Pool help please (new guy here)

[Dhos1]

Just relocated to Florida...always wanted a pool, so I purchased a home with one and a spa and have several questions. We have been here about a year and the spa has started to drain over night. It still has an adequate amount of water in it, however the level drops. I was told it has several check valves in it called Jandy check valves. I changed one and for a few days it worked, but it is lower again so I am not sure if I have the correct one. The system on the side of the house does not have the spa pipe marked so I am unsure of which one that it may be. Is there a definitive way to tell?

Next issue, my navigator pool cleaner stopped working. I was told that I could get it fixed, however we wanted a new one...so we purchased a Zodiac MX6 elite and it worked fine for about 2 minutes then it stopped working. I had to hook it up through the skimmer because for some reason the normal vacuum was not powering it. These things work off of air pressure and vacuum correct, so am I making the assumption to say that filter /pump speed could be the cause? It works once the pump and system first powers on, but the system then kicks into a lower mode and it then stops...can this be the cause? Inside my home, I have a Goldline wall control panel that I can adjust everything from and there is a big panel on the side of the home too that register the same.

 

[Jimrahbe]

D,

Show us some pics of your equipment pad, and we can help you find the right check valve that is most likely causing your spa to drain back into the pool.

Your cleaner operates off of water sucked through the cleaner by the main pump.. If you have a variable speed pump, then you will have to run it at whatever speed it takes to make the vacuum work.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Dhos1]

Here’s a few pics

 

[Jimrahbe]

D,

If you look at the Automated valve right after your salt cell, that is called the Return valve.. It is currently in the Pool mode so no water flows down the left pipe which should go to the spa. On the right side of the Return valve the water goes back to your pool... But some of that water also goes to your spa forcing it to spillover into your pool.

Below the two broken red handles are two check valves.. I "assume" the one on the far left goes to the spa.. I am not sure where the other one goes.. (Do you know?)

One of those two check valves should prevent the spa from draining when the pump is off.. again, I assume the left one..

You can simply turn off the red valve as a test and see if the spa still drains down.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Dhos1]

I appreciate the assistance Jim--I have no idea where the other one goes as it is not labeled. I can tell you that the owners of the home never knew either honestly. The previous owner before them was the one that had this contraption built so he never knew...he paid to have someone take care of it. I did order two new check valves and will change them both. It says to use some type of magic lube o the O-rings, but in a pinch will a small amount of Vaseline do the trick? P.S. I appreciate your military service, I did 26 and retired in 2011...USAF.

 

[mknauss]

It says to use some type of magic lube o the O-rings, but in a pinch will a small amount of Vaseline do the trick?

Do not use Vaseline. It will destroy the orings.

Pool Lube - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Dhos1]

Understood, I will purchase a tube of that correct lube from pinch-a-penny. Thanks-
I appreciate your answer mknauss.

 

[mguzzy]

I did order two new check valves and will change them both.

I don't know if you are aware you can just buy replacement parts for the inside of the check valve. They are designed to be serviced so you don't have to replace the whole valve and replumb a new unit.

 

[Dhos1]

Great read on the lube
Mguzzy, I appreciate your help. The glass is nasty on it anyway, so I wanted to swap it out. First time so I will just go with a new one then swap parts if this arises again. Appreciate it...and I didn't know that info. Thanks-

 

[mguzzy]

I was told that I could get it fixed, however we wanted a new one...so we purchased a Zodiac MX6 elite and it worked fine for about 2 minutes then it stopped working.

So tell us more about your pool sweep. You might want to consider returning it if its broken out of the box and putting that money toward a robot.

 

[Dhos1]

Pool sweep. I think it stopped working because the way the pumps seem to be set-up is on a percentage basis. When it first kicks on it may be at 80%, then after 5 or so minutes it goes down to 60 or so, then down lower just enough to power the pool. I guess I have a variable speed pump and once the pump goes lower it is not enough to power to cleaner. I took it out of the pool for two days because I don't want to let it sit in the water--someone told me that they can go bad continually sitting in the water everyday with chemical exposure. I honestly only plan to run it twice a week maybe because I'm enclosed and it probably really does not get that dirty. So on the days I plan to run it I need to figure our how to program the pump at a higher speed for that time frame.

 

[Dhos1]

Mark, I see you have a Hayward/ Goldline controller, is it mounted on your wall inside your home and is it the same type that I have. I also have a T-15 salt cell.

 

[mguzzy]

I should have said welcome to the Forum First! We've got to get those introductions out of the way first!

If you notice we all have our equipment in our signatures. Its not a bragging thing, it helps others give you advice about your questions. It gives everyone a ready reference to your pool equipment. Here is a link on how to do it, its quite easy:

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

In answer to your question, my Goldline controller manages only the SWG and is mounted by the pool equipment. I have no "automation" as they call it.. my pool is kinda old school. Why do you ask? Do you have a question about your SWG?

Also, the Polaris units are designed to be left in the water. I got a new one in 2005 when I replaced all my pool equipment and it just stays in the water... The only time it comes out is when the kids are having a party and don't want to get tangled up in the hoses. I have only had to replace a drive belt and an occasional float over the last 17 years. Actually at some point this thing will die and I will upgrade to a robot. They are finally pretty reliable and cost less to run.

 

[Dhos1]

Yeah, I have to work on the signature part. I thought about that. Problem is that I don't know what it all is. I will go out and identify the stuff this week, it's raining like crazy here.

 

[mguzzy]

Take some pics.. we can help ID your gizmos

 

[Dhos1]

Okay, so I poured water from the pool into the spa and changed all 3 valves and it is still draining down. It only drains to a certain level though. Maybe a pump?

 

[Dhos1]

And like I said, what keeps it at that point and it will drain no further?

 

[jimmythegreek]

It drains down to about level with pool water?
Can you take good pics of the guts of the check valves so I can see the orientation of the red flappers?

 

[Jimrahbe]

D,

It normally drains down to the jets or the level of the pipe that feeds water to the spa overflow.

You said that you poured water into your spa.. When you run your main pump, does the spa fill with water and overflow into the pool when you automation is in the Pool mode???

Thanks

Jim R.

 

[Dhos1]

I will take pictures of the valves after work today, but they open and flow with the water arrow. Jim...yes, I waited until the pool was off then got a bucket and filled the spa from the pool. My rationale was just to see if it would hold (trying anything at this point), but it did not.

Yes, when I run my pump the spa fills with water and overflows into the pool as it is supposed to do.

Yes, I seems to drain down no further than the pipes that feed it water to the spa overflow. I also changed the valves with direct replacements from pinch a penny. The only thing I noticed was the name...Jandy vs. Pentair, but the part number was the same.