So my builder just handed the pool off, and I have some questions about the plumbing as well as a future self install Helicol project in a couple weeks.
So... My questions are going to revolve around that bypass valve and how it is all plumbed. The builder set the valve labeled bypass halfway between the heater loop and the direct return. I assume with a typical 3 way valve, this means that both are open (note it's plumbed as a left 90, not as a typical 180 as every other valve in the system... don't know why or if it's correct)
Anyhow, I don't possibly see how this can work at all. With both the heater loop and direct return open on that valve, I don't see how any water flows through the heater at all. My limited understanding of fluid dynamics tells me that the pressure on both sides of the heater will be the same, therefore no water (or at the very least minimal water) will flow through the heater.
Can someone please explain? I would understand if the valve had an actuator that turned off the direct return when the heater was on and turned off the heater loop when it wasn't on, but there is not an auto actuator. This is pure manual control on the bypass valve.
Second question. They stubbed the plumbing as shown above for future solar which I will be working on myself in a couple weeks... again, Same question, I don't see at all how this is going to work for the same reasons I expressed above. Can someone please explain?
Thanks everyone!
So... My questions are going to revolve around that bypass valve and how it is all plumbed. The builder set the valve labeled bypass halfway between the heater loop and the direct return. I assume with a typical 3 way valve, this means that both are open (note it's plumbed as a left 90, not as a typical 180 as every other valve in the system... don't know why or if it's correct)
Anyhow, I don't possibly see how this can work at all. With both the heater loop and direct return open on that valve, I don't see how any water flows through the heater at all. My limited understanding of fluid dynamics tells me that the pressure on both sides of the heater will be the same, therefore no water (or at the very least minimal water) will flow through the heater.
Can someone please explain? I would understand if the valve had an actuator that turned off the direct return when the heater was on and turned off the heater loop when it wasn't on, but there is not an auto actuator. This is pure manual control on the bypass valve.
Second question. They stubbed the plumbing as shown above for future solar which I will be working on myself in a couple weeks... again, Same question, I don't see at all how this is going to work for the same reasons I expressed above. Can someone please explain?
Thanks everyone!