Trying to figure out the proper way to have my pool running. When I bought my house it did not have any labels so trying to figure it all out. The attached picture is how it was when we took over when drains from the side skimmer only. I am trying to figure out how to drain my skimmer and main drain only. If I put the valve to the up position(pointing to the pump) it pulls from the skimmer and also pulls from the spa drain(this creates a tornado affect in the spa as water is pulling from the bottom but also being pushed in as that’s where the water goes into-spa is connected to the pool by overflow). Is it possible to pull from the main drain and skimmer without pulling from the spa?
Trying to figure out main drain/spa valve
- Thread starter Mtm5060
- Start date
5060,
We need to see more pics of your pad showing all the valves...
Based upon what you said, the valve in your pic only does two things.. Either allows you to suck water from the spa or the pool.. This valve has zero to do with the main drain.
Since you have a spa, there is an associated valve, called the return valve... The return valve sends water back to either your Spa or your pool returns... This is how is works..
In the Pool mode... Water is sucked from the skimmer through the Intake valve into the the pump and then pushed through your filter and back through the Return valve and back to your pool eyeballs..
In the Spa mode... Water is sucked from the Spa drain through the Intake valve into the the pump and then pushed through your filter and back through the Return valve and back to your Spa jets or eyeballs..
In the Spillover mode.. Water is sucked from the skimmer through the Intake valve into the the pump and then pushed through your filter and back through the Return valve and back to your Spa jets or eyeballs.. Causing the water to overflow the spa into your pool.
Your main drain is most likely plumbed into the bottom of your skimmers... and for the most part is not used.
Why do you want to use the main drain???
Thanks,
Jim R.
We need to see more pics of your pad showing all the valves...
Based upon what you said, the valve in your pic only does two things.. Either allows you to suck water from the spa or the pool.. This valve has zero to do with the main drain.
Since you have a spa, there is an associated valve, called the return valve... The return valve sends water back to either your Spa or your pool returns... This is how is works..
In the Pool mode... Water is sucked from the skimmer through the Intake valve into the the pump and then pushed through your filter and back through the Return valve and back to your pool eyeballs..
In the Spa mode... Water is sucked from the Spa drain through the Intake valve into the the pump and then pushed through your filter and back through the Return valve and back to your Spa jets or eyeballs..
In the Spillover mode.. Water is sucked from the skimmer through the Intake valve into the the pump and then pushed through your filter and back through the Return valve and back to your Spa jets or eyeballs.. Causing the water to overflow the spa into your pool.
Your main drain is most likely plumbed into the bottom of your skimmers... and for the most part is not used.
Why do you want to use the main drain???
Thanks,
Jim R.
Thanks for your response. I’ve attached a picture of my pool system. I thought for filtration purposes it’d be better to have the main drain open as well as the skimmer. I could be wrong-this is my first pool and I’m pretty clueless. I’ve circled the to waste spot as I was sending it to my brother in text. You can ignore the Circle there
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5060,
There are thousands and thousands of pools out there with non-operating main drains, or no main drains at all, and they all work just fine..
If you have algae or cloudy water, it has nothing to do with your main drain..
I still can't see all the pipes, so it is possible that your main drain is connected off to the right side of your pic somewhere..
But most likely the main drain is connected into your skimmer. One way to tell is to pull out the skimmer basket and see how many holes are there. If you have two open holes than one will have suction and it will be connected to the pump.. unless the pool is new, the other hole will be connected to the main drain. To make the main drain work, you need to have a floating diverter valve.. This valve is missing in almost every pool I have seen and without it, the main drain will not work.
Thanks,
Jim R.
There are thousands and thousands of pools out there with non-operating main drains, or no main drains at all, and they all work just fine..
If you have algae or cloudy water, it has nothing to do with your main drain..
I still can't see all the pipes, so it is possible that your main drain is connected off to the right side of your pic somewhere..
But most likely the main drain is connected into your skimmer. One way to tell is to pull out the skimmer basket and see how many holes are there. If you have two open holes than one will have suction and it will be connected to the pump.. unless the pool is new, the other hole will be connected to the main drain. To make the main drain work, you need to have a floating diverter valve.. This valve is missing in almost every pool I have seen and without it, the main drain will not work.
Thanks,
Jim R.
Thanks!
I do have two holes under the skimmer basket. Could never figure out what the front one was for as the suction always came from the back hole.
I do have two holes under the skimmer basket. Could never figure out what the front one was for as the suction always came from the back hole.
5060,
Basically the hole closest to the water is connected to the main drain.. Picture a pipe that connects the main drain hole to the suction (pump) hole and that is how the floating diverter works.. When the diverter gets sucked down to the bottom of the skimmer it connects the main drain hole and the suction hole. This causes the pump to suck water from the main drain rather than the skimmer. In "theory" you can adjust the valve to adjust how much main drain and how much skimmer.
I assume your diverter valve is missing like most. You can get replacements, but I have never had any real luck making them work well or consistently. I have two rent house pools that have this same set up and I have not used their main drains in about 8 years... Has never been an issue..
Thanks,
Jim R.
Basically the hole closest to the water is connected to the main drain.. Picture a pipe that connects the main drain hole to the suction (pump) hole and that is how the floating diverter works.. When the diverter gets sucked down to the bottom of the skimmer it connects the main drain hole and the suction hole. This causes the pump to suck water from the main drain rather than the skimmer. In "theory" you can adjust the valve to adjust how much main drain and how much skimmer.
I assume your diverter valve is missing like most. You can get replacements, but I have never had any real luck making them work well or consistently. I have two rent house pools that have this same set up and I have not used their main drains in about 8 years... Has never been an issue..
Thanks,
Jim R.