Plumbingly Impaired - return conversion

[grumpiebk]

I ordered this fountain knowing that I had "knock in" returns instead of threaded. I figured I'd try to do some PVC experiment but now that I have it, I'm a bit stumped on how best to go about it.

Any good ideas on how to modify the fountain or return to work together? Do they sell any knock-in return adapters that may have a threaded end on the pool side?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Are you sure you don't have at least one return plumbed for a cleaner? I have those annoying "knock in" returns in my steps (thanks, never had a name for them before) but a separate return on the side of the pool that's threaded. That's where we put Skippy's Fountain.

Maddie

Addendum: INYOpools.com is a great source for the odd and assorted pool part. Try giving them a call and seeing if they have something that would work. Good luck!

 

[Richard320]

How big is the hole in the eyeball of the return?

Mine are just perfect to friction-fit a 1/2" PVC fitting. So a straight coupler or a 90 or a 45 will shove in, and then a stump of pipe, and then I can go from 1/2" PVC pipe to any kind of adaptor I want. Maybe you'll get lucky, too.

 

[grumpiebk]

Are you sure you don't have at least one return plumbed for a cleaner? I have those annoying "knock in" returns in my steps (thanks, never had a name for them before) but a separate return on the side of the pool that's threaded. That's where we put Skippy's Fountain.

Maddie

Addendum: INYOpools.com is a great source for the odd and assorted pool part. Try giving them a call and seeing if they have something that would work. Good luck!

I have a separate dedicated vac line. While it is threaded it is suction only. I have come across inyopools before, if I can't figured something out I will give them a call.

I've seen a ton of posts on this forum when I searched this topic, with no real good answer. If I can't find an answer I may make a mold to solve for this need. A knock-in return adapter with a threaded head on the outside of a pool wall would be ideal. And then you could screw on any screw on return head, fountain, or other feature you'd like.

 

[grumpiebk]

How big is the hole in the eyeball of the return?

Mine are just perfect to friction-fit a 1/2" PVC fitting. So a straight coupler or a 90 or a 45 will shove in, and then a stump of pipe, and then I can go from 1/2" PVC pipe to any kind of adaptor I want. Maybe you'll get lucky, too.

Richard, I'll give this a shot. Half inch sounds about right without measuring. Worst case I can find some knock-ins with a half inch opening. Have you attached a fountain? My only concern is the pressure build up will be too high to keep the pvc in.

 

[grumpiebk]

I wonder if a 1/2" stub to a 1.5" adapter for the fountain will build up enough pressure tho for a fountain to function appropriately?

 

[Richard320]

Richard, I'll give this a shot. Half inch sounds about right without measuring. Worst case I can find some knock-ins with a half inch opening. Have you attached a fountain? My only concern is the pressure build up will be too high to keep the pvc in.

No, no fountain. I have a spillover spa that aerates just fine.

 

[grumpiebk]

Here's is the best I've got so far. The 1" sprinkler piping fits nearly perfect into our return eyeballs. I've tested it at high pressure without capping it and drilling holes for a fountain spray and it seems to hold up well. I'm going to buy a cap next and see what happens before going any further.

 

[Richard320]

Just those geysers from the shelf ought to aerate fine.

 

[grumpiebk]

Popped a sprinkler head on it. Need to turn 2 of the 3 bubblers off to get enough pressure (without cuttting off the spa spillway) and it is letting water flow through the bubbler opening itself, but it's a start. I'm going to play around with some plumbers tape and also drill some holes into the pvc caps as an alternative.

 

[grumpiebk]

I took a different approach since high pressure was popping the sprinkler heads out of the bubblers. I made my own easily removable fountains from sprinkler pvc. They are 1/2" pipe that fit snugly into the bubbler openings. They can handle full pressure and can shoot nearly across the pool. This was just a test, but I may go get 3' or 4' risers to raise the fountains up even higher to get more air.

It may be a coincidence as we've had overcast rainy days the last two days, but my pool is 83 this morning, which is easily 6 or 7 degrees cooler than normal.

 

[grumpiebk]

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