Spa water level dropping overnight

[Davoda]

Not the actuators but the valves, are they new with the new or old? If the three ways are older You may want to open them up and check the seal on the diverter.
I am in socal (north san diego county) as well and lose a bit more than that dues to evaporation ( but also have solar so the water is warmer which I beleive results in more evap)

Sorry yes the valves are new as well. Wonder if I should just keep the pump running overnight going forward. It’s just as soon as the pump starts water from Pool goes to fill the spa and the water level in the pool gradually drops within a few days

 

[Ahultin]

What test kit are you using? It does not appear we are getting any more rain so other than minor loss from splashout, the salinity level using Taylor k1766 should stay pretty consistent(salinity showin by the swg is not consistent so dont go by that). If it does, then the water level loss you are seeing is pretty much evaporation.
You can also run the bucket test for more peace of mind

Bucket Test

This is a simple method of leak detection is done by marking water levels on … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Davoda]

What test kit are you using? It does not appear we are getting any more rain so other than minor loss from splashout, the salinity level using Taylor k1766 should stay pretty consistent(salinity showin by the swg is not consistent so dont go by that). If it does, then the water level loss you are seeing is pretty much evaporation.
You can also run the bucket test for more peace of mind

Bucket Test

This is a simple method of leak detection is done by marking water levels on … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

I have a pool service once a week, spoke to him yesterday. Everything is stable other then the chlorine which fluctuates. I will ask again. Also I tried the bucket test, when the pump is off the levels are fine. When the pump turns on the pool water does decrease right away since it’s going to fill the spa. When the spa level drops the pool water remains the same does not increase.

 

[Ahultin]

When the spa level drops the pool water remains the same does not increase

I can only speak for mine but I have a 2ft height difference between pool and spa and if the spa leaks down to pool level the pool water level difference is noticeable but only because my waterline 1" tile makes it so . I'm guessing with such a small difference in height you are not adding enough water to the pool to be noticeable. Initially mine was setup like yours with a makeup line that constantly ran spillover. The intellicenter has a spillover mode so i enabled it for 2x daily ~30minutes, then swapped the check valve guts for diverter guts ( fully interchangeable on my pentair valves).

Currently you can't isolate pool and spa due to the makeup line. Swap the check valve internals for diverter internals. The full diverter is cheaper than just the internals so i'd get this: Hayward PSV3S2 CPVC 3-Way Diverter Valve Amazon.com
I'm not sure on your hayward check valves if the same is possible but it's worth a try, especially since Amazon has a liberal return policy.
Enable spillway in the intellicenter (It is easy, I can add some screenshots here shortly, gotta do some actual work here for a few lol)
You will close off the makeup valve semi permanately ( the downside to not have a check valve and a shutoff is that if someone opens the shutoff, without a check valve the spa will drain down to pool level when the pump is off) then you can do a bucket test on the pool and one on the spa with them isolated.

 

[Davoda]

Enable spillway in the intellicenter (It is easy, I can add some screenshots here shortly, gotta do some actual work here for a few lol)

That would be great since I have no idea how lol. Thank you for that. I will look into diverter valves right away! And thank u for your time

 

[Davoda]

Probably a dumb question but I’m going to ask anyway. If there was a leak in the spa, wouldn’t the water drain lower then the pool level?

 

[Ahultin]

Probably a dumb question but I’m going to ask anyway. If there was a leak in the spa, wouldn’t the water drain lower then the pool level?

If there is a leak in the spa it will leak down to the level of the leak. Of that level happens to be above the pool then that is where it will stop.
Isolating the spa will allow you to close it off while still circulating your pool so as not to turn it into a swamp. Then you can watch the drain down. Once it stops, that os theoretically the level of the leak. Of it stops just below a return, then you can block those off to see if you can figure out which one is the problem child .
Right now, you are constantly moving pool water into the spa thru the make-up line. Seems like if you have a true leak, it is small , so hard to tell if it is a leak or evaporation.

