Newly inherited pool. PVC pipe purposely cut which is introducing air into the return jets. Any ideas why?

[uh2]

First off, I purchased our new (to us) home in January. The existing pool was slightly green, but clear. We hired a pool service to maintain it while we moved from across the country in 30 days time. Even after that, I watched as the "technician" just dumped gallons of bleach into the pool, with no change to the water. He even told me "See this level here? This chemical is too high and I can't bring it down". This was the point where I asked myself why I was paying this person to do absolutely nothing? I went back and read the first testing levels they sent via email (which is why I went with this service...I like to know what's going on) and my CYA was over 300! Now, back then I didn't know WTH CYA meant. My point is...this forum has been a tremendous resource for me and it has saved me $$, and now I can take care of my own pool. We ended up dumping the water, cleaning the sides and bottom and refilling it...and it's crystal clear now.

Anyways...thanks everyone here who contributes!

So, I have a really strange ...issue..with my pump but that's a secondary question to the one I'm about to ask. When we moved in, the pump was schedule to run every day for 6 hours, and then do a high speed run for like an hour I believe. I could see the jets pumping out water and bubbles furiously every day. Now, apparently because of changes to what the pump is doing (I'll get to that in a later post), I'm seeing less bubbles during the normal cycle and the usual "furious" bubbles during the high speed run...which makes sense because the pump is running faster. I *thought* this was normal...until I started seeing posts about people complaining of air in their return jets. Whoops...maybe I have a leak somewhere? And then...I remembered....there's a huge chunk of PVC pipe missing in one of the pipes on the equipment pad. It's not damaged....it was purposely cut. So...curious me...I go out and cover the hole with my hand and sure enough...the bubbles go away.

What purpose does this hole serve? To introduce aeration? To drive future homeowners crazy?

Thoughts?

 

[kul]

I also have a similar cut. Always wondered why it was done because it does seem intentional. When the spa is on if I put my hand near it I feel air blowing out. I was told by my pool guy that it was something to do with the spa bubbles. Doesn’t seem to be a problem and I don’t have any water leaking or issues with the air bubbles in pool so I never thought much about it until your post. Am interested to hear what others think about this.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Do you have a spa?

Do you have a salt water chlorine generator?

Normally, that type of pipe would serve as an air vent for the spa venturi system. It's what creates the bubbles that we want in our spas. Generally, the higher the speeds, the more bubbles you get. If it's allowing bubbles through the pool returns, than something else it going on.

When you cover the vent, do the air bubbles in the pool stop as well?

 

[uh2]

Do you have a spa?

Do you have a salt water chlorine generator?

Normally, that type of pipe would serve as an air vent for the spa venturi system. It's what creates the bubbles that we want in our spas. Generally, the higher the speeds, the more bubbles you get. If it's allowing bubbles through the pool returns, than something else it going on.

When you cover the vent, do the air bubbles in the pool stop as well?

No SWCG (But I wish I had one). In the development plans and somewhere in the Intellitouch config I did see a chlorinator checked off in the config and written down on the install plans, but I see no evidence anywhere on one inline. If it was there before, it's gone now. No spa, but there's a solar heater attached and it's configured in the panel as "Spa" which switches the valve over to circulate the water through the tubes. There's no spa action going on in the pool tough. There is a setting for "jets" which I guess, now that I think about it..kinda turns the pool into a spa.

When I cover the vent, the bubbles go away but the jets are still running. This was on the normal low setting, I didn't try the high speed setting.

So, obviously this was done by design it seems and I shouldn't worry about it?

 

[proavia]

At 3700 gallons, you probably have a "spool" - spa/pool combo.
That pipe with the slit in it adds air to the jets when in spa mode.

Please add model numbers of equipment to your signature (including EasyTouch model number).
Also post a few pics of the equipment from a little further back and a few different angles so we can see all the equipment. A few pool pics may help too.

 

[uh2]

At 3700 gallons, you probably have a "spool" - spa/pool combo.
That pipe with the slit in it adds air to the jets when in spa mode.

Please add model numbers of equipment to your signature (including EasyTouch model number).
Also post a few pics of the equipment from a little further back and a few different angles so we can see all the equipment. A few pool pics may help too.

I tried adding pics earlier but they were too large. I'll have to resize them and try again. I'll update my signature.

 

[uh2]

Sig updated but I couldn't find a model # for the EasyTouch.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Beautiful "spool" and great equipment. So it looks like the vent is part plumbing design.

