Where is the return?

[lavndrocean]

Hi. We have 4 jets toward one end of our pool, none of them have water coming out of them. Water has never come out of them. The original owners said the pool vacuum's itself because there's a big drain in the floor, with 5 jets that pop up and push water toward that drain. Not exactly what I'd call a vacuum but anyway... Only 2 of the 5 floor jets work. I keep seeing posts about adding stabilizer via sock method, either putting it in the skimmer, which is what I do, or putting it in front of the return....but my question is (stabilizer or not) where the heck is the return? And if the wall jets are the return(s), why isn't any water coming out of them?

 

[TampaKathy]

Do you have water features near the 4 "jets?" The pop ups are the returns when you have an in-floor cleaning system. The wall returns (if that's what they are) might be connected to the in-floor system but not working for whatever reason the floor ones aren't. I have floor and wall returns but I just use the sock method in the skimmer for stabilizer.

 

[TampaKathy]

Post some pictures of your equipment pad, that might help answer your questions.

 

[lavndrocean]

Post some pictures of your equipment pad, that might help answer your questions.

There are 2 fountain jets that spray water out and upwards, but we turned them off recently (8wks ago?). They look pretty but we learned they were likely a big cause of the pool losing so much water due to evaporation. I’ll post pics….

 

[lavndrocean]

Fountains, and the 2 sets of wall jets.

 

[lavndrocean]

Floor jets, drain, something in the step we have no idea what it’s for (it doesn’t screw open though it looks like it should).

 

[Jimrahbe]

L,

I am not sure what the items you circled in red are, but returns lines would not normally be right next to each other. So, odd indeed.

Any hope of getting a close up on the wall returns?

Thanks,

Jim R

 

[an1vrsy]

“No idea what this photo is“. Looks to me like an umbrella holder. Have you turned it, that plastic cover, to see what is under it?

 

[lavndrocean]

So I circled, in red, all the floor jets for the supposed floor vacuum; I also circled in red the wall jets that don’t expel water. Those I figured should be the return but they do not and have never put out water.
Also- the fountains are circled in red. The fountains have been off the last couple months due to too much evaporation.
As for the red circled item on the step- it looks as though it would unscrew but it doesn’t (or we haven’t been able to get it to anyway).

 

[rcs29]

I know nothing about the floor pop ups but is it possible you have a 3 way valve that can be adjusted for allowing equal return? If it is possible then perhaps that valve is set for the floor returns only? Much like a main drain and skimmer setup? I'm just simply tossing it out there as I have no idea how all of that would work.

 

[lavndrocean]

I know nothing about the floor pop ups but is it possible you have a 3 way valve that can be adjusted for allowing equal return? If it is possible then perhaps that valve is set for the floor returns only? Much like a main drain and skimmer setup? I'm just simply tossing it out there as I have no idea how all of that would work.

I’ll check, thank you.

 

[TampaKathy]

I agree that the thing on the step looks like an umbrella holder. That's what mine looks like...maybe it's stuck from never being used.

 

[an1vrsy]

As for the red circled item on the step- it looks as though it would unscrew but it doesn’t (or we haven’t been able to get it to anyway).

Is there an identical one on the opposite side of the pool? If so, then it could be a volleyball pole holder.

 

[1poolman1]

So I circled, in red, all the floor jets for the supposed floor vacuum; I also circled in red the wall jets that don’t expel water. Those I figured should be the return but they do not and have never put out water.
Also- the fountains are circled in red. The fountains have been off the last couple months due to too much evaporation.
As for the red circled item on the step- it looks as though it would unscrew but it doesn’t (or we haven’t been able to get it to anyway).

Picture of your equipment showing all valves would be good. Many times you can switch from the IFC or floor returns to the return fittings in the end of the pool. Also, if possible, a picture of the floor pop-ups/returns.

 

[lavndrocean]

I agree that the thing on the step looks like an umbrella holder. That's what mine looks like...maybe it's stuck from never being used.

Well that’s god to know and tomorrow I’ll go attempt to break it open

 

[lavndrocean]

Is there an identical one on the opposite side of the pool? If so, then it could be a volleyball pole holder.

Nope, just the one on the step.

 

[lavndrocean]

Picture of your equipment showing all valves would be good. Many times you can switch from the IFC or floor returns to the return fittings in the end of the pool. Also, if possible, a picture of the floor pop-ups/returns.

Thanks! I’ll take valve pics tomorrow; I did post some pics of the floor pop ups- if you can’t see them well, let me know (?) and I’ll attempt better ones in the a.m. also. Thanks again

 

[Newdude]

Those turtles tho.

 

[1poolman1]

Floor jets, drain, something in the step we have no idea what it’s for (it doesn’t screw open though it looks like it should).

Not uncommon in a free-form pool to have returns close like yours. It is an attempt to not have "dead spots" in the circulation. You have directional return fittings (eyeballs) except the ones that look like they are finned. Those are Infusion Venturi Return fittings that are supposed force water from the surface deeper as it returns to better mix.
The items labeled "jets" in the floor are in-floor cleaning heads. The large cover on the side is a suction port. There should be a valve that turns off the IFC and sends water to the wall returns.

 

[lavndrocean]

Not uncommon in a free-form pool to have returns close like yours. It is an attempt to not have "dead spots" in the circulation. You have directional return fittings (eyeballs) except the ones that look like they are finned. Those are Infusion Venturi Return fittings that are supposed force water from the surface deeper as it returns to better mix.
The items labeled "jets" in the floor are in-floor cleaning heads. The large cover on the side is a suction port. There should be a valve that turns off the IFC and sends water to the wall returns.

So they should be expelling water then, right? None of the wall jets are doing that. No water comes from them. And oddly enough (separate question I guess) we turned off the spray fountain jets -near the palm trees- due to evaporation…I recently tried turning them back on at the fountain valve, and they won’t. I had them on for two days and no water ever came out of them. Do they have to be primed or something? I’m about to post pics of all the valves etc. Because I don’t know where the IFC valve is. We labeled these valves, you’ll see, months ago with the help of a plumber who was fixing a spa issue and I hope they’re right.