Too much power?

[GoldMomVA]

Hi, all!

So, our inground pool and spa has been open since August 2020. The spa has its own blower, but whenever we turn it on, it blows the water over the side. This is what it looks like inside the tube. I thought it was strange that the opening is just a sawn off pipe without a jet. Would adding a jet help direct the flow so that it doesn’t shoot over the sides? Is that even possible given the view down the tube?

Also, they just closed and winterized the pool, leaving the spa open, and now whenever the pump is on, the water moves into the spa skimmer so quickly, it actually empties and makes a really loud sucking sound. This hasn’t happened in the previous two winters. Was something hooked up wrong?

Thank you for this wonderful resource. I did search the forums first and found a few posts relevant to this, but still had questions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Mom,

It appears to me that your 'jet' is the little nut shaped device at the top of your pic. I suspect that your blower is what comes out of the bottom hole.
I am not a spa expert, so let's see what our other members have to say...

Let's see some pics of your equipment pad as that might help us figure out why the spa skimmer is being sucked dry. I can't tell in the pics where the spa water level is.. If the water is too low it can cause the skimmer to run dry. Also if the skimmer's weir door is stuck up, it can also cause the skimmer to run dry.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[GoldMomVA]

Thank you for your response. The water level is about halfway up the skimmer door and the skimmer door works. The water just POURS into the skimmer when the pump is on.

Here’s the equipment pad…

- Melissa

 

[Jimrahbe]

Melissa,

I assume those are old pic of the original install.

I was looking for today's pics so that I could see what the current valves positions were.

If this problem did not happen that last two winters, that would indicate to me that a valve is out of position. I only say that because your pump did not suddenly get more powerful, so what else could have changed?

I assume the last two years they left the spa open.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[GoldMomVA]

Ah…that makes sense. I just got home, so here are the pictures. Thank you.

Melissa

 

[Jimrahbe]

Melissa,

I do not see anything that looks like it would cause the problem that you are having, but I would try this..

At the input to your pump, the pool side has been disconnected. I assume the spa valve on the left, selects between the Spa Skimmer and the Spa drain. The handle of that valve is now pointed to about 5 O'clock. I'd point that handle to the 1 O'clock position and see what happens.

One of the two pipes is from your Spa skimmer and the other the Spa drain. By adjusting the valve, you should be able to suck more water from the spa drain and less from the spa skimmer.

It could also be that the closer closed the spa drain by accident. I don't know if that is true, just a possibility.

I am in Texas and for the most part we do not close our pools. I am just curious how you run your spa in the winter. Do you heat it all the time or just run the pump 24/7 or ??? What keeps it from freezing?

Let's see what @1poolman1 has to say...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[GoldMomVA]

Hi, Jim

Thank you for your input. I will try it out tomorrow.

We have a freeze protection setting. The pump goes on during the day for cleaning, and if the air temperature gets too low, the pump and heater will go on to make sure the water stays above 45 degrees.

But really…you’re not going to catch me out there in the cold. That would be my husband…with snow on his head.

Thank you again!

Melissa

 

[Jimrahbe]

Melissa,

I'm pretty sure he needs some serious intervention.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[GoldMomVA]

Thank you, Jim! That totally worked! I am so happy that I now know what one of the valves is for. I guess now I need to tell my husband it is ok to go in there. Well, probably no snow until December!

Melissa

 

[Jimrahbe]

Melissa,

Glad TFP was able to help point you in the right direction.

You really should 'know' what each of your valves does, so you know how to set them when the pool is running.

When you get a chance, go out to your equipment pad and note what is written on each pipe next to each valve. If you can tell us what the writing says, we can then explain how all your valves work together,

Thanks,

Jim R.