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how should pool valves be set

by Antone Raynor IV Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Pool filter valve positions

  • Filter Setting. The filter setting is used to filter the pool water through the sand. ...
  • Backwash setting. You use the backwash setting to clean the sand in the filter, often immediately after you vacuum the pool or when the pressure on the pressure gauge is ...
  • Waste setting. ...
  • Rinse setting. ...
  • Closed setting. ...
  • Recirculate setting. ...
  • Winterize setting. ...

Part of a video titled How to: Pool Valves - YouTube
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Also if your pool has a spa bat valve should generally be set at a 45 degree angle to give justMoreAlso if your pool has a spa bat valve should generally be set at a 45 degree angle to give just enough flow to the spa for circulation.

Full Answer

Which valves should be open or closed in a pool?

Normal operation of the pool requires this valve to stay closed. In the photo below, there are four valves. These are "3-way" style valves. They are, from left to right, SPA MAIN DRAIN, CLEANER, SKIMMER, and POOL MAIN DRAIN. For the cleaner to operate at maximum efficiency, only the skimmer and cleaner valves should be open.

How many valves are on a pool pump?

Normal operation of the pool requires this valve to stay closed. In the photo below, there are four valves. These are "3-way" style valves. They are, from left to right, SPA MAIN DRAIN, CLEANER, SKIMMER, and POOL MAIN DRAIN.

How many diverter valves do I need for my Pool?

SUCTION SIDE SETUP - This picture shows a typical diverter valve configuration for the suction side of a pool with the main drain, a skimmer, and a suction line for a cleaner; and for a spa with a spa drain. This setup uses three three-way diverter valves to control the incoming flow to the pump from the three sources.

What are the 3 way valves on a pool cleaner?

These are "3-way" style valves. From left to right, they are SPA MAIN DRAIN, CLEANER, SKIMMER, and POOL MAIN DRAIN. For the cleaner to operate at maximum efficiency, only the skimmer and cleaner valves should be open. No other valves should be open. So it is either main drain+skimmer or cleaner+skimmer.

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Which valves should be open on pool?

A normal pool valve setting would have the skimmer valve(s) fully open, main drain half-open and spa drain fully closed. To operate a suction pool cleaner or manually vacuum the pool, you can close other skimmers, or close the main drain, to obtain more suction through the skimmer you are using.

Should pool skimmer valve be open or closed?

For proper water circulation, it is best to position the flap so that it is about 2/3 closed. This will allow for more flow through the main drain than through the skimmer, which will promote a "bottom-to-top" circulation throughout the pool.

How do I know if my pool valve is open or closed?

If the handle on top is parallel to the valve, it's open. Likewise, if the handle is perpendicular to the top, the valve is closed. Common places you might find a ball valve are in irrigation and in sites where you need to control water supply from one area to another.

How do you read a pool valve?

1:194:24Understand Your Pool Valves and What They Do - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipExample. This is just the one that i had. But as you can see they are clearly marked. This is theMoreExample. This is just the one that i had. But as you can see they are clearly marked. This is the return side and we can see here it says return. And waterfall.

How do you adjust a pool skimmer?

5:288:01How to Tune Your Pool Skimmer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then use the dial on top of the skimmer side to adjust how much power your cleaner has versusMoreAnd then use the dial on top of the skimmer side to adjust how much power your cleaner has versus how much you're drawing from the skimmer. There are some new innovations coming to the skimