AutoFill
AutoFill valves are used to automatically maintain the optimum water level in pools, spa, and fountains. Basic components of an autofill are a sensor for the water level connected to a valve that lets fill water in when the pool, spa or fountain water level is low. The autofill has an equalizer pipe connected to the pool, spa or fountain and may have an overflow pipe.
The autofill is often a canister by the pool and has a round lid that looks like a skimmer.
Autofills use one of three types of water level sensors:
- Float valve
- FluidMaster valve
- Electronic sensor
Autofill Float Valves
The float style autofill uses a float attached to a brass valve in the top of a canister to regulate the water level.
Pentair has the T40B autofill with a side mounted float valve in almond, black, gray, dark gray and white colors.
Pentair Brass Valve Float - T26 will replace the float and brass valve.
Autofill FluidMaster valve
Manufacturers who use some version of the FluidMaster valve in a canister for an autofill include:
- PoolMiser
- Pentair T40F in almond, black, gray, dark gray and white colors
- A&A Quik Water Leveler
- Paramount ParaLevel
Pentair has a T40FN version of the T40F for vanishing edge pools.
Pentair T29 is the replacement FluidMaster valve. The correct replacement part for a pool auto-filler is slightly different than the one used in a toilet tank. An auto-filler valve doesn't have the black tube. It might have the barb fitting on which a tube could be pushed, but it's actually plugged up.
This thread has a comparison between a $25 PoolMiser autofill valve and a $10 Lowes FluidMaster valve. The only noticeable difference between my old valve and the Lowes valve is the way the port for the toilet bowl filler tube is blocked in the Poolmiser version, where it is open in the Lowe's version. Other than that, this thread thought the parts are all near-identical.
In Autofill questions it was determined that the PoolMiser has a pressure reducer built into it which the toilet FluidMaster lacks.
How To Install Poolmiser Valve on YouTube says:
The valve we sell with our PoolMiser has a pressure reducer built into it, the valve you buy at the hardware store is not going to have that. […] This pressure reducer lowers the pressure […] and assures that you’re not going to get water hammer when the water returns on and off and on and off. Sometimes the equalizer line is slow […] the valve will turn on it will fill up the tank but it won’t equalize to the pool quickly enough, so it will turn off and then on and off and that’s called water hammer. And this pressure reducer diminishes the possibility of water hammer happening.
To unscrew the FluidMaster valve from the canister the top with the arm needs to be removed. This video shows how it is done.
Paramount has a new water leveler ParaLevel that uses their own version of a valve similar to the FluidMaster. Paralevel’s “Posi-click” adjustment has one full turn equal to ¼” (6 mm) of water level adjustment. Unlike other water levelers Paralevel offers “Smart Sensing”, which means it will ignore water sloshing in the pool as it only senses the pools true level. “Smart Sensing” also protects Paralevel so it will not cycle on and off rapidly, like other levelers.
Autofill Electronic Sensor
An electronic control box and sensor can be used to control a solenoid water fill valve.
Jandy Levolor Electronic Water Leveler
The Jandy Levolor Electronic Water Leveler uses an electronic water sensor mounted in a skimmer or standpipe connected to a control box to control the solenoid in a water fill valve.
Jandy has four Levolor Electronic Water Leveler models:
- K1100 - fill only autofill that mounts in skimmer or static pipe
- K2000 - for vanishing edge/catch basins. Sensor mounts in a static pipe and fills and controls a 24V overflow pump relay.
- K2100 - for ponds and fountains
- K2300 - for dual water body setups it monitors and fills two water bodies independently.
The Levolor has cables that run between the control box and the water sensor and the solenoid valve.
The Levolor system can be retrofitted in existing pools and spas.
Pentair IntelliLevel Automatic Water Leveling System
The IntelliLevel controller installs in the suction side plumbing near the pool equipment pad and uses a combination of pressure sensing, ultrasonic water level detection and an electromechanical microventing system to measure and fill water to an accuracy of 1/4th inch.
Pentair recommends the IntelliLevel in new construction for best results.
The pump needs to be off for a minimum of one hour a day for the IntelliLevel controller to operate. If the pump is run 24/7 the IntelliLevel Controller will not operate.
The IntelliLevel is powered by a 24V valve actuator socket on a IntelliCenter, EasyTouch or IntelliTouch Control System. If there are no free valve actuator sockets available on the EasyTouch or IntelliTouch Control Systems circuit board the provided splitter may be used to connect the IntelliLevel controller and the respective valve actuator to the same socket. The IntelliLevel controller can share power with any valve actuator. The IntelliLevel controller automatically detects any motion on the actuator (controlled from automation control system or manually activated) and temporarily suspends any fill functions.
The IntelliLevel has a 5 conductor cable. The Yellow and Green wires are not used unless the communications function has been activated. If it has been activated, then the yellow and green go to the RS-485 communication terminal.
The black, red and white wires connect to a valve actuator socket in an EasyTouch, IntelliTouch, or IntelliCenter system.[1]
If you are connecting to a 24 VAC transformer directly, the black and white are connected and the red is capped off. Black should be common and the red and white wires should be the switched legs:
- Black - Common
- Red - Switch Leg
- White - Switch Leg
Note that the voltage is AC, not DC.
For winterization the IntelliLevel controller should be unscrewed from the pipe and taken indoors and the pipe capped.
Kona Labs LevelSmart™ Wireless Autofill
Kona Labs LevelSmart uses a water sensor to wireless connect with the LevelSmart Valve Controller. The Valve controller has a wired connection to a solenoid water valve.
The LevelSmart™ Sensor wakes up every 30 minutes to check the current water level of your pool, spa, water feature or tank and then wirelessly communicates the information to the Valve Controller. If the current water level is measured below the set level, the Valve Controller will then open the Valve for 7 minutes.
The Valve Controller will turn off the Valve after 7 minutes as a failsafe against over-fill. Again, in 30 minutes, the Sensor will check the water level and, if needed, fill for 7 minutes. The Valve Controller will only open the Valve if the current water level is below the level set by the user during installation.The Valve is plumbed into the manual fill line, or it is "T'd" into the return lines, from a water source. The Valve Controller can then open and close the Valve to fill your pool as needed.
AutoFill Water Source
A Back Flow Preventer is required between the autofill and the water line connection to your house. A Back Flow Preventer is used to protect the water source. Yours and your neighbors'. The water source can be a municipal water supply or a well, even if it's just you on your own well. Because, if you contaminate your well, there is the underground source to consider, which could affect you as well as others "downstream.[2]
The autofill must be connected to a potable water source and not an irrigation water line. Connecting to an irrigation water line is ikely against code since lawn chemicals could enter the pool water supply that way.
If you have a whole house water filter you need to decide if the water chemistry is best for your pool from your water source or after the filter. Consider if your water filter has the capacity to handle the fill water load.
Winterizing an Autofill
Turn off the water source and blow out the autofill line and add some antifreeze and plug it.
Plug the autofill in 2 places:
- where the water supply comes from
- the hole in the wall between the pool and the autofill sump.
Then add a third of a gallon antifreeze into the sump and also use a plastic bottle filled 1/3 gravel and sealed well with its screw cap that fits the hole so the deck cover can be placed on top.
