So I have 3 of the eyeball type jets with the retaining rings. The jet furthest from the pump has the least water flow. Nothing like the super high powered jet that’s close to the pump. I’ve noticed that they make these eyeball jets with different size openings. Would a smaller opening on the high powered jet reduce its flow and help pressurize the jets that are farther away?
What’s the science behind different size return jets?
- Thread starter poweranimal
- Start date
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,931
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Your signature does not include your pump make and model. Can you post and update your signature?
The trade off with eyeball size is that the smaller the size, the faster the exit velocity of the water but also the higher the head loss. With a single speed pump, this is not all bad because higher head loss may mean lower flow rates but it also means lower energy use. With a VSP, the equation changes. In any case, I probably would not recommend anything smaller than 3/4".
Post up your pump make and model. If a VSP, what times and speeds are you running? @mas985 might have some good ideas...
The trade off with eyeball size is that the smaller the size, the faster the exit velocity of the water but also the higher the head loss. With a single speed pump, this is not all bad because higher head loss may mean lower flow rates but it also means lower energy use. With a VSP, the equation changes. In any case, I probably would not recommend anything smaller than 3/4".
Post up your pump make and model. If a VSP, what times and speeds are you running? @mas985 might have some good ideas...
Pump model is listed under settings AND listed in signature. Maybe you can help as to why it doesn’t show up when I post?
Pump is a VS intelliflo 1HP. During swim season the pump only runs high speed at 3k from 8-12 hours.
Winter I run it 2200 from 4-6 hours. I’m not concerned about the additional $20 a month to run it on high speed forever.
Just trying to figure out a way to make the jets behave better as to move the surface water around the pool quick enough so the skimmer can catch everything quickly.
- May 3, 2007
- 18,071
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Faster water movement past a skimmer can be worse for debris collection as the debris moves past the skimmer instead of going directly into it.
Sometimes you are better off pointing the returns directly at a skimmer if possible. Some experimentation may be necessary.
The reason the closer return has higher flow rate is because there is higher pressure closer to the pump and your returns are probably plumbed in series rather than parallel.
A smaller diameter return closesr to the pump will raise the internal pressure of the pipe forcing more water down the main feed pipe. But it will also increase the exit velocity of that return so pointing in the optimal direction can become more important.
This thread might be useful.
www.troublefreepool.com
Sometimes you are better off pointing the returns directly at a skimmer if possible. Some experimentation may be necessary.
The reason the closer return has higher flow rate is because there is higher pressure closer to the pump and your returns are probably plumbed in series rather than parallel.
A smaller diameter return closesr to the pump will raise the internal pressure of the pipe forcing more water down the main feed pipe. But it will also increase the exit velocity of that return so pointing in the optimal direction can become more important.
This thread might be useful.
Analysis of Plumbing Loops and Other Configurations
I, like most people, have long believed that plumbing loops can help balance return flow through multiple returns in a pool or spa but I was curious as to how much they really help and if there are other ways to balance return flow. So I performed a detailed analysis on 6 different plumbing...
www.troublefreepool.com
The higher pressure jet is close to the skimmer and doing exactly that…blow dirt too fast by it. The jet at the other side of the pool is low enough pressure that debris ends up stagnate before the skimmer or other jet can move it. There’s about a 3’ circle towards the middle of the pool where debris will circle endlessly.Faster water movement past a skimmer can be worse for debris collection as the debris moves past the skimmer instead of going directly into it.
Sometimes you are better off pointing the returns directly at a skimmer if possible. Some experimentation may be necessary.
The reason the closer return has higher flow rate is because there is higher pressure closer to the pump and your returns are probably plumbed in series rather than parallel.
A smaller diameter return closesr to the pump will raise the internal pressure of the pipe forcing more water down the main feed pipe. But it will also increase the exit velocity of that return so pointing in the optimal direction can become more important.
This thread might be useful.
Analysis of Plumbing Loops and Other Configurations
I, like most people, have long believed that plumbing loops can help balance return flow through multiple returns in a pool or spa but I was curious as to how much they really help and if there are other ways to balance return flow. So I performed a detailed analysis on 6 different plumbing...
- May 3, 2007
- 18,071
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
The jet pointed toward the skimmer has the power of God behind it, while the jet farthest away needs some of that power. If at all possible through changing the fittings
Attachments
- May 3, 2007
- 18,071
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Do you know how the returns are plumbed together and what size pipe the PB used between the returns?
Have you tried any other point directions?
For example, what happens when you point each return directly forward (i.e. 90 degrees from the wall)?
Have you tried any other point directions?
For example, what happens when you point each return directly forward (i.e. 90 degrees from the wall)?
No idea how the plumbing was set up. I’m confident they are all on one line running in series.