heater, point the OFF on both valves toward the heater.

 

[proavia]

Never set the upper valve handle (outlet) where OFF will face the check valve as that will deadhead the pump.

To totally bypass the heater, the word OFF on BOTH handles need to point toward the heater.
To have all water flow thru the heater, the word OFF on BOTH handles must point up in your picture.

Sorry to say, but your pool service guy lead you astray. Having to manipulate two valves to bypass the heater doubles the possibility of having a valve set incorrectly and causing possible damage.

 

[228newbie]

Never set the upper valve handle (outlet) where OFF will face the check valve as that will deadhead the pump.

To totally bypass the heater, the word OFF on BOTH handles need to point toward the heater.
To have all water flow thru the heater, the word OFF on BOTH handles must point up in your picture.

Sorry to say, but your pool service guy lead you astray. Having to manipulate two valves to bypass the heater doubles the possibility of having a valve set incorrectly and causing possible damage.

I have been waiting since December and this was the third company I had to do the job. First one strung me along and said they couldn't do the job only after I contacted them after a week. The second ones came out, did an hours worth of work and left after I had been waiting for them for a month, being told they would be there the next day then never showing. So this guy actually sent someone out the same week and they did the work in two days so I have to take what I can get. This is in a short term rental, so the longer it went unheated was money I missed from reservations not made because the pool is not heated.

Thinking about it, I think what I will do is properly align the valves and remove the handles and stow them to avoid anyone fiddling with them.

 

[proavia]

Being in a short term rental and having two valves that can be misconfigured makes this set up even worse.
It's really a pretty easy DYI to fix it correctly.

Please go to your profile and add your location as city, state. Having '228' or a zipcode doesn't assist us in knowing your location so we can provide location specific help.

 

[228newbie]

Being in a short term rental and having two valves that can be misconfigured makes this set up even worse.
It's really a pretty easy DYI to fix it correctly.

Please go to your profile and add your location as city, state. Having '228' or a zipcode doesn't assist us in knowing your location so we can provide location specific help.

I may DIY it in the future, I am pretty handy but have never worked with pools before, but with the advice given here it sounds like an easy job since I can use the OD instead of the ID. I appreciate all the feedback.

 

[proavia]

Yeah, in the long run, you will be better off - especially since others will have access to that area.
If you can do PVC sprinkler pipes, you can do this. It just takes a bit more diligence in measuring as 2" pipe doesn't bend as easy as 3/4" - so a little less forgiving .

Thanks for editing your profile with better location and adding the other items too.
So I'm guessing around Gulfport-Biloxi - pretty area....

 

[228newbie]

Yeah, in the long run, you will be better off - especially since others will have access to that area.
If you can do PVC sprinkler pipes, you can do this. It just takes a bit more diligence in measuring as 2" pipe doesn't bend as easy as 3/4" - so a little less forgiving .

Thanks for editing your profile with better location and adding the other items too.
So I'm guessing around Gulfport-Biloxi - pretty area....

Yeah, I think it will be fine for now with me removing the handles. The area is correct, just east of Biloxi in a little town called Ocean Springs.

 

[bradgray]

A check valve won't work in a 3-way valve body. It will work in a 2-way valve body.

Maybe it's brand specific? We found success wirh it before on an older pool that had years of caked paint and glue on the pipe. CV fit and worked like we wanted. Very similar to OPs setup but for different application.

 

[bradgray]

Yeah, I think it will be fine for now with me removing the handles. The area is correct, just east of Biloxi in a little town called Ocean Springs.

Something to keep in mind, taking the handles off may reduce the odds it get rotated, but it also makes it nearly impossible to quickly visually inspect and confirm they weren't.

If you have the handles available anywhere else on your system, there will be a guest someday at some point, that will move it around because he's "smart" and has his own pool.

We've had guests take pliers to them before because they were convinced they could make it work better for their vacation.

 

[ajw22]

Something to keep in mind, taking the handles off may reduce the odds it get rotated, but it also makes it nearly impossible to quickly visually inspect and confirm they weren't.

Paint a white tattletale line along the stem and body. If the line no longer aligns the stem was turned.

It also gives guests a guide of where to return it to if they made adjustments during their stay.

 

[228newbie]

Y'all keep messing around, I am going to have a welder fabricate a metal box that locks and covers the whole dang 3-way valve on the outlet side.

 

[Ahultin]

Maybe it's brand specific? We found success wirh it before on an older pool that had years of caked paint and glue on the pipe. CV fit and worked like we wanted. Very similar to OPs setup but for different application.

Not that it is 100% confirmation but there is someone selling a jandy check valve in a 3 way body on eBay. Based on the photos it appears to work.

Jandy Large 3 WAY 2-1/2-Inch to 3-Inch Pool/Spa Check Valve | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Jandy Large 3 WAY 2-1/2-Inch to 3-Inch Pool/Spa Check Valve at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[ajw22]

Putting the CV on a 3 way will only work if the valve has one input with two outputs. The CV flapper is positioned over the input port and will prevent backflow to the input pipe. It will not prevent siphoning or backflow between the output ports.

If a 3 way is installed to select between two inputs for one output the CV will not work as it would be of little value on one inout and not the other.

Overall a CV inserted in a 3-way diverter can be very confusing as to what the CV is actually doing.