Spa Draining

Poolser

Active member
Mar 30, 2021
37
DFW
My spa has started draining into the pool after the pump is shut off. I had this issue before but it seemed to have corrected itself at some point (although I think it was related to a check valve replacement I did). However, this time is different. The spa return line remains filled with water once the pump is turned off. Previously there was water that flowed into the spa return but it was always empty once the pool was turned off.

I did recently disconnect the booster pump. Originally I capped the lines, then thought I would just directly run the line into the return bypassing the booster pump. That seemed to cause a lot of air suction. When I originally had this setup, the spa drained to below the return jets. So now, both the lines are capped. I'm at a little bit of a loss on where to troubleshoot this. The check valve "looks" fine and it seems the issue is to not have the spa return line full of water but not sure how to stop that or what the issue is. If it is supposed to be like that, maybe it is the check valve. I was afraid of trying to inspect the check valve not know if the spa return would just keep emptying.

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Pentair Easy Touch. However I never end up using any of it. We never switch to just Spa only so all valves stay where they are.

The heater on the left is never used either and I keep getting tempted to bypass it but haven't done that yet.
 
OK -- with an Easytouch you could program the Spa Spillover to run a couple times a day to keep it chlorinated. The Return actuated valve would have to adjusted to close the Spa off when in Pool Mode.

Otherwise, your check valve is leaking.
 
Thanks. That spa return pipe should not retain water in it correct?

I just replaced this check valve about a year ago. Also seems odd that it failed right when I removed the booster pump.
 
Not sure I understand the question on the spa return pipe. The system should hold water with the pump off.
The booster should be on the pool side of the plumbing and have no effect.
 
Sorry, guess my question was should that check valve always be full of water? Previously I thought whenever I looked at it, there was never any water in there when the system was turned off.

I haven't dug down to figure out where the booster pump pipe is connected but it seems like it must tee off the pool return.

Thanks for your help on this. I'm going to try and first lube up the check valve, then I think I also might have another replacement handy as well.
 
There should be water in that check valve. You might not be able to tell if it is full of water.
 
Thanks again for your help. It was in fact the check valve that was causing the issue. I convinced myself it couldn't be that due to the timing of the booster pump removal and the fact I had just replaced it a year ago. Oh well, glad that's all it was and an easy fix.
 
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