How is my built in spa section supposed to work!

[meestahmarc]

Hi -

I have a small section in the corner of my pool, that is walled off. There are 4 jets going into it and there is a valvle on the return side that lets me direct water to there, the pool or to both. There are also two drains on the floor of this spa section. In the wall of the spa there is a small cutout, but my water which is pretty full, does not really flow over the wall (it does when the pool is really full - but then the skimmer water level is too high.

So - is water supposed to really be going from the drain bottom to the pump and then out the jets?

What confuses me is that on the suction side there are 3 pipes going into the pump, 2 of them are for the skimmer baskets (2 baskets), so that leaves one more pipe going to the pump - I thought this pipe was for the "main" pool drain, but I have no idea. Could it be for the spa? Where does the main floor drain go to or do they all tie-in...

Thanks. Sorry for my long winded description. I am new, but made huge progress in 10 days!

 

[mknauss]

One of the valves going into the pump is for the spa drain. Your main drain is most likely plumbed to one of your skimmers.

With pump off, move the suction valve to pull from the one you think is the spa. Change the return valve to the spa only.

Turn on the pump. Then slowly close the two valves you say are from the skimmers. If the pump starts to get water starved, open the skimmer valve. If not, bingo, your spa should be circulating water.

 

[ajw22]

Hi -

I have a small section in the corner of my pool, that is walled off. There are 4 jets going into it and there is a valvle on the return side that lets me direct water to there, the pool or to both. There are also two drains on the floor of this spa section.

In the wall of the spa there is a small cutout, but my water which is pretty full, does not really flow over the wall (it does when the pool is really full - but then the skimmer water level is too high.

You can get water flowing down your SPA spillway while your pool is running by putting your SPA/POOL return valve about 70% towards the POOL return and leaving some flow into the SPA return. This will circulate water through your spa and ensure the SPA water stays sanitary.

So - is water supposed to really be going from the drain bottom to the pump and then out the jets?

When both the suction valve and return valve are in SPA then the pump will draw water from the two floor drains and recirculate it into the spa returns.

What confuses me is that on the suction side there are 3 pipes going into the pump, 2 of them are for the skimmer baskets (2 baskets), so that leaves one more pipe going to the pump - I thought this pipe was for the "main" pool drain, but I have no idea. Could it be for the spa? Where does the main floor drain go to or do they all tie-in...

As Marty said, the main drain may be connected into one of the skimmers.

I think it is more likely the two skimmers are connected in series to one of your pipes and the main drain is the other pipe.

If you post some pics of your equipment pad and valves and spa controls it would help us understand your situation better.

 

[meestahmarc]

Thanks, I am certain that each skimmer is on separate pipe on my pad. Not sure where the main drain is going. Makes sense what you are saying about the floor drains in the spa and the valve on the return side. I will try this all out tomorrow night. I attached a few pictures o my equipment. Not great pics, but on the return side there is one jandy valve the switch between spa return and pool return jets. Thank you for the help.

 

[ajw22]

I don't know what the valve setting is in the pic you posted. But I want to point out that the way the valves are you are only pulling from one of your three suction lines.

 

[meestahmarc]

Thank you. Yes, this was before I knew anything at all... Currently I have the left most Jandy open and pulling from both pipes which each go to the skimmers. The right side - never was sure what it was and actually didnt go into the spa to test the floor drains. I got the rest of the pool working and water was clean and tested good. i was just pushing some water out the spa jets to get the chlorinated water into the spa. I think opening that other valve and pulling from the spa floor makes total sense and will be AWESOME!

 

[ajw22]

Thank you. Yes, this was before I knew anything at all... Currently I have the left most Jandy open and pulling from both pipes which each go to the skimmers.

So you rotated the left side valve between the two pipes coming out of the ground and observed that the valve cut off flow from one skimmer or the other?

The right side - never was sure what it was and actually didnt go into the spa to test the floor drains. I got the rest of the pool working and water was clean and tested good. i was just pushing some water out the spa jets to get the chlorinated water into the spa. I think opening that other valve and pulling from the spa floor makes total sense and will be AWESOME!

Likely that right pipe is the SPA suction from the two floor drains in the spa.

 

[meestahmarc]

yes, left side works the two skimmers, no doubt... right side- didn't know exactly. Thought it was the main drain before I starting inquiring about the spa. This now makes perfect sense. thankyou