Issues with Spa Draining when in Spa Mode

[frl_atx]

Hi. I am new at pool ownership and we are having a problem with spa draining when we turn on our hot tub. Our hot tub is not a free-standing unit and is a part of the pool.

Our pool appears to have two main modes. Pool mode is when the pool is on and the pump is circulating water. When the pool is in pool mode, water comes from the spa and it overflows over the edges of the spa into the pool.

When we switch the pool into spa mode, the water is supposed to drop just slightly so that the warm water from the spa does not overflow into the cooler water of the pool. The jets are supposed to start spinning too.

The issue we are having is when we switch the pool from pool mode to spa mode, the water in the spa completely drains. We cannot seem to figure out how the actuator values are supposed to be positioned or where the blue valves on the tube should be positioned. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Is possible the blue valves are in the wrong position?

 

[generessler]

Yes it sounds like the valve actuator on the left in the pictures isn't working correctly. In spa mode, that should turn so that the "off" tab points to the right. That causes all the flow from the pump to return to the spa. If it doesn't flip, or if it only flips partially. the spa isn't a closed system. The pump is moving water out of the spa and into the pool until there is no more. Btw, avoid running the pump dry. It will overheat and bad things will follow.

In the picture, the valve is in a weird position. Normally it would be pointing full left for pool mode.

Could be it's manually turned off. There will be - around the back or the bottom - a 3-position toggle switch. Middle position is off, and the other two put it either in correct operating mode or the opposite.

if the switch is not in the middle, then there is a fault with the actuator, its wiring, or the automation panel. Let us know, and someone can help diagnose.

How do I know this stuff? When we moved in, one of our actuators - exactly the same type - didn't work either. Welcome to the joys (and sometimes sorrows) of pool ownership . In our case, it was a corroded connection.

 

[frl_atx]

Thanks for your help!