Pool Runs but Won't Fill Spa Under Normal Pool Mode

[TexasEllis]

Jandy equipment. It's about 6 feet above my pool/spa because of lot elevation. Pic attached.
Problem is, while in normal pool mode it won't fill the spa. It will if I put the control board to "spa fill". Spa attached to pool and spills in.
So, I thought maybe it was one of the 2 check valves. Replaced one, nothing new. Took old one, put it in the other spot and still nothing.
Cleaned the filter really good. No change.
Opened the pump and sprayed the hose into the impeller to try and loosen anything that might be caught but no change.
Lid seems to be fine, not bent. Rubber ring lubricated and intact.
Is it one of the 3 fill valves leading to the pump? They seem to be fine. Thinking I will replace the O rings on each of them.
Is there air slipping somewhere causing the pump to lose suction and not have enough volume/pressure to fill the spa? But if so, why does it work when in "spa fill" mode?
Is it the impeller? Was replaced maybe 5 years ago? Original outer pump housing but should that matter?

Anyone have any suggestions? I am losing my mind here. and thank you for your help.
Great weather in Texas allows me to work on the equipment unlike last week when everything was frozen and I was sweating balls trying to keep up.

 

[1poolman1]

Jandy equipment. It's about 6 feet above my pool/spa because of lot elevation. Pic attached.
Problem is, while in normal pool mode it won't fill the spa. It will if I put the control board to "spa fill". Spa attached to pool and spills in.
So, I thought maybe it was one of the 2 check valves. Replaced one, nothing new. Took old one, put it in the other spot and still nothing.
Cleaned the filter really good. No change.
Opened the pump and sprayed the hose into the impeller to try and loosen anything that might be caught but no change.
Lid seems to be fine, not bent. Rubber ring lubricated and intact.
Is it one of the 3 fill valves leading to the pump? They seem to be fine. Thinking I will replace the O rings on each of them.
Is there air slipping somewhere causing the pump to lose suction and not have enough volume/pressure to fill the spa? But if so, why does it work when in "spa fill" mode?
Is it the impeller? Was replaced maybe 5 years ago? Original outer pump housing but should that matter?

Anyone have any suggestions? I am losing my mind here. and thank you for your help.
Great weather in Texas allows me to work on the equipment unlike last week when everything was frozen and I was sweating balls trying to keep up.
View attachment 466976

Hard to tell from this angle, but it looks like the return valve actuator (pool/spa) has the spa port completely closed. It won't fill the spa in "pool" mode if that is the case unless there is a dedicated line to the spa. Needs to be partially open to the spa to get it to fill/overflow during normal filter operations.

 

[TexasEllis]

Hard to tell from this angle, but it looks like the return valve actuator (pool/spa) has the spa port completely closed. It won't fill the spa in "pool" mode if that is the case unless there is a dedicated line to the spa. Needs to be partially open to the spa to get it to fill/overflow during normal filter operations.

First off, thank you!

Looking at the actuators, there are 2. The one on the left and the right. Assuming you are talking about the one on the right.

Should the switch in the back of these be placed in a certain position? I never have touched em since I had the pool built 15 years ago but I am thinking maybe my pool guy did recently when he fixed something?

So, actuator near the pump left side should be positioned Left/Center/Right?

Actuator in center of pic should be positioned Left/Center/Right?

Positioned looking at it like the pic.

Hope this makes sense and thank you again.

Moving the actuator switch on the right actuator causes these results:

Left spa fills
Center nothing to spa
Right nothing to the spa

The actuator is original equipment. I replaced the other one. Think it's time to replace that one as well?

 

[ajw22]

The valve on the left is for suction, the valve on the right is for returns.

The valves are in pool mode and the spa suction and spa return are OFF.

When you change to SPA mode both actuators should rotate 180 degrees. Do they?

Each actuator has a toggle switch on the side with three positions - ON1 - OFF - ON2. Check the toggle switches are not in the middle off position.

Is there water in your spa now?

Do you have dipswitch3 ON in your Aqualink board to have AUX3 be SPILLOVER mode?

Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[1poolman1]

First off, thank you!

Looking at the actuators, there are 2. The one on the left and the right. Assuming you are talking about the one on the right.

Should the switch in the back of these be placed in a certain position? I never have touched em since I had the pool built 15 years ago but I am thinking maybe my pool guy did recently when he fixed something?

So, actuator near the pump left side should be positioned Left/Center/Right?

