Spa above pool losing water slowly

[Psguy2021]

Hello All.

Background: I bought this house about 4 years ago and had an issue were the above-ground spa was lose water to the in-ground when the pump was not actively in pool mode (so it would lose water when in spa mode or when the pump was off). The Spa level would lower until the water was just above the jets. A pool tech tried various things and was finally able to fix it (he added a check valve) and the spa no longer drained into the pool.

Fast forward to September, I had the pool and spa replastered with pebbletec and now the spa draining issue has returned. I've checked my water bill and it's roughly the same as last year, and there was one time I noticed that the spa hadn't drained into the pool overnight, so I don't think there's a leak into the ground. The same pool tech who fixed the issue 4 years ago has tried the following but it hasn't helped: 1) replaced the check valve, 2) readjusted the diverters to make sure they were straight on the line.

The next thing I've suggested we do is rebuild the diverters, but otherwise I'm not sure what else to do. I've uploaded some pics. The only this not pictured is an Auto-Fill system I had installed 4 years ago as well. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[ajw22]

What tension spring is in the check Valve? 1/4 lbs? 1 lb? 3 lb?

Try a greater tension spring or try a Jandy flapper check valve.

 

[1poolman1]

Hello All.

Background: I bought this house about 4 years ago and had an issue were the above-ground spa was lose water to the in-ground when the pump was not actively in pool mode (so it would lose water when in spa mode or when the pump was off). The Spa level would lower until the water was just above the jets. A pool tech tried various things and was finally able to fix it (he added a check valve) and the spa no longer drained into the pool.

Fast forward to September, I had the pool and spa replastered with pebbletec and now the spa draining issue has returned. I've checked my water bill and it's roughly the same as last year, and there was one time I noticed that the spa hadn't drained into the pool overnight, so I don't think there's a leak into the ground. The same pool tech who fixed the issue 4 years ago has tried the following but it hasn't helped: 1) replaced the check valve, 2) readjusted the diverters to make sure they were straight on the line.

The next thing I've suggested we do is rebuild the diverters, but otherwise I'm not sure what else to do. I've uploaded some pics. The only this not pictured is an Auto-Fill system I had installed 4 years ago as well. Anyone have any thoughts?

It doesn't look, in the pictures, like either of the 3-way valves is completely closing the port they are supposed to. The location of the check valve does not isolate the pool from the spa as the water can leak down across a valve that is even a tiny bit open.

 

[Jimrahbe]

PS,

Normally, when in the Pool mode, your spa should spillover into your pool... At first glance, I do not see how your set up allows that to happen..

For the spillover to work, one of three things has to happen..

1. The return valve must be offset to send some water to the spa when in the Pool mode
2. There has to be a make-up line that allows some of the water to by-pass the Return valve and go to the Spa. (I see no make-up line..)
3. Your Automation must have a Spillway Function that sets the Intake valve to Pool and the Return valve to Spa..

Which of the above does your pool use to control the spillover???


If the Spa drains into the pool when in the Spa mode, then the check valve can't be the issue. It has to be a leaking Return valve that allows some of the water that should go to the spa, to go back to the pool..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Psguy2021]

Many thanks for the replies. Going in order:

@ajw22 Not sure about the spring, although the check valve was also replaced once since this problem popped up again to no avail. The new check valve could have been bad from opening, so we're keeping these suggestions in mind in case we try to change it out again.

@1poolman1 The pool tech readjusted the diverters a few days ago to see if that would help, but it didn't. We're thinking of rebuilding the diverters, in which case we may also try to further adjust them to makes sure they are 100% closed.

@Jimrahbe In pool mode (with the levers on the left), the spa spills over into the pool if the pump speed is fast enough. With the levers to the right, it is in spa mode and there isn't another setting. I know it's not (1), you mention there's no make-up line for (2), and there's no automation on my system. So, not 100% how to answer how the spillover is happening... but it happens and has always been like this. It might be some weird quirk of my pool system that I've never tried to understand because it was largely working as desired? A leaking return valve is worth investigating, thanks.

 

[Psguy2021]

Oh, I finally remembered something from about four years ago, that there was something installed in one of the holes in the spa. Talking to my pool tech, I think it was an inline check valve. Sure enough, when at rest, I can feel water being pulled out of the spa from the hole circled and deposited into the pool in the other hole circled.

 

[Jimrahbe]

PS,

When in the Pool mode, if the Return valve is in the fully Spa closed position, then no water should go to the spa, and therefore no spillover.

My guess is that the Return valve is not really in the Spa closed position, or there is a make up line, including another check valve, buried in the ground.

If this were my pool, I would remove the Return Actuator and manually turn the Return valve and see how things worked.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jimrahbe]

PS,

I just saw your post with the circled eye-balls...

There should not be any pipes that would directly go between the pool and the spa.. I now suspect that there is a check valve in the ground that is bad.. Adding a check valve to the one port in the spa is just taking the place of the bad check valve in the ground.

When they replastered, I suspect they replaced all the eye-balls returns and your check valve would no longer fit... or maybe they just did not know what it was.

If this were my pool, I'd be using a shovel to do some exploring next to the Return valve.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Psguy2021]

I forgot the one rule of my house in that everything about it is "quirky!", just so glad I remembered that check valve. And if I can get another inline check valve and it works like it did before... I'll call that good enough, lol.

 

[Psguy2021]

Following up here in case I face the same issue a few years down the line -- the inline check valve did the trick and the spa and pool now work as they should. Thanks, all, for the troubleshooting!