Identify Pipes w/ Check Valve
- Thread starter myeag
- Start date
Condition 1, 2 and 3 are all the same.
Loosen the knob and rotate the handle 180 degrees.
Loosen the knob and rotate the handle 180 degrees.
As you can see, the word Off is printed on the handle and it indicates where an internal gate is.
There is a stop on the handle to prevent full rotation, but you can lift the handle to get past the stops.
There is a stop on the handle to prevent full rotation, but you can lift the handle to get past the stops.
As noted, you do not want to deadhead your pump by blocking all returns, but the spa makeup line should allow water to go to the spa when the other two lines are closed.
If the filter pressure gets high, shut it off and reevaluate.
Put the pump on low speed to make everything safer.
If the filter pressure gets high, shut it off and reevaluate.
Put the pump on low speed to make everything safer.
OK. I see, I needed to have the valves with off with ‘Off’ pointed down to shut off the returns. I did this on low speed and the check valve in question remained closed. If this is a make up line then the only way it would open is if my spa and pool level were not equal (spa level would be low) correct? If this is the case, I would have to leave my spa bubbler return off until the spa level dropped and I really don’t want to do this until it warms up.
Were both lines closed?
If yes, where was the water going if the only open line is the far right line with the check valve?
Were you still getting action in the skimmer indicating that water was flowing?
Water should be going through the line causing the spa to overflow.
If yes, where was the water going if the only open line is the far right line with the check valve?
Were you still getting action in the skimmer indicating that water was flowing?
Water should be going through the line causing the spa to overflow.
I have to admit that I did not hold the valves in the (newly discovered) off position for very long, maybe a five seconds. When I shut both off the pump began to lose prime and I opened the pool return valve. Since it’s freezing at night and the freeze protection is kicking on I decide to stop to prevent damage to the pump. I would think though that what you are explaining is that if I shut off both valves that the make up valve should open up, allowing a return to the spa and my pump should not deadhead. What would be a safe amount of time to let the pump regain prime or should it be instantaneous?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,154
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Have you opened up the check valve to confirm that the spring and flapper are moving properly? Use a screwdriver, no power tools on the screws.
While you have the valve open you can turn on the pump and change the valves and see when water gushes out of the hole. That will let you understand when water is flowing down that pipe.
While you have the valve open you can turn on the pump and change the valves and see when water gushes out of the hole. That will let you understand when water is flowing down that pipe.
I am switching to a VS pump from my two speed in a couple of months. I will open up the valve then. I really appreciate your help. I will post what I discover.
If you put the "OFF" part of the valve at the red lines, you can verify the function of each line.
The green line is the flow.
Watch the filter pressure for each configuration to make sure that it is about the same for each configuration.
If it spikes on Configuration 3, the line is probably blocked. Turn off the pump right away to avoid problems.
_________________________________________________________________
Configuration 1.
All Flow to Line 1.
_________________________________________________________________
Configuration 2.
All Flow to Line 2.
_________________________________________________________________
Configuration 3.
All Flow to Line 3.
The green line is the flow.
Watch the filter pressure for each configuration to make sure that it is about the same for each configuration.
If it spikes on Configuration 3, the line is probably blocked. Turn off the pump right away to avoid problems.
_________________________________________________________________
Configuration 1.
All Flow to Line 1.
_________________________________________________________________
Configuration 2.
All Flow to Line 2.
_________________________________________________________________
Configuration 3.
All Flow to Line 3.
I did notice last night that the check valve spiked for a split second, but didn’t connect the dots. Could the check valve be bad as opposed to the line blocked?
BTW I really needed to see this. I’m a visual learner and the obvious sometimes goes over my head. This is really helpful. Thank you for taking the time to illustrate this.
Possibly.
Try Configuration 1 and 2 to verify the function of lines 1 and 2.
You can try Configuration 3 with the pump on low and then high, but if the line is blocked, then you can get high pressure on the filter but it should not exceed the filter pressure rating.
If the pressure spikes up on Configuration 3, turn the pump off immediately.
The pump can reach a maximum of about 37.5 psi, which is more than the pressure test limit, but not more than the working pressure limit.
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We are in a mini freeze spell at the moment. Once it warms up, I definitely will try. I can’t help but assume that all is working as it should because my spa / pool levels are functioning properly as the freeze protection cycle from pool to spa.
Line 1 and line 2 have to go to the Pool and not the Spa because they do not have a check valve.
Without a check valve, the Spa would drain into the pool through the plumbing.
The Spa Lines have a check valve.
The Pool Lines do not have a check valve.
Can you describe the returns in the Pool and in the Spa?
Without a check valve, the Spa would drain into the pool through the plumbing.
The Spa Lines have a check valve.
The Pool Lines do not have a check valve.
Can you describe the returns in the Pool and in the Spa?
Both are wall returns with multiple adjustable eyeballs.
Line 2 is definitely the pool bubblers, it’s too cold to stick my hand in the water to confirm that water actually flows through pool returns and at this time, I cannot visually see the flow from them. So, I’m assuming the pool returns work when pool bubblers are on.
Line 1 definitely controls the spa bubbler. Not sure if it controls anything else but I do know the wall returns don’t flow until the pool is in spa mode. And since the actuator shuts off lines 1/2
(confirmed) and pool / spa bubbles are shut off.
I don't think so.
I think that Line 1 is the pool wall returns.
I think that Line 2 is Pool Bubblers.
What does the writing say on line 1 and Line 2?
Line 3 is a Spa Bubbler.
The far left line is Spa Wall Returns.
OK. I shut off Line 1. You were absolutely correct. The pool wall returns shut off. I did this on low speed, then went to high speed. The flow on spa spillway sped up. Dropped it down to low speed and shut off both lines then went to high speed. The flow on the spa spillway went wild, you’d think the blower was on, the water flow was even faster over the spillway. However, that check valve did not open and the spa bubbler stayed on in both conditions.
If both of the lines are closed, then the check valve has to be open.
Maybe you are not looking closely enough?
In my opinion, line 3 is Spa Makeup/Bubbler and the check valve is opening.
If all other lines are closed and you have water flowing, then the water has to be going through the only open line (line 3), which means that the check valve flap is opening.
That’s a possibility. Between the filter pressure and the spa flow going crazy, maybe I didn’t notice the valve opening. But, most definitely Line 1 is the pool wall returns and Line 2 is the pool bubblers.