Actuator in center of pic should be positioned Left/Center/Right?

Positioned looking at it like the pic.

Hope this makes sense and thank you again.

Actuator in the middle of the picture. From this angle, handle should be in the 1 or 2 o'clock position in normal "pool" mode to get the spa to fill and overflow.

 

[TexasEllis]

The valve on the left is for suction, the valve on the right is for returns.

The valves are in pool mode and the spa suction and spa return are OFF.

When you change to SPA mode both actuators should rotate 180 degrees. Do they?

Each actuator has a toggle switch on the side with three positions - ON1 - OFF - ON2. Check the toggle switches are not in the middle off position.

Is there water in your spa now?

Do you have dipswitch3 ON in your Aqualink board to have AUX3 be SPILLOVER mode?

Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

View attachment 466988

Again, thank you so much. You even labeled the picture to make it easy for a knucklehead like me to understand!

Yes, both rotate 180 degrees when in spa mode.

The switch on the return actuator is on the right side so what you term ON2.

No dipswitch3.

 

[ajw22]

Well your spa spillover is not set properly.

You can do it @1poolman1 way and cock the return valve open so the spillover always runs when in POOL mode.

Instructions for resetting the cam on the actuator are in Valve Actuators - Further Reading

Or you can enable SPILLOVER mode with dipswitch 3 and AUX3 and then schedule when the spillover runs.

Instructions for enabling SPILLOVER mode on your Aqualink are in Jandy Aqualink RS - Further Reading

I don't understand how your spillover is not set correctly. Have you had work done on your return valve, actuator, or Aqualink system?

 

[TexasEllis]

Actuator in the middle of the picture. From this angle, handle should be in the 1 or 2 o'clock position in normal "pool" mode to get the spa to fill and overflow.

The actuators only go a full 180 to 9 and 3 oclock. I have never seen either at 1 or 2.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Ellis,

Your pool plumbing has what is called a make-up line and it should be making your spa spillover into the pool all the time you are in the Pool Mode.

If that is not happening something is wrong.



Either the valve is not where the handle makes it appear to be, or the check valve above the valve is bad or in backwards.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[TexasEllis]

Ellis,

Your pool plumbing has what is called a make-up line and it should be making your spa spillover into the pool all the time you are in the Pool Mode.

If that is not happening something is wrong.

View attachment 467030

Either the valve is not where the handle makes it appear to be, or the check valve above the valve is bad or in backwards.

Thanks,

Jim R.

I will get on it first thing in the morning and report back, thank you!

 

[TexasEllis]

Thank you all for your help. So back at it today in 72 degree weather!

Checked the valve in the Make Up line and it is in the proper position of open.
Replaced the check valve with an extra one I have, it's operable and in the right position.

And now it's WORKING!! Must have been the check valve?

And thank you all so much again. I hope you have a happy new year and a prosperous 2023!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Ellis,

Just to be clear.. When in the pool mode, water should flow down through the check valve and then through the Jandy valve below it and your spa should be overflowing into your pool. Is this happening or not?

If your spa is not overflowing, then water is not flowing through the check valve and Jandy valve, or the Intake valve is sucking water from the spa drain. Those are the only two things that can go wrong.

Are you sure the Jandy valve under the check valve is actually open? I know the handle looks like it is in the open position, but you need to remove the valve guts and make sure the diverter is in the right position.

The same is true for your Intake valve. The actuator can appear to be moving the Jandy valve below it, but it may not actually be moving.

Only in Texas can you have 8 degrees one week and 78 degrees the next. Sigh! Today is a good day for local pool maintenance.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[TexasEllis]

Ellis,

Just to be clear.. When in the pool mode, water should flow down through the check valve and then through the Jandy valve below it and your spa should be overflowing into your pool. Is this happening or not?

If your spa is not overflowing, then water is not flowing through the check valve and Jandy valve, or the Intake valve is sucking water from the spa drain. Those are the only two things that can go wrong.

Are you sure the Jandy valve under the check valve is actually open? I know the handle looks like it is in the open position, but you need to remove the valve guts and make sure the diverter is in the right position.

The same is true for your Intake valve. The actuator can appear to be moving the Jandy valve below it, but it may not actually be moving.

Only in Texas can you have 8 degrees one week and 78 degrees the next. Sigh! Today is a good day for local pool maintenance.

Thanks,

Jim R.

I edited my response. It's working and thank you. Yup, on the patio today!!