Check Valve Location

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StephenSegari

Member
Feb 14, 2024
7
Madisonville, LA
Issue: Hot tub is above pool, and empties into the pool. When the pump turns off, the water level of the hot tub is falling to the height of the jets.

Problem: I've seen many posts here describing the same issue, and a faulty check valve is always mentioned.

Help / Question: Where is the check valve for the hot tub? Is it in the diagram below of my pool equipment?

Troubleshooting:
- When the hot tub is isolated (3-way Jandy valves on the left and right are closed for both drains and jets), the hut tub level does not fall.
- When the spa drain is closed and the spa jets are partly or completely open, this is when the water level falls.
- There are no leaks in any of the pool plumbing.

Pics:
- Pool equipment
- Pool
 

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StephenSegari said:
Help / Question: Where is the check valve for the hot tub? Is it in the diagram below of my pool equipment?
Click to expand...
Looks like your issue is that there is not a check valve for the hot tub. It would be located in the line marked 'SPA Jets' in your photo. The fact that you can close the Spa Jets off at the 3 way valve and it doesn't happen, confirms that the issue is back flow of the spa into the pool returns.

It appears that the lines are too close to the ground to fit a check valve. Would require some rework of the return piping there at the 3 way valve, and possibly the line coming out of the heater to raise your return 'manifold' to the same height as the intake manifold, so you can fit a check valve after the 3 way return valve.

I've attached a photo of my plumbing. While a lot more complicated than yours due to water features and an in floor cleaner, you can see the spa check valve circled on the left side of the photo.

Equipment Pad OCT 2020 Spa Check.JPG

-Jeff
 
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IMG_0581.jpeg
The simplest option to add the check valve for the spa return would be to add a 45 fitting behind the flow switch somewhere around the black line. This should give the pipe the rise necessary to add the check valve. Add another 45 to straighten the run at the other black line prior to the 3 way diverter valve. Excavate down at the circles in yellow. Build up both sides using appropriate couplers and piping to achieve the height needed, while adding the check valve on the spa side.
 
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I have seen where the check valve is located below ground. It may be worth gently digging around the outlet piping to see if the valve is buried. If it is, you can likely rebuild it. I would also suggest taking a large irrigation valve box and seeing if you an make it fit around the piping to keep the valve from being buried. I think @Newdude did something similar to this in his build.
 
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StephenSegari said:
Thanks for y'alls help.

1. I do agree, and it annoys me, that the lines are so close to the ground.
2. I'll dig gently and look to see if there is a buried check valve.
3. This never used to happen, only started maybe 8 months or so ago.
Click to expand...
If this just started to happen, My money is on a buried valve.
 
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StephenSegari said:
3. This never used to happen, only started maybe 8 months or so ago.
Click to expand...
Agree with the others. There may be a buried, inline check valve. I doubt they would bury a swing check. But I've been wrong before. And just this morning even ;)

--Jeff
 
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