Not enough water on spa jets

[Ti3155]

Hello ,
I posted in the past but Im thinking of solution to my situation
I want to fix the spa water pressure through the jets.

Last year I ran 2" pipe for the blower and 2" pipe for the returns , didn't changed too much but it helps.

I want to cut the concrete 4x4 just to access the main drain connection under the slad and run a new 3" line outside of the slab (not under it)
The problem ( see picture 3) there is a sloap and I will have to go down and back up on the other side of the deck then to the pump
My questions:
Is the slope goint to effect the suction side ? it will slow down ?
Is adding 3" pipe and replacing it with the 1.5" , leaving 2" to the return line (my pb did everything with 2" pipes through the wall and its not down to 1.5" (maybe that is one of the problems)


Thank you

 

[mas985]

Changes in elevation will not have any effect on total head loss.

Replacing 1.5" with 3" suction will certainly help some but you may also need to replace the 2" line as well.

Transitions from larger pipe to smaller is not really a big issue. That is normally done at the spa jet anyway.

But lets look at the overall design before deciding on next steps.

1) What is the make/model of your jet pump?

2) Does the jet water go through filter and/or heater?

3) How many jets do you have and what size nozzle orifice do they have?

Often times you can easily fix spa jet strength by downsizing the orifice diameter.

 

[Ti3155]

Thank you for your comment , I’m sorry but I’m little bit confused , currently what I have is the following .

Shared pool/spa , 1 VSF pump , going through filter , heater and salt cell , then going back to pool/spa

In pool mode , water going through above with all 1.5” plumbing , except the returns for the spa then I have a spillover, so basicly the return to the pool and the spa going back to the pool/spa from one pump

In spa mode , the actuators turns and close the pool main drain , skimmers and the returns to the pool and then the spa is working on its own , main drain from spa is 1.5” and the return to spa are 2” , I also have a blower plumbed with 2” pipe.

I believe there’s not enough water draining from the spa so there’s not enough water coming back to the spa return , suction 1.5” , pressure 2” , I call the returns “jets” , so they only effective and can be felt when I’m using the blower otherwise you can’t really feel the return in spa (feel but very little).

3) How many jets do you have and what size nozzle orifice do they have? , I have 6 returns at the spa and I think the orifice inside is 1/2” , I tried that also , to replace it with longer one , shorter one , smaller one , nothing changed.

Hope that help , thank you

 

[Ti3155]

Replacing 1.5" with 3" suction will certainly help some but you may also need to replace the 2" line as well.

Are you talking about replacing the 2” return line back to 1.5”? Or the air blower ?THANKS

Added pictures

 

[ajw22]

What model filter, pump and heater do you have?

 

[mas985]

Shared pool/spa , 1 VSF pump , going through filter , heater and salt cell , then going back to pool/spa

Make and model of the pump?

3) How many jets do you have and what size nozzle orifice do they have? , I have 6 returns at the spa and I think the orifice inside is 1/2” , I tried that also , to replace it with longer one , shorter one , smaller one , nothing changed.

I believe you are referring to the exterior eyeball. The nozzle is deep within the spa wall:



With 6 jets and 3/8" standard nozzles, you will need at least 2.5" plumbing on BOTH the suction and return lines.

But again, if you change out the jets to 1/4", then you might be able to get away with what you have now.

 

[Ti3155]

Pump is pentair vsf I'm not sure model but I bought the vsf and I think they only had one last year ,

No , I was talking about The jet inside not the eyeball ,

So fo you think 3" suction and 2" returns will not work good ?

Thanks

 

[mas985]

If the nozzle is really 1/2", then you will need over 180 GPM to get them to work properly. The Intelliflo VSF cannot deliver that much flow rate.

A much cheaper solution is to find new jet inserts with a smaller orifice (5/16"). Those will only require 10 GPM each instead of 30 GPM each which is much easier to obtain with your setup.

 

[Ti3155]

I'm so confused now lol , how can I replace the parts and replace the jets ? I'm so so confused now idk where to start now and how I can find the parts , where to start

 

[mas985]

You already took one out in this post; Not enough water on spa jets

This is the nozzle:

It should have a part# on it. BTW, that orifice does not look to be 1/2". In the picture, you are measuring the wrong side. The nozzle orifice is the other side (i.e. smaller inner dimension)

 

[Ti3155]

So you're saying replace those with smaller nuzzle?
Then change spa drain to 3" and can I use the existing 2" for the returns ? Or I must change to 3" and the 2' to 2.5"

 

[mas985]

First get an accurate measurement of the nozzle orifice. At the same time, see if there is a part # on the current nozzle. Both will determine the best path forward.

 

[Ti3155]

Here it is .
Thanks

 

[mas985]

Those look to be 7/16 nozzles which require about 20 gpm or 120+ gpm total. Still too high for the intelliflo.

Did you find a part number on the nozzle? Best bet is to find a smaller orifice, 5/16".

 

[Ti3155]

I'm so confused , how any spa works ?
I go to my friends house I see how they built their pools , I saw the size of the pipes , I see they have 1 speed pump running at 3450 lol , I invest so much $ on my equipment and still can't get this right , they have a tiny nuzzle inside their jet it's 7/16 , they can feel the water coming out of their return lines at the spa , can someone explain to me for once what is the different between jet , return in the spa maybe I just do.t have those ?

My return line is covered with either 3/4" or 1" opening , it's self Allaine cover that I need to tap it in order to insert to the pipe , then inside (deep inside there is a nuzzle that can be screw out , is the nuzzle is basically the "jet" or the cover is the jet ?

Anywhere I go I see spas with water flow moving around , mine literally moving , if I put my hand on the eyeball I can feel it (at 3450 spa mode) but Anywhere else I can feel it so strong , mine is very weak .

Thanks

 

[Ti3155]

I checked the gpm on spa mode at 3450 , all I'm getting is 40GPM , see pic so I was thinking to change the pipe from 1.5 to 2.5 or 3" so I can deliver move water from the spa main drain to the pump then from the pump using 2" pipe back to the returns , jets or what ever we call it I just don't understand or know how to call it , maybe I need to replace the eyeballs as well idk

 

[ajw22]

Show us pics of your equipment pad and spa.

What model filter and heater do you have?

 

[Ti3155]

My pump is pentair VSF , filter is 24" , heater Is pentair 250

This is what I have in my spa ..
Mayne someone know where can I find smaller eyeball ? Maybe would help ? But when I compare to pressure of the pool return (3) all 1.5" to the spa returns its so weak .

I cant find anything to fit in the 2" pipe that is smaller , any idea ?

 

[ajw22]

What model number filter?

That a Pentair MasterTemp 250 gas heater?

Pics?

 

[Ti3155]

I dont have the pics yes it is 250 gas