Spillover Spa Losing Water While Running

[texastoasted]

I have an elevated (above pool water level by ~2ft) spillover spa which in pool mode returns extra water to the spa to create the spill over effect. I noticed this week that the water level was dropping significantly overnight... I had the same problem a few years back, and replacing the check-valve on the spill-over bypass plumbing line solved this issue.

However, today I used the spa and noticed that when in spa mode (Pentair easytouch automation system with automated valves on the suction and returns for spa mode) the water level in the spa was dropping slowly at a rate of approx 1inch/hr. So my question is, could this also be related to a faulty check valve? I noticed when in the spa I was getting some suction from the spa water feature pipe, and my understanding is that its routed to the previously mentioned 'spill-over bypass plumbing line' that has the check valve in it.

Or does this mean I was losing water to the pool and that the automated valve on the return plumbing is the culprit and was letting a small amount of water back into the pool when in spa mode?

Attached a photo that I THINK I've labeled correctly.

Thank You!

 

[Jimrahbe]

TT,

If you are in the spa mode and the spa drains down, then the Return valve must be leaking.

Think about it for minute.. For the spa to drain down, more water must be leaving then is coming in. In theory, all the water that gets sucked from the spa drain has to pass through the filter and then it has to go through the Return valve and back to the spa. Apparently not all of the water is making it back to the spa. I 'assume' the return valve is allowing some of the water to go back to the pool instead of the spa.

Edit.. So I wrote the above before I read most of the last sentence of your post... It looks like we both came to the same conclusion.

Edit2.. I am not sure that is your spillover by pass... It appears to me that the pipe that makes the spa spillover is the 2nd valve to the right of the tab feeder. That is why there is a check valve just above it.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[texastoasted]

HI Jim,

Thank you for such a quick response! With regard to the line I'm labeling/calling the 'spa spill over bypass', I'm merely repeating what the guy who installed my new spa heater called it as he explained how to control the amount of spillover I get. There is a manual hand turned valve that sits below the check valve, and the more I open that valve in Pool mode, the more vigorous the spill-over becomes.

I plan to replace the flapper check valve I have boxed in red tomorrow, but I'm not realizing that the end of that pipe 2nd on the right of the feeder is one of the old style check valves as well.

What would be the best way to diagnose the automated return valve being the issue (letting a very small amount of water pass back into the pool)? Should I disassemble it and inspect / lube, or run in spa mode and feel the pool return jets for any flow? The amount of water loss was so gradual I'm not sure I'd be able to feel the flow from the pool return jets.

Thanks!

 

[Jimrahbe]

TT,

I would just buy a rebuild kit that includes the diverter... Once you get the kit, take it apart replace the diverter and o-rings and you are done. I think it will fix your problem, but even if it does not, you have not lost much.

Can you show better pics of the "by-pass".. I am not sure how it works and suspect that it might be the problem. But I need a couple of better pics to fully understand what it is doing.
The by-pass should be on the pool side of the plumbing, but I can't see how it ties in. How old is this by-pass???

You might shut off the by-pass manual valve and see if the spa still leaks down in the spa mode when running.

Thanks,

Jim R.