Can someone help me in labeling my valves from picture's

[Serbor]

Can someone help me in labeling my valves from picture's. I’m trying to improve the skimmer suction for purpose of using one of those bottom vacuum crawlers things, but first need i to label the valves so I can learn / see if their settings are correct. If so let me know how you want the pictures.

 

[an1vrsy]

Welcome to TFP. The forum that helps you to take control of your pool. What the experts will need to give you recommendations are more photos of your equipment pad. In addition, if you could let them know the what equipment you have. Make and model numbers, if possible. Pump, heater, filter type, etc.

Great group of moderators and others that are so willing to help.

 

[Jimrahbe]

S,

We will need a lot more info and more pics as said above...

The one picture you did post appears to be of an in-floor cleaner or return system of some kind. Does your pool have pop up heads in the bottom of the pool?

As a general rule, the valves that control the water going into your pump are the ones that have anything to do with the suction at the skimmer(s).

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Arizonarob]

Hi Serbor, as mentioned above, we need all your pool information and equipment. When you get a chance, fill out your signature area with all that information. Take a look at mine and others to get an idea.

That picture is definitely an IFC (in floor cleaning) system, so we’ll need more pictures of everything else. I’ll bring in a member that has that setup in his pool. @proavia

 

[proavia]

Yes, more pics of your plumbing are needed.

The black dome on the right is the water valve for a Caretaker infloor cleaning system. Looking at the Jandy valve, it appears you are allowing very little water to flow into the infloor cleaning system. Does the infloor system work? Is there a reason you are using a suction side cleaner (bottom vacuum crawler things in conjuction with the infloor cleaning system? Can you read anything on the label on the right elbow?

 

[Serbor]

As follow are the images of my pool valves, some i was able to label based on previous readable labels and common sense , the remaining i have no idea.
The skimmer has low suction so i can't clean with a crawler type of tool. Monday I'm in touch with the people from Caretaker 5 port valve as i suspect that it may need cleaning, even though i have no idea how that interacts with the skimmer pressure and if my valves are set in the correct direction on the 5 port valve? or for that matter in the system as a whole?

 

[ajw22]

You have a Jandy valve between the Skimmer and Main Drain that is set to pull about 70% from skimmer and 30% from main drain. Move the handle so the Main Drain is totally closed and it should give you more suction from the skimmer for the cleaner..

 

[Dodger]

Sergio,

To address whether your Caretaker needs cleaning and whether the valve(s) for the 5-port are set correctly:

The manual valve before the Caretaker allows you to select either floor cleaner to return water to the pool, or whatever the other pipe goes to. My guess is it goes to wall returns. Can you confirm? Looks like you are sharing water both ways, which probably means your in-floor system is not doing much except distributing water a little more uniformly. Do you see pop-ups cycling up and down in the pool? They would cycle from zone to zone to zone and then repeat that cycle, but you many not notice it if the pressure is too low.

The black Caretaker dome should have a pressure gauge, which I'm guessing is hidden from view in the picture you took. Let us know what that pressure gauge reads. Watch it for at least 2-3 minutes, as it will cycle up and down if things are working properly. Let us know the highest and lowest pressure readings. If the highest isn't too high with shared flow (<15psi), then we can try opening the manual valve more to the Caretaker and repeat those pressure readings. That should help determine if the Caretaker valve or the pop-ups need to be cleaned. Ideal pressure for floor cleaning is between 15-20psi at each zone.

You may also want to track/report your filter pressure for these cycles.

 

[Serbor]

Yes, more pics of your plumbing are needed.

The black dome on the right is the water valve for a Caretaker infloor cleaning system. Looking at the Jandy valve, it appears you are allowing very little water to flow into the infloor cleaning system. Does the infloor system work? Is there a reason you are using a suction side cleaner (bottom vacuum crawler things in conjuction with the infloor cleaning system? Can you read anything on the label on the right elbow?

The reason I was using the vacuum crawler was for picking up sand and some leafs, but not it does not work anymore do to low suction, but if I have a infloor cleaning system I much prefer to use that. I I’m not sure the caretaker inflor system works, it hasn’t been cleaned inside in seven years. The sun took out the tags and I can’t read anything.

 

[Serbor]

I did

You have a Jandy valve between the Skimmer and Main Drain that is set to pull about 70% from skimmer and 30% from main drain. Move the handle so the Main Drain is totally closed and it should give you more suction from the skimmer for the cleaner..

I did that and I just get less water in the basket area and more air, does not even move the crawler.

