Hello from San Diego (La Mesa, to be exact)

[chrispiekarski]

hi everyone, my girlfriend has a 2,000 gallon spa using bromine. It has a Jandy heater (260K BTU), a Hayward DE filter (24 sq ft), and a Pentair Intelliflo vasriable speed pump.

I can’t figure out if this system has a backflush for the DE filter. Can someone look at my piping, and make an educated guess?

If it sounds like I’m a pool pro, I’m not, but I am a chemical engineer, so this is all familiar to me (I stopped working in chemical plants 25 years ago, because stuff kept blowing up!) Any advice is welcome

 

[TinFoilHat]

You do not have a backwash valve. One can be added though.

 

[chrispiekarski]

Thanks TFH. That’s what I thought. Any guess what that block valve & downspout are for? I’m referring to the valve & downspout next to the pump feed just before the inlet filter

 

[TinFoilHat]

I do not but it could have been a previously connected suction line from the pool. Perhaps from the main drain? I assume the skimmer is working so that would be the lone suction line going into the pump. My understanding is that you should also have a bypass on the heater. Then the tall cylinder is a chlorine tab feeder but we don't recommend using tabs because they put CYA or CH into the water with every tab which will mess with the water balance. We recommend liquid chlorine and really, really recommend salt water chlorine generators.

You should get one of the recommended test kits (I recommend the TFPro) and post up the water test results when you get it. That way we can guide you on how to keep the pool clean and sanitized. Read through the Pool School in the left pane and especially about the FC/CYA relationship. If the pool is exhibiting signs of algae then add 1/3-1/2 gallon of liquid chlorine per day until you can get the test kit.
Pool Care Basics
Test Kits Compared
FC/CYA Levels

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

The mystery pipe you are referring to maybe an air Inlet for the venturi system on the spa. Normally these vent pipes are just left open, but closing the valve would eliminate or greatly reduce the amount of bubbles coming from the returns. This would help to keep pH and ta stable.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Post up in your signature, the deets about the pool and it's equipment. You can find the signature feature within your profile link at the top of the page.