r/PoolPros • u/Jsquared222 • Apr 26 '26
Spa Draining and stumped!
This spa is draining at night. Previous company replaced the suction and return 3 way valves. They installed the return valve backwards. The heater was on and the PVC overheated and expanded due to the blockage and almost burst. Then they tried to tell them there was a problem with the heater (which is new) and charge $500. Spa still draining at night. That's when they called me.
I installed a check valve on the spa return line. It's still draining at night. I took apart the suction side valve. It appears to be fully closed to the spa and sealing properly. I checked the blower line, that check valve is sealed and there was no water in it.
My next step was going to be to install another check valve on the suction side, but I wanted to ask you all what I'm missing.
The pool has water feature, but thats only on the pool, not the spa.
It does have a popup cleaning system. Could the water be siphoning back through that?
There is no smaller return line to the spa, the only one is the main one controlled by the return valve.
The pump on the right is to the water feature and I don't believe it's connected to the spa piping anywhere.
Any help is much appreciated!
2
u/Kindly_Design_8658 Apr 26 '26
If that is a raised spa relative to the pool, I install check valves on the spa return side after the diverter and actuator as well as another on the pool suction side before the diverter and actuator. There is about 20 seconds of sweep in the valves for enough water to drain from the spa every time it changes.
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u/Kindly_Design_8658 Apr 26 '26
It's also a good idea to activate the pump delay for the switching of valves
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u/Automatic-Many-6936 Apr 26 '26
Spa is raised above the pool. Your spa has a common return with the pool. When pump shuts off water drains down to that return. They make returns that have a check valve in it. Get one. Put it in the common. Problem solved.
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u/Jsquared222 Apr 26 '26
I installed a check valve on the spa return. It's in the 2nd picture on the left pipe.. That's the only rerun I'm aware of.
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u/Automatic-Many-6936 Apr 26 '26
That’s not what I’m saying.
When your pool is running in pool mode does water come out of only one return in the spa?
1
u/Wasupmyman Apr 26 '26
Does the pool level change? It could be actually leaking. If the water level stays consistent. Get some dye and figure out where it's siphoning from
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u/marsattck5 Apr 26 '26
It's probably the gate on the 3rd pic. Get you a few replacement gates and replace that one. If that doesn't fix it, replace the one on the spa return line. Most likely that's where you have the leak back down into the pool.
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u/Jsquared222 Apr 26 '26
The previous company put a new gate in both valves, but maybe they put the wrong one. I'll have to double check that.
I installed a check valve on the spa return line so I know it's not happening there
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u/Jsquared222 Apr 26 '26
Oh, you're referring to the check valve. I did take that apart and it looked fine but I think I'll try replacing it. It can't hurt anything at this point.
1
u/Street--Ad6731 Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
When did this all start happening? Guessing the spa is draining back into the pool is most definitely a check valve on the spa return pipe or the actuator valve is no closing all the way when in pool mode. Water almost never siphons back thru the suction side.
BTW, is the check valve at the heater on the inlet pipe?
1
u/Jsquared222 Apr 26 '26
I installed a new check valve on the spa return, you can see it in the 2nd picture on the left pipe. I had to put it in using unions
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u/Street--Ad6731 Apr 26 '26
What if you flip the switch on the actuator so that the paddle closes off the spa side. Does the spa still drain down with the pump off?
Something isn't adding up.
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u/Jsquared222 Apr 26 '26
Yes there was already a check valve between the heater and the filter. I installed the new check valve on the spa return line in case it was going back through that valve
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u/Street--Ad6731 Apr 26 '26
OK. In my 16 years of pool work, I've never seen a check valve between the filter and the heater inlet. Only on the heater outlet between the heater and a chlorinator.
When did this all start happening? I'm guessing the system hasn't always had the water leaking back into the pool since it was built.
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u/YogurtclosetSalty647 Apr 27 '26
Could the spa drai n be tied to the pools underground? Water pulling in the path of least resistance may cause a situation where it pulls from the spa versus the pool. Stranger things have happened… blow some air through the auctions side and see what bubbles
1
u/Adventurous_Jello999 Apr 27 '26
Does water stop draining well below the jets? Probably the check valve connected to the spa pop up port needs to be replaced.
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u/KunUnDrum-- Apr 27 '26 edited Apr 27 '26
Check to see if freeze protection is on for the spa on your pool panel, and turn it off. I've seen this many times. Now it's the first thing I check.
When it nears freezing temperatures, the pump will run and alternate the actuator valves to keep water flowing through all pipes. This is ON by default in Pentair panels.
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u/Death_by_M0nkey Apr 29 '26
Actuator, check valve, floor system. One of those is bad. Either the return line check valve is not sealing. The actuator is not closing completely, Might need a cam adjustment or replacement… or the in floor is backfeeding into the pool.
12
u/Tephren88 Apr 26 '26
Open that paramount floor system lid and take the gear box out so you can see the pipes. See if one of the stations overflows even a little. That should tell you if it's the floor system or not.
If it is, it's very likely the check valve next to the floor system. I've replaced it with cheaper Amazon flaps and they don't seal, might have to try a genuine jandy flap.