 

[Ahultin]

To enable spillway
1. Log into IntelliCenter
2. click the 3 lines upper right corner
3. Select Settings

4. Select System configuration


5. Select Circuits


5. expand feature circuits

6. Click add feature circuit

7. Name the circuit (mine is spillway)
8. Select circuit type "spillway"
9. Click "show as feature
10. assign it an egg timer time (mine is 1 hr)
11. hit save
12. once saved, scroll up and select pumps

13. Expand the circulation pump

14. I cant remember but I believe spillway was auto added as a circuit here, if so assign a speed and save, if not, click add circuit


15. Select your spillover from the list and assign a speed

16. Hit Save
17. click the three lines again and select settings


18. scroll down hit Add program

 

[Ahultin]

19. select your spillway circuit under "select a device"




20. set the time you want it to run ( I have three times programed, 15m each)
21. hit save - repeat 18-21 for each additional time of day you want spillway to operate

 

[generessler]

I'm joining late, so may be missing something, but will offer that of many cases in TFP threads where spas drain slowly to pool level, small check valve leak is the only cause I've seen. (My pool, too.)

My bet is on the one with the "bypass" label. It could also be the 3-way just beneath it, but that doesn't seem likely since it's new. A thing to try is carefully disassemble the check valve, clean the seat (where the flapper rests) with a paper towel, add a layer of silicone grease to the flapper seal after also cleaning it carefully, and reassemble.

What happens now and then to mine is a bit of a seed or a leaf gets stuck on the seat or flapper seal. Water can scoot around it. This is what you're trying to fix.

Note on your pics: There are two pipes labeled "spa suction." I'm pretty sure the one on the left should say "spa return." Otherwise the plumbing doesn't make sense.

The pool level appearing to stay steady is a mystery. This will change as the ratio of pool's surface area to spa's. So if the spa drains 5 inches and has 1/20'th the surface area of the pool, the pool level will go up 5/20, a quarter inch. Not much.

 

[Davoda]

19. select your spillway circuit under "select a device"
View attachment 508728

View attachment 508729

20. set the time you want it to run ( I have three times programed, 15m each)
21. hit save - repeat 18-21 for each additional time of day you want spillway to operateView attachment 508730

Thank you very much for the info. I will give it a go.

 

[Davoda]

I'm joining late, so may be missing something, but will offer that of many cases in TFP threads where spas drain slowly to pool level, small check valve leak is the only cause I've seen. (My pool, too.)

My bet is on the one with the "bypass" label. It could also be the 3-way just beneath it, but that doesn't seem likely since it's new. A thing to try is carefully disassemble the check valve, clean the seat (where the flapper rests) with a paper towel, add a layer of silicone grease to the flapper seal after also cleaning it carefully, and reassemble.

What happens now and then to mine is a bit of a seed or a leaf gets stuck on the seat or flapper seal. Water can scoot around it. This is what you're trying to fix.

Note on your pics: There are two pipes labeled "spa suction." I'm pretty sure the one on the left should say "spa return." Otherwise the plumbing doesn't make sense.

The pool level appearing to stay steady is a mystery. This will change as the ratio of pool's surface area to spa's. So if the spa drains 5 inches and has 1/20'th the surface area of the pool, the pool level will go up 5/20, a quarter inch. Not much.

Thank you. I have cleaned the check valve internal there was nothing although I did not grease it maybe I will try that as well. You are correct it is supposed to say return I will get that corrected. Unless the pool level change is so small that I don’t see but I did do the tape on the water line and according to that it didn’t raise.

 

[Ahultin]

I have cleaned the check valve internal there was nothing although I did not grease it maybe I will try that as well

I beleive you also swapped the check valve flap with the one post heater correct?

I will give it a go

. If setup right, activating spillway will leave the suction valve stationary (pool suction) but will flip the return to spa return.

 

[Davoda]

I beleive you also swapped the check valve flap with the one post heater correct?

Yes i did. I’m going to work on the spillway today, I will report back. Thank you!