With the constant aeration, you may see significant pH rise. To control pH, you add muriatic acid which, in turn, lowers TA. If you have problems keeping TA in range or if you want to slow pH rise, you can add a simple ball-valve to control air flow to the venturi vent. I use one for my spa venturi to control blower pressure. It's a cheap fix. If things stay stable, keep it as is.

 

[uh2]

Beautiful "spool" and great equipment. So it looks like the vent is part plumbing design.

With the constant aeration, you may see significant pH rise. To control pH, you add muriatic acid which, in turn, lowers TA. If you have problems keeping TA in range or if you want to slow pH rise, you can add a simple ball-valve to control air flow to the venturi vent. I use one for my spa venturi to control blower pressure. It's a cheap fix. If things stay stable, keep it as is.

I'm dealing with the constant PH rise right now! It wasn't so bad before it became consistently warm and sunny...but now I feel like I'm in a 15 round title fight with PH right now. I've gone through a ton of MA lately and I figured it was a combination of UV/Sun/Temps/Aeration

Thanks for the suggestion on the ball valve. I think I'm going to definitely need it.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Makes sense. Just open up the valve when you want bubbles. You could also use a diverter valve similar to your others, and automate with a valve actuator. It's a bit more complicated and probably more than you need.

 

[uh2]

Thanks @Rancho Cost-a-Lotta . I think the ball valve is the cheapest, simplest option. There's actually a hot tub just above the spool on our deck (not in use right now), so if I want bubbles we can utilize that. It's an older unit so we're looking at replacing it and the deck flooring at the same time within a year or so.

Maaaaybe when it gets into the 90's and above here in the summer we'll need/want some bubbles. The Home Automation geek in me says to automate all the things, but I don't know if this is worth it. A simple ball valve would suffice.

 

[jedigrover]

As others have said, you have a "spool" or "swim spa", and a pretty one. Those are nice. I sometimes wish I had a decent-sized "spool" instead of a pool/spa combo.
As soon as I saw the pipe, I knew this was air-admittance for a spa's venturis. Mine has a blower motor attached. If you want bigger / lots of bubbles, you could do that too & automate it. Just get the quietest blower you can find, as they can be noisy. If you go that route, an air-calibrated check-valve is added to the stand-pipe to prevent any possibility of water-flow back to the blower. That would help reduce (but not eliminate) the air bubbles coming in during normal filtration. If you don't want to do a blower setup, then I would suggest a 2-way Jandy valve with an actuator so you can turn the bubbles on / off with the push of a button.

 

[uh2]

Thanks @jedigrover , I may put some thought into the additional Jandy valve. I would assume we could integrate it into the Easy Touch and control it from ScreenLogic. Decisions...Decisions....

I'll take some better pictures today once I get a break from work so people can see the spool. The previous owners spent a LOT of money on it.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

The previous owners spent a LOT of money on it.

The equipment list is awesome for a 3,700 pool. If it was my pool, I would automate the valve. You won't miss the +/- $250 when you hit the button or order up bubbles though Alexa.

I added a blower to spa as well. It definitely adds some thump to the water. Well worth the $135 investment. YMMV.

 

[uh2]

More pics

TFP helped me turn this from a green ick to this. Thanks again everyone.

 

[kul]

Oooh la la love it!

 

[jedigrover]

That looks like fun party times!

 

[uh2]

That looks like fun party times!

Our previously postponed family reunion (We moved to the Bay Area temporarily then sold our house in Ohio when we moved back, and rented a much smaller house for 2 years in preparation for our move to SD county) on July 4th is happening here this year so that will be the first test of party time!


Oh, I had a tech come back to replace the light fixture and he was able to reconfigure the EasyTouch so that when the pump filter is running daily, it's bypassing the pipe with the vent in it. No need for a ball or Jentry valve!! Unfortunately now we're dealing with the wires being stuck underground and having to drain the pool water level below the light fixture niche. Sigh. Fun times.

 

[jedigrover]

Unfortunately now we're dealing with the wires being stuck underground and having to drain the pool water level below the light fixture niche. Sigh. Fun times.

I've replaced a spa light before, so yeah, I understand. That is one nice thing about the pool/spa combo. If I need to drain the spa to do work, I can just pump it all to the pool, do my work, and pump it back to re-fill. Pulling the new light cord through the conduit can be a real pain.

 

[uh2]

I've replaced a spa light before, so yeah, I understand. That is one nice thing about the pool/spa combo. If I need to drain the spa to do work, I can just pump it all to the pool, do my work, and pump it back to re-fill. Pulling the new light cord through the conduit can be a real pain.

We had to cut the conduit at the equipment pad to find the stuck wires.
Thankfully it was right there. We repaired the PVC and filled the pool back up. Everything is working now. What a PITA and not cheap at all.