Spa drained overnight - Help!

[djpool21]

We found our spa/hot tub mostly drained this morning. Last night we had below freezing temperatures and the freeze protection was on. The spa spills over into the pool. The pool pump is running as normal and there's a small amount of water flowing from the returns into the spa but the water level never rises above the spa returns. I've power cycled the equipment pad and there's no error indications. The switches on the Pentair actuators are in their normal position and I haven't tried changing anything. Any suggestions? This has never happened before and I'm not sure how to proceed. Attached are pictures. Thanks!

 

[djpool21]

Update - I turned off freeze protection in ScreenLogic and the spa filled to the correct level and spills over into the pool as normal. What do you think caused this to happen? I run my variable speed pump 24/7 so is having freeze protection enabled for both the pool and spa redundant? Should I turn off freeze protection for both circuits or one or the other?

We also have bubblers with its own pump and they are also on freeze protection.

 

[mknauss]

When the pool switched the valves from pool to spa and vice versa, the spa is pumped out to the pool. If you run the spillover continuously, likely no need for freeze control. Only risk is the spa suction side as there is no flow through it in that mode.

 

[djpool21]

Thanks @mknauss.
Any idea what could have caused this problem? Forecasted temps tonight are again going below freezing. So I'm nervous about enabling freeze protection again on the pool and spa. Could you explain further about the risk of not having freeze protection enabled and just relying on the 24/7 operation of the pool pump? Thanks.

 

[ajw22]

There are 3 position toggle switches on both actuators. The switch is 1 - OFF - 2. Flip the switch to the other position and check the actuator still turns the valve 180 degrees. If it does then flip the switch back to where you found it.

Freeze protection is rough on the actuators as they are cycled multiple times. Check that one of the actuators has not broken down.

 

[mknauss]

Follow through with what Allen suggested.

Very little risk to your suction side of the spa unless it will be well below freezing for many hours to days. For just a couple hours, no biggee.

 

[djpool21]

Thanks @ajw22 and @mknauss . I moved both actuator switches to their opposite on positions and both valves turn to their opposite stops. I returned both switches to their original positions. The lower inlet actuator is a little noisy and sounds like rubber rubbing against rubber. Not exactly a squeaking sound. The other top actuator is quiet.
Freeze protection was on for about 12 hours last night.

 

[ajw22]

The lower inlet actuator is a little noisy and sounds like rubber rubbing against rubber. Not exactly a squeaking sound.

Show us a pic of which actuator that is.

The diverter inside the actuator may have broken. I would open up the cover and examine the diverter.

 

[djpool21]

This is the noisy actuator. The pipe below the actuator is from the spa.

 

[ajw22]

I can't see if that is your suction valve or return valve?

 

[djpool21]

Here's another view of the actuator.

 

[ajw22]

That is your suction valve on the intake to the pump.

 

[wireform]

That valve is most likely leaking past the closed position to the spa and draining the spa instead of it closing off the spa drain and having it spill over to the pool.

 

[djpool21]

Thanks everyone. The spa is still holding water after turning off freeze protection and operating the actuator switches. I'm leaving freeze protection turned off for now on the pool and spa and continue to run the pool pump very slow 24/7. Maybe it was an anomaly and the valve and EasyTouch got out sync?

If the actuator is going bad, can it be rebuilt or is it best just to replace it? Our pool is less than 1 year old but our PB skipped town and left us without a warranty. I've registered all the Pentair gear but not the valves or actuators.

 

[ajw22]

One of the benefits of using diverter valves is they can be rebuilt and the internals replaced without cutting out the body.

 

[djpool21]

As follow-up to my original post, we continue to have problems with the spa draining. Yesterday we had a power failure and the spa slowly drained until power was restored. When power was out I looked at the position of the actuators. The suction actuator valve position leading to the pump was as shown in the pictures above. The off tab was pointing towards the pipe from the spa which I believe should be shutting off the water draining from the spa. Equipment pad is below pool level. It seems to me this is confirming the valve is leaking while in the off position. What do you think and what's the best course of action to repair or replace the valve? It's just over 1 year old. Thanks.

 

[mknauss]

You can get a repair kit for the valve. Though 1 year is really premature for a failure. I would pull the valve apart and make sure nothing is hung up in the valve or any other obvious issues.

Valves - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[djpool21]

Thanks. That's what I'm going to do when I get a chance to take it apart. The actuator p/n is CVA-24. How do I determine the p/n for the valve so I can buy the correct rebuild kit? The O.D. of a pipe leading to the valve is 2-3/8". Ideally I would like to have the rebuild kit on hand when I take the valve apart. Is p/n 270056 Diverter Assembly correct for this valve?