Pool Spa complete drained - lower than level of pool

[MoniJax]

Woke up this morning to an empty pool spa! I confess that I do not understand the pump system...we had a whirlwind intro a year ago. The system is one year old. From online instructions, I looked at two check valves - both flappers seem to work well, with the flapper itself matching online pictures (intact). Noting further that with a check valve problem the pool and spa should level out....our spa is empty (which is below the level of the pool)...any advice? (Need simple directions!) Thank you!
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Pentair VS 3050 Variable speed pump, Pentair Intellichlor IC/40 Salt cell

 

[Dodger]

Was the pump on overnight? Want to eliminate diverter valve positions as an issue.

I see one check valve in the dead middle of the picture. That is your regular spa return line and I assume you inspected that one.

Is that an in-floor cleaning valve on the left? Is the other check valve you inspected over there? I can't see it in the picture.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP. Need more understanding of your pool in either pictures or words.

Does your spa have a spillover to the pool? Can you describe the normal waterflow of your spa and pool? Was the pump on at night?

What type of returns, drains and jets does your spa have?

 

[ajw22]

Here is an annotated picture of your plumbing with the way i think it is flowing and a few things I can't figure out.

Are none of your skimmer/drain lines or returns labeled? I numbered them 1 -7 so we can discuss them. Do you know which ones go to and from the spa?

It looks like the automated valve to 3 has it closed to not draw any water from it.

Let's discuss if you want.

 

[MoniJax]

Thank you for your reply!
There were 7 teenage girls in the spa til midnight, heater was turned off just after that. Pump was off overnight.
I checked two valves that I thought were "check" valves -- one is in the middle of picture, the second is on the vertical piping to the left of the check valve

I'm not sure what an in-floor cleaning valve is...I really don't understand this equipment at all

 

[MoniJax]

Thank you for your reply.
Yes, two spillovers to pool. There are also two waterfalls into the pool separate from the spa. Water flows from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm...my understanding is when water is flowing, the pump is on. The pump was not on overnight.

We have an A&A Manufacturing quick fresh recirculation system with 6 wall returns and 3 in floor heads (per contract). There are 6 jets. Not sure about returns and drains...

 

[MoniJax]

Allen - Wow...thank you so much for the diagram (I have saved to my desktop, cloud and emailed to my husband!)...would appreciate the opportunity to learn how this thing works! No, nothing is labeled. We had a 30 min pool school a year ago...I took copious notes, transcribed them quickly and still have no working knowledge of flow and function.

I'm not even clear on how to tell if a valve is open or closed.

 

[Dodger]

You can test the spa return right in the middle of the picture by closing the valve to the left of it. You can post a top-down picture of it for a more detailed explanation, but basically the flatter part of the handle should point to the check valve (it may be printed with OFF on that side of the handle). Right now, it's pointing about 4 o-clock, which gives you a spillover effect. It should move to 3 o-clock to block all return to the spa and therefore block backflow when the pump is off.

Still need to understand if the A&A has a port to the spa, and therefore a check valve. Pic? That is the other obvious pathway for draining back.

 

[MoniJax]

@Dodger - Thank you for your reply. I examined two valves that look identical and I thought to be "check valves" - one in the middle of the picture, one on vertical piping to the left (I am trying to add another picture, but I am at my quota and cannot figure out how to delete one of the previous pics to make room). I don't know what an in floor cleaning valve is!

 

[MoniJax]

@ Dodger -- just tried turning the valve to 3:00..it seems to be stuck! The valve further left moves freely, but the one right next to the check valve doesn't move at all. even tried loosening nut and it still didn't move...wasn't sure if it should be forced. Heading to bed...will try again tomorrow. Can't seem to load more pics due to size???

 

[ajw22]

You can test the spa return right in the middle of the picture by closing the valve to the left of it. You can post a top-down picture of it for a more detailed explanation, but basically the flatter part of the handle should point to the check valve (it may be printed with OFF on that side of the handle). Right now, it's pointing about 4 o-clock, which gives you a spillover effect. It should move to 3 o-clock to block all return to the spa and therefore block backflow when the pump is off.
.

From a distance it looks like that valve is on a motorized Jandy actuator. The manual is here -> https://www.jandy.com/~/media/zodiac/global/downloads/h/h0570800.pdf See page 9 for how to manually move the valve.

- - - Updated - - -

@ Dodger -- just tried turning the valve to 3:00..it seems to be stuck! The valve further left moves freely, but the one right next to the check valve doesn't move at all. even tried loosening nut and it still didn't move...wasn't sure if it should be forced. Heading to bed...will try again tomorrow. Can't seem to load more pics due to size???

From a distance it looks like that valve is on a motorized Jandy actuator. The manual is here -> https://www.jandy.com/~/media/zodiac/global/downloads/h/h0570800.pdf See page 9 for how to manually move the valve.

- - - Updated - - -

I'm not even clear on how to tell if a valve is open or closed.

The valve handles look something like this. The end that says OFF blocks the pipe that it is facing.

 

[Dodger]

The 4 o'clock one may have an actuator on top. I can't see it from that far away. But that would make it hard to turn. Need to see it close up.

Sorry for the mix-up. The A&A is what I call in-floor. Seems like it has a newer marketing description with "quick refresh recirculation system." So that's the big beige item to the far left and it would make sense that it has a check valve on one of the vertical lines into the ground. That is the right thing for you to have inspected.

 

[MoniJax]

@ajw22 --thank you for the manual...honestly, I'm scared to move that valve...after reading the steps, I don't see how it could have been inadvertently moved...none of us would have any idea how to do it (I was thinking someone hit it weedeating or mowing).

To boot, now the two check valves that I inspected are leaking...is this because I didn't use the lubricant or should I tighten screws (they didn't seem that tight when I loosened them, so I didn't tighten hard for fear of stripping)

Can't for the life of me figure out how to load more pics on this forum!! I seem to have used my limit!

 

[ajw22]

Moni, is your spa still dry and has no water in it?

What type of automation do you have? What modes do you have in your automation? Pool? Spa? What else?

One of your automated valves could have malfunctioned and is in the wrong place. Changing the automation setting may reset the valve. But i need to understand your automation to know what to suggest.

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