 

[Serbor]

I get

Sergio,

To address whether your Caretaker needs cleaning and whether the valve(s) for the 5-port are set correctly:

The manual valve before the Caretaker allows you to select either floor cleaner to return water to the pool, or whatever the other pipe goes to. My guess is it goes to wall returns. Can you confirm? Looks like you are sharing water both ways, which probably means your in-floor system is not doing much except distributing water a little more uniformly. Do you see pop-ups cycling up and down in the pool? They would cycle from zone to zone to zone and then repeat that cycle, but you many not notice it if the pressure is too low.

The black Caretaker dome should have a pressure gauge, which I'm guessing is hidden from view in the picture you took. Let us know what that pressure gauge reads. Watch it for at least 2-3 minutes, as it will cycle up and down if things are working properly. Let us know the highest and lowest pressure readings. If the highest isn't too high with shared flow (<15psi), then we can try opening the manual valve more to the Caretaker and repeat those pressure readings. That should help determine if the Caretaker valve or the pop-ups need to be cleaned. Ideal pressure for floor cleaning is between 15-20psi at each zone.

You may also want to track/report your filter pressure for these cycles.

no movement on the gauge in the caretaker it pretty much 0

 

[Serbor]

I can’t

Sergio,

To address whether your Caretaker needs cleaning and whether the valve(s) for the 5-port are set correctly:

The manual valve before the Caretaker allows you to select either floor cleaner to return water to the pool, or whatever the other pipe goes to. My guess is it goes to wall returns. Can you confirm? Looks like you are sharing water both ways, which probably means your in-floor system is not doing much except distributing water a little more uniformly. Do you see pop-ups cycling up and down in the pool? They would cycle from zone to zone to zone and then repeat that cycle, but you many not notice it if the pressure is too low.

The black Caretaker dome should have a pressure gauge, which I'm guessing is hidden from view in the picture you took. Let us know what that pressure gauge reads. Watch it for at least 2-3 minutes, as it will cycle up and down if things are working properly. Let us know the highest and lowest pressure readings. If the highest isn't too high with shared flow (<15psi), then we can try opening the manual valve more to the Caretaker and repeat those pressure readings. That should help determine if the Caretaker valve or the pop-ups need to be cleaned. Ideal pressure for floor cleaning is between 15-20psi at each zone.

You may also want to track/report your filter pressure for these cycles.

I can’t notice any cycling, I just get the jets on the side of the pool pushing water.

 

[ajw22]

I did

I did that and I just get less water in the basket area and more air, does not even move the crawler.

Then you have an air leak in your cleaner connection or skimmer line.

Are you priming your cleaner hose with water before connecting to the skimmer?

 

[Serbor]

The manual valve before the Caretaker allows you to select either floor cleaner to return water to the pool, or whatever the other pipe goes to.

Sergio,

To address whether your Caretaker needs cleaning and whether the valve(s) for the 5-port are set correctly:

The manual valve before the Caretaker allows you to select either floor cleaner to return water to the pool, or whatever the other pipe goes to. My guess is it goes to wall returns. Can you confirm? Looks like you are sharing water both ways, which probably means your in-floor system is not doing much except distributing water a little more uniformly. Do you see pop-ups cycling up and down in the pool? They would cycle from zone to zone to zone and then repeat that cycle, but you many not notice it if the pressure is too low.

The black Caretaker dome should have a pressure gauge, which I'm guessing is hidden from view in the picture you took. Let us know what that pressure gauge reads. Watch it for at least 2-3 minutes, as it will cycle up and down if things are working properly. Let us know the highest and lowest pressure readings. If the highest isn't too high with shared flow (<15psi), then we can try opening the manual valve more to the Caretaker and repeat those pressure readings. That should help determine if the Caretaker valve or the pop-ups need to be cleaned. Ideal pressure for floor cleaning is between 15-20psi at each zone.

You may also want to track/report your filter pressure for these cycles.

The manual valve before the Caretaker allows you to select either floor cleaner to return water to the pool, or whatever the other pipe goes to.

Sergio,

To address whether your Caretaker needs cleaning and whether the valve(s) for the 5-port are set correctly:

The manual valve before the Caretaker allows you to select either floor cleaner to return water to the pool, or whatever the other pipe goes to. My guess is it goes to wall returns. Can you confirm? Looks like you are sharing water both ways, which probably means your in-floor system is not doing much except distributing water a little more uniformly. Do you see pop-ups cycling up and down in the pool? They would cycle from zone to zone to zone and then repeat that cycle, but you many not notice it if the pressure is too low.

The black Caretaker dome should have a pressure gauge, which I'm guessing is hidden from view in the picture you took. Let us know what that pressure gauge reads. Watch it for at least 2-3 minutes, as it will cycle up and down if things are working properly. Let us know the highest and lowest pressure readings. If the highest isn't too high with shared flow (<15psi), then we can try opening the manual valve more to the Caretaker and repeat those pressure readings. That should help determine if the Caretaker valve or the pop-ups need to be cleaned. Ideal pressure for floor cleaning is between 15-20psi at each zone.

You may also want to track/report your filter pressure for these cycles.

The manual valve before the Caretaker allows you to select either floor cleaner to return water to the pool, or whatever the other pipe goes to.

1) I don’t know if the water is coming through the caretaker bottom to top or top to bottom ?
2)

Sergio,

To address whether your Caretaker needs cleaning and whether the valve(s) for the 5-port are set correctly:

The manual valve before the Caretaker allows you to select either floor cleaner to return water to the pool, or whatever the other pipe goes to. My guess is it goes to wall returns. Can you confirm? Looks like you are sharing water both ways, which probably means your in-floor system is not doing much except distributing water a little more uniformly. Do you see pop-ups cycling up and down in the pool? They would cycle from zone to zone to zone and then repeat that cycle, but you many not notice it if the pressure is too low.

The black Caretaker dome should have a pressure gauge, which I'm guessing is hidden from view in the picture you took. Let us know what that pressure gauge reads. Watch it for at least 2-3 minutes, as it will cycle up and down if things are working properly. Let us know the highest and lowest pressure readings. If the highest isn't too high with shared flow (<15psi), then we can try opening the manual valve more to the Caretaker and repeat those pressure readings. That should help determine if the Caretaker valve or the pop-ups need to be cleaned. Ideal pressure for floor cleaning is between 15-20psi at each zone.

You may also want to track/report your filter pressure for these cycles.

1) I don’t know if the water is coming through the caretaker bottom to top or top to bottom ?
2) I don’t know how to set valve
3) I don’t know we’re the pipes go to
4 ) I know if I put the handle 12 clock I get the jacuzzi jets to blow,
Right now I’m getting bubbles in the jacuzzi see new images

 

[Serbor]

Then you have an air leak in your cleaner connection or skimmer line.

Are you priming your cleaner hose with water before connecting to the skimmer?

Yes I tried that

 

[Arizonarob]

4 ) I know if I put the handle 12 clock I get the jacuzzi jets to blow,

Set the handle so the “off” on the handle is away from the black dome, and check the pop-ups in the pool & spa to see if they’re working.

1) I don’t know if the water is coming through the caretaker bottom to top or top to bottom ?

Water flows down from the top of the black dome out through the pop-ups in the pool & spa.

 

[Arizonarob]

 

[Arizonarob]

I just noticed that the thumb screw is missing off the top of that handle. I suspect that handle might be in the wrong position. Like I said above, rotate that handle clockwise till it stops. If at that point the handle is not horizontal, then slide the handle off, and place it back on so it is, with the off to the right, and the handle to the left.

Once you confirm that, with the off to the right, your IFC is working. With the off to the left, your jets in the spa should be working.

 

[Arizonarob]

Also, if you look closely at the 3-way valves in your system, you’ll see where it’s printed on the housing “Inlet”. Water flows in through that, then depending on the handle setting, out to either sides.
Looking at this picture here....


I suspect the pipe right up against your right foot is pulling from the drain in the bottom of the spa.
The other 2 are pulling form the main drain in the pool, and the skimmer.

As far as the other valves in the bottom of that pic. One should be going to the returns in the pool, one to the IFC (the black dome area), and the other I’m not sure. Do you have a water feature? Like a waterfall or deck jets?

 

[Serbor]

I just noticed that the thumb screw is missing off the top of that handle. I suspect that handle might be in the wrong position. Like I said above, rotate that handle clockwise till it stops. If at that point the handle is not horizontal, then slide the handle off, and place it back on so it is, with the off to the right, and the handle to the left.

Once you confirm that, with the off to the right, your IFC is working. With the off to the left, your jets in the spa should be working.

Here is the image on the off position blocking water from flowing into the caretaker resulting in no pop ups working.

The screw I never noticed , but I tried rotating clock wise and it never stops, it just keeps rotating, I can if you like take the outer screws out, remove and confirm if it’s broken inside or were the off is for real being that in the event that at one time in the past it came off and put back at wrong position