
Hi all,
I have a new customer that may (or may not) have an issue with his pool setup. I apologize for not getting a photo of the actual pool but here's the equipment pad. The pool has an attached spa with spill to pool. Total volume is 10,000 gallons and there are two deck jets on the outer edge of the pool (same side) 12 feet apart controlled by the ball valves nearest the bottom of the photo (currently turned off). The ball valve farthest away on the return side is for the spa and I have the pool return all the way open. The Jandy valve closest can divert all return to the spa. Customer bought the heater himself just before pool completion (two months ago) and the pool builder agreed to plumb it in. There is no diverter valve or check valve associated with the heater so water is always flowing through it. There's a chlorine feeder there too, barely visible behind the J box.
Here's the problem: I removed the cartridge from the filter. It was pretty gummed up. I have it soaking at the side of my house in a trash can full of detergent to see if I can get the slime out of it. No biggie if we have to drop in a new pleatco, probably better than the original anyway. Starting pressure on prime (3450 rpm on the v-speed) is 20 psi. I haven't seen a pool run that high unless there was something wrong or a big solar lift. The deck jets are off balance. you have to open the second one all the way and barely open the first one to get them both at the same height. When the spa is open on it's own (no return or drain to pool and no air blower on) there is a strong jet of bubbles that come from the returns into the spa continuously. I didn't think there would be air going back to the spa unless the blower was on (and that would be a separate circuit) but I stand to be corrected.
Customer contacted the builder with these concerns and was told that the pump is not strong enough to run the setup he has. If he wants the spa and the deck jets running the pump must be upgraded. He must also install automation so that he can turn on the deck jets and have them running properly but at this time there is no fault with the current build. It will cost almost $5k for the conversion.
I've advised the customer to get an independent certified pool inspector and put a valve in so that he can divert the heater flow and that may give him more pressure to where he wants it to go. What say you guys?