Omg what did I do

[teener629]

My pool is very hard to prime because the pump is much higher than the pool. Somehow our pool got turned off today I think somebody butt dialed in the app and took me like 45 minutes of pouring buckets in the pump and opening and closing valves to get it primed. This is our first week taking care of the pool so I obviously do not know what I’m doing yet. They didn’t really cover this in pool school which I filmed and we just kind of discovered it later incidentally last week when even the pool guys could not get it primed.
Anyway I got it primed and working I thought and then when I went back out an hour later the hot tub was freaking empty and my pump sounded horrible. So I turned the whole thing off again and tried to somehow prime it again but I have no idea what I did or how to fix it.
Any advice tonight extremely welcome.

 

[PoolStored]

Deep breath...we got you...

Please post good pictures of your equipment pad from multiple angles. Include all equipment and valves. Same with pool and spa.

Fill out your signature so we know what we are working with...

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www.troublefreepool.com

 

[teener629]

Deep breath...we got you...

Please post good pictures of your equipment pad from multiple angles. Include all equipment and valves. Same with pool and spa.

Fill out your signature so we know what we are working with...

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Pool and spa pics are from yesterday but currently all the water from the spa is in the pool.

 

[teener629]

Deep breath...we got you...

Please post good pictures of your equipment pad from multiple angles. Include all equipment and valves. Same with pool and spa.

Fill out your signature so we know what we are working with...

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

How could this have happened if my returns were never turned off?? The spa drain was working but the returns weren’t?

 

[PoolStored]

You have some automation, please include that in your signature.

I doubt that the valves were in this configuration. The suctions side has all the input valves closed.

When this happened, what was the configuration of the valves?

For your reference, the side opposite the handle on the valve is the gate. So in this picture, the gate is closing the pipe at the top of the three left valves, and closing the spa suction pipe on the right, as the gate is on the right side of the valve (handle on the left).

 

[Bill1974]

How far above the pool is the equipment?

Are there valves that can be closed so you can fill/prime the equipment with a hose and not allow the water to run into the pool or spa? Another option would be to plug all the inlets and outlets and fill/prime the equipment. Seal up the system, and then pull a couple of plugs on the inlet and out (and open and close the appropriate valve) to get the system going. Once running well and most of the air is purged out start purging the rest of the lines one at a time (removing plugs as needed and opening valves as needed) with the pump running the entire time.

Another method would be to prime the system from a skimmer with a hose (you will have to figure out how to make a decent seal between the hose and the skimmer line to force water down the line and not back into the pool). You will need to plug or close valves to seal off the out suction lines. Make sure there isn't way to pressurize the plumbing system with the hose feeding it.

 

[anomale]

I could be wrong but it looks like all the suction valves are closed in the image below. The red lines indicate which way the valves should be pointing to be open. This could be why you had a hard time priming. Also check the basket for black plastic debris. Worst case you broke the valve that was blocking the spa suction side while you were priming. Another cause, you blew out the seal on the top valve and need to replace it assuming that valve has a seal.