Will water flow from elevated SPA back down to POOL if there is a High-Loop and Pool Supply check valve in our automated system?

[mas985]

Where is the spa in relation to the pool and what is the water height difference?

Do you ever exchange water between the spa and pool? If not, then you must have to drain and refill the spa periodically.

Another option would be to have some sort of pseudo overflow from the spa into the pool. But it depends if you have any spare plumbing and the height difference between the pool and spa.

 

[1poolman1]

Thanks! That's exactly the definitive answer I was looking for.

There is already a check valve on the spa return, so its really then just the addition of a check valve on pool suction and add vacuum release valve on top of high loop. Probably not worth the 0.5" per day, but going to keep the solution in my back pocket for now. Again, thank you!

Vacuum relief on the loop:

Vacuum Relief Valve for Heliocol, SwimJoy & SwimLux Solar Pool Heaters, 3/4

Vacuum relief valves allow for gravity drainage of solar pool heaters. For SwimJoy, SwimLux and Heliocol solar panels. MPN: 2-1810-029 / HC-121NW

www.solarpoolsupply.com

 

[TaylorN]

Where is the spa in relation to the pool and what is the water height difference?

Do you ever exchange water between the spa and pool? If not, then you must have to drain and refill the spa periodically.

Another option would be to have some sort of pseudo overflow from the spa into the pool. But it depends if you have any spare plumbing and the height difference between the pool and spa.

ok, so I said we didn't have an spillover because I didn't want to complicate the basic question I was asking about the high loop, which you already answered perfectly.

Since we are diving deeper, the SPA is actually right next to the pool and has the ability to spill over into the pool and that is how we refresh the water in the SPA after it gets used (not frequently off season). However we have an auto pool cover which remains closed until we use the pool/spa. With the cover closed, we can't spill the SPA into the pool because it will end up right on the cover (BAD). That is why we treat them as two separate bodies of water for scheduling/filtering/SWCG.

For what its worth the SPA water height is about 40 inches above the pool level and extends 7 inches below the top of the pool level (see diagram).

What are you thinking in terms of pseudo overflow?

 

[mas985]

That is a pretty key piece of information and should have been disclosed at the beginning.

So what happens when the spa is full, the cover is closed and a half dozen people get in the spa? Doesn't the water overflow onto the cover? Seems like a very poor design.

Or do you always open the pool cover when the spa is used? If this is the case, users will overflow the spa and you will need to top off afterwards anyway.

Seems like a non-issue to me.

Forgot to add that with a cover like that, part of normal maintenance should be to expose the pool water to the sun for several hours a week to reduce chloramines. So during this period of time, top off and water exchange is possible.

 

[TaylorN]

That is a pretty key piece of information and should have been disclosed at the beginning.

hahaha. Yeah, i suppose.

So what happens when the spa is full, the cover is closed and a half dozen people get in the spa? Doesn't the water overflow onto the cover? Seems like a very poor design.

Or do you always open the pool cover when the spa is used? If this is the case, users will overflow the spa and you will need to top off afterwards anyway.

We never use the spa without opening the pool cover first. I agree its not a great design. And we always spill the spa for a 10-15minutes after use, so it refreshes the water and tops it off.

Forgot to add that with a cover like that, part of normal maintenance should be to expose the pool water to the sun for several hours a week to reduce chloramines. So during this period of time, top off and water exchange is possible.

Tell me more! We only open the cover for maybe an 30-60mins a week to check pH, etc. I have tested the water with the Taylor Kit and have never had any measurable amount of chloramines (total chlorine minus free chlorine), so never thought anything else was required. Now after doing some reading (right now), looks like exposure to UV will breakdown chloramines AND through ventilation of the gases with the cover open.

In the end, I haven't done anything about this water drop "problem" since we moved into the house 7 years ago, and it sounds like I won't be doing anything about it going into the future!

Thanks for all your time/experience. Its much appreciated!