Spa jets stop working for overflow into pool

[crystallake]

Hello. I have a VSP running 24/7 at various speeds and at some point during the day overflow from spa into pool stops working. The filter pump is on, the pool returns are flowing water, but the spa returns have stopped flowing water. I don't believe that the stoppage occurs in alignment with a change in the pump's speed schedule because I have seen the overflow working and stopping all within a few hours of the same pump speed setting. If I stop the pump and then turn it back on at the same speed setting then the overflow works again...only to stop again later in the day or the following day.

Looking back, I think (but can't say for certain) that this started happening around the time that I had my solar heater system installed several months ago. I still can't figure out how that would affect the spa jets and the stoppage is occurring in the middle of the day when the solar heat system has already been on for many hours.

The attached image is what my valves looked like this morning when the pool returns were flowing, but the spa returns were not. Admittedly, I don't have a good understanding of the valves. Much appreciated of any ideas.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Crystal,

I assume it was working fine and then slowly the spillover got less a less.

This is almost always a sign of a dirty filter.

But... You have a big cartridge filter so I doubt that is true, but certainly could be..

When was the last time the filter was cleaned??

What speed are you running and what is the filter pressure at that speed.

You have got a slightly odd set up.. I'd like to see several more pics of your equipment pad at different angles.. It "appears" that you have got more than one way for the spa to get spillover water...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[crystallake]

Appreciate the responses!

 

[1poolman1]

Thank you very much for your response. I am definitely due for my spring filter cleaning so hopefully that solves the issue. Have had a few other home projects the past 5-6 months and just haven't been able to get to the filter. The filter pressure still reads at a reasonable level, but I do clean on a regular schedule regardless (and as best as possible).

The low pump speed that I run for most of the evening is 1100RPMs and the filter pressure is virtually nonexistent (i.e., very low).

I have my filter cleaning on my priority list for this weekend so I will report back after that so as to not waste any of the forum members' time in between now and then. Very much appreciated.

The only thing missing from my pic (on the other side of the cartridge filter) is the line that runs from the heater through the SWG and back underground to the pool. Nevertheless, should the issue persist after a filter cleaning then I will post more pics. Cheers!

At that RPM, 1100, there may be too much water to lift in the spa, too much head to overcome, and the water just goes back to the pool. My pool/spa does the same thing each year just before I clean the filter. I have the 420 version of your filter.

 

[crystallake]

At that RPM, 1100, there may be too much water to lift in the spa, too much head to overcome, and the water just goes back to the pool. My pool/spa does the same thing each year just before I clean the filter. I have the 420 version of your filter.

Thanks! I am optimistic this is the issue, which now gives me even more incentive and motivation to clean the filters sooner rather than later.

 

[crystallake]

Crystal,

I assume it was working fine and then slowly the spillover got less a less.

This is almost always a sign of a dirty filter.

But... You have a big cartridge filter so I doubt that is true, but certainly could be..

When was the last time the filter was cleaned??

What speed are you running and what is the filter pressure at that speed.

You have got a slightly odd set up.. I'd like to see several more pics of your equipment pad at different angles.. It "appears" that you have got more than one way for the spa to get spillover water...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thank you very much for your response. I am definitely due for my spring filter cleaning so hopefully that solves the issue. Have had a few other home projects the past 5-6 months and just haven't been able to get to the filter. The filter pressure still reads at a reasonable level, but I do clean on a regular schedule regardless (and as best as possible).

The low pump speed that I run for most of the evening is 1100RPMs and the filter pressure is virtually nonexistent (i.e., very low).

I have my filter cleaning on my priority list for this weekend so I will report back after that so as to not waste any of the forum members' time in between now and then. Very much appreciated.

The only thing missing from my pic (on the other side of the cartridge filter) is the line that runs from the heater through the SWG and back underground to the pool. Nevertheless, should the issue persist after a filter cleaning then I will post more pics. Cheers!

 

[crystallake]

Crystal,

I assume it was working fine and then slowly the spillover got less a less.

This is almost always a sign of a dirty filter.

But... You have a big cartridge filter so I doubt that is true, but certainly could be..

When was the last time the filter was cleaned??

What speed are you running and what is the filter pressure at that speed.

You have got a slightly odd set up.. I'd like to see several more pics of your equipment pad at different angles.. It "appears" that you have got more than one way for the spa to get spillover water...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Hello again,

Thought I'd update on my findings. I cleaned my filter and that didn't solve the issue, but after some more troubleshooting and thinking things through it appears that even though 1100RPM used to be enough for the spa overflow to work in the past, this speed is now too low with the solar heating system that was installed in January. I presume the longer pipe run for the solar heat reduces the pressure at the spa return and there isn't enough to push it over. I can work with that and mostly just glad to have found the source of the problem. Thanks again!

 

[crystallake]

At that RPM, 1100, there may be too much water to lift in the spa, too much head to overcome, and the water just goes back to the pool. My pool/spa does the same thing each year just before I clean the filter. I have the 420 version of your filter.

Thought I'd update on my findings. I cleaned my filter and that didn't solve the issue, but after some more troubleshooting and thinking things through it appears that even though 1100RPM used to be enough for the spa overflow to work in the past, this speed is now too low with the solar heating system that was installed in January. I presume the longer pipe run for the solar heat reduces the pressure at the spa return and there isn't enough to push it over. I can work with that and mostly just glad to have found the source of the problem. Thanks again!

 

[1poolman1]

Thought I'd update on my findings. I cleaned my filter and that didn't solve the issue, but after some more troubleshooting and thinking things through it appears that even though 1100RPM used to be enough for the spa overflow to work in the past, this speed is now too low with the solar heating system that was installed in January. I presume the longer pipe run for the solar heat reduces the pressure at the spa return and there isn't enough to push it over. I can work with that and mostly just glad to have found the source of the problem. Thanks again!

You didn't mention solar initially. That makes a huge difference. It would be amazing if 1100 RPM properly filled the solar array without causing a lot of bubbles in the return line. The amount of "head" added to the system will cause what you see. Turn the solar off and the spa will likely overflow again.

 

[crystallake]

You didn't mention solar initially. That makes a huge difference. It would be amazing if 1100 RPM properly filled the solar array without causing a lot of bubbles in the return line. The amount of "head" added to the system will cause what you see. Turn the solar off and the spa will likely overflow again.

Thanks. I did mention in the initial post that I thought the timing of when the problem started aligned with the solar heat installation, but I couldn't say for sure (now I know). The lowest I can run the pump and the solar heat without getting bubbles in the return is 1600 RPM. I just don't run the pump under that speed the hours the solar heat is on. It is looking like 1600 might not be enough to successfully push the water across the spillover from spa to pool. I think that minimum might be 1800. Still playing around with it.