How is heat in spa mode supposed to work?

[pcm2a]

I have a spa/pool combo where the spa overflows into the pool. The system is a Hayward GLX-PS8 that used to be salt but was converted into chlorine. The previous owners at some point converted from two heaters to one heater that works for the pool and the spa. There are three pumps: 1.5hp pool filter, 1.0hp spa filter and 1.0hp water feature. Before we moved in a few months ago I had the pool checked out and the guy ran through how the pool/spa heating worked. I used it a few times but now either my instructions are wrong or it does not work correctly anymore.

Steps to turn on the pool heater:
1. Have it set on pool mode, pool filter is on
2. Adjust Pool Heater 1 to desired temperature
3. Heater 1 light will automatically come on and pool (and spa) will be heated
This works fine

Steps to turn on the spa heater:
1. Switch to spa mode (in this mode water is only moving through the spa)
2. Turn off pool filter
3. Turn on spa filter
4. Adjust Spa Heater 1 to desired temperature
5. Heater 1 light will come on and spa will be heated
Heater never comes on

Workaround or maybe how it is supposed to work:
I have found that if I leave the pool filter on, when in spa mode, then Spa Heater 1 will come on. But now I have both the pool filter and the spa filter pump running. That seems a bit like overkill on a small spa. Is this how it is supposed to work?

I have a few photos of the area and control panel but for the life of me cant figure out how to get all the attachments in here.

 

[jblizzle]

Some pictures of the plumbing and pumps might help.

I am thinking that your "spa pump" is really just for the jets. And you will have to run the "pool pump" that actually goes through the filter and heater, to add the heat. This would be a fairly typical setup. Some are designed to not require a spa jet pump and the main pump is just larger enough to run the jets.

 

[ps0303]

Look like you have automated valves so you would always have the pool pump running and when put in spa mode it would adjust the automated valves to control the flow of the water in the spa only. Then you would heat. The spa pump is just for the spa jets as previously mentioned. Also I'm guessing you have a spillover spa into the pool.

 

[pcm2a]

I still can't figure out how to attach more images, it says I've used all my space. However I've uploaded them to imgur and will link them in.

It is a spa with a spillover into the pool. If I switch from pool mode to spa mode then the valves turn so the 1.5hp pool pump is only going into the spa and it no longer spills over.

 

[ps0303]

Pool filter/pump has to be on in spa mode.

 

[kadavis]

Never seen a spa jet pump also used as a booster pump, Your main filter pump is pushing water through the system and in spa mode the valve changes and the the other pump becomes a booster for the jets

 

[pcm2a]

Is the spa pump even necessary (in case it ever breaks)? It does push more water through the jets in spa mode but if you want a lot of action then turning on the blower provides all the bubbles you need.

Is there ever a time I would need to turn the spa pump on in pool mode?

 

[ps0303]

Typically spas have a blower that when activated it creates bubbles in the spa. That is also what your extra spa pump is doing since you do not have a blower. So that is why you have the spa pump. You would want to keep it.

 

[pcm2a]

I have a blower. With the blower on there are tons of bubbles. With the blower off and both pumps on there is some good water movement through the jets, no bubbles. With only the pool pump on there is less water movement through the jets.

 

[Hayward Pool]

This sounds like a configuration problem within the controller. Sounds like when you put the pool into the spa mode the heater is not enabled to come on as you want. Go through the configuration menu to check. Private message me with phone number if you want a tech to call.