New pool owner - help labeling valves + what is this new staining?

[LulzImAHippo]

(if this post is in the wrong section, please let me know and I'll correct it asap)
Hi everyone

First time pool owner here trying to make sense of all this equipment. Specifically, I need help labeling my valves because my pool guy is also having trouble putting them to their correct positions lol

With all the youtube videos and diagrams I've seen, those people seem to have more valves and actuators than I do. So I'm confused what's what on my setup.

1. This is the current valve position I have them in, and it seems to be running okay? All I know is that when Valve 2 gets turned, my spa starts draining. I can't figure out what Valve 1 controls. For Valve 1, the only label that's visible is here that says 'Pool Return' for the pipe going up from Valve 1. What's the pipe going down from Valve 1? And I also can't figure out what Valve 3 does. Valve 3 can be turned manually and does not have an actuator on it.
2. One of these valves is supposed to control the suction right? So that one side is skimmer suction, and the other is pool side suction. Which one would that be, and should I have this valve set to the middle position?
3. There are 2 faucets I've labeled here. One by the filters, and another at the top by the salt cell. What are these for? I don't see faucets on other people's pool setup.
4. In that picture that's pulled out, you can see some new weird staining on my filter housing. I had a pretty big algae buildup that I'm still treating. Do you think the staining is related to that? How can I get it out? No changes at all when I take a hose to it lol
5. Also, why do my actuators set my valves all the way to one side or the other? I've seen some pool setups where the valve is set in the middle position. So instead of turning 180 degrees, their valve turn only 90 degrees, but mine seem to be all the way one side or the other. As long as this is okay then I won't worry about trying to understand it
6. Does anybody know how to backwash my filters?

Sorry, my pool guy is a family friend, so I'm obligated to keep him around. And yet, he genuinely has zero clue how to operate and troubleshoot this system lol....

 

[1poolman1]

If your pool guy can't figure it out, you need a new one. Your pool is not that complicated. You move a valve and watch what happens. Can't tell what the blue-handled valves do without being there and watching.

Valve #1 is the one that directs water to either the pool or spa. In the picture it looks like it is directing water to the pool. There is a small toggle switch at the bottom/back of the actuator. Be sure that it is not in the "center" position. Flip it one way. If the valve starts to move flip it all the way past center to the other position. If it never moves you probably need a new actuator.
Valve #2 is the one that determines where the water is coming from, pool or spa. In the picture it looks like it is pulling water from the pool.
Valve #3 may be for a dedicated cleaner port in the side of the pool or to balance between the skimmer and man drain. Can't see the pool to know.

Without seeing the pool in operation, it looks like there is a dedicated fill/overflow line to the spa, so your valves can turn 180 with no problems.
Also, it is common for builders to plumb so that the valve handles both point in one direction for the pool, in this case to the left, and one direction for the spa.

If you engage the spa at the automation and the handle on valve two doesn't change, that is why the spa is draining. Switch in the wrong position or the actuator is bad

If that is, in fact, a DE filter, you can't backwash as you have no valve. It could be a cartridge DE, in which case you just open the filter, spray the cartridges off, reassemble, add DE through the skimmer and you are done. They do not backwash or the cartridges can be damaged.

The hose bib at the salt cell is used to drain water. The anti-siphon valve at the filter is your pool-fill valve.

Filer tank staining is . . . ? It should wash off with dishwashing soap. It probably doesn't hurt anything, just not pretty. You will want to clean the filter tank lid, get all the dust off of it, I use a Scotch scrubber. Spray paint it with a clear paint. It will show all the flaws but will also help stop the fiberglass tank from deteriorating more than it is. Soon, if that isn't done, the glass fibers will get into your hands/arms/clothes when you service the filter. Happens to every one of those Pentair filters and any other brand with a fiberglass tank.

Pentair used to make the almond paint that matches the original finish but it has been discontinued. Krylon make one that is very close if you don't want to go clear. Is usually required about every 5 years.

 

[LulzImAHippo]

If your pool guy can't figure it out, you need a new one. Your pool is not that complicated. You move a valve and watch what happens. Can't tell what the blue-handled valves do without being there and watching.

Valve #1 is the one that directs water to either the pool or spa. In the picture it looks like it is directing water to the pool. There is a small toggle switch at the bottom/back of the actuator. Be sure that it is not in the "center" position. Flip it one way. If the valve starts to move flip it all the way past center to the other position. If it never moves you probably need a new actuator.
Valve #2 is the one that determines where the water is coming from, pool or spa. In the picture it looks like it is pulling water from the pool.
Valve #3 may be for a dedicated cleaner port in the side of the pool or to balance between the skimmer and man drain. Can't see the pool to know.

Without seeing the pool in operation, it looks like there is a dedicated fill/overflow line to the spa, so your valves can turn 180 with no problems.
Also, it is common for builders to plumb so that the valve handles both point in one direction for the pool, in this case to the left, and one direction for the spa.

If you engage the spa at the automation and the handle on valve two doesn't change, that is why the spa is draining. Switch in the wrong position or the actuator is bad

If that is, in fact, a DE filter, you can't backwash as you have no valve. It could be a cartridge DE, in which case you just open the filter, spray the cartridges off, reassemble, add DE through the skimmer and you are done. They do not backwash or the cartridges can be damaged.

The hose bib at the salt cell is used to drain water. The anti-siphon valve at the filter is your pool-fill valve.

Filer tank staining is . . . ? It should wash off with dishwashing soap. It probably doesn't hurt anything, just not pretty. You will want to clean the filter tank lid, get all the dust off of it, I use a Scotch scrubber. Spray paint it with a clear paint. It will show all the flaws but will also help stop the fiberglass tank from deteriorating more than it is. Soon, if that isn't done, the glass fibers will get into your hands/arms/clothes when you service the filter. Happens to every one of those Pentair filters and any other brand with a fiberglass tank.

Pentair used to make the almond paint that matches the original finish but it has been discontinued. Krylon make one that is very close if you don't want to go clear. Is usually required about every 5 years.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. That really made a lot of things come together and I can't thank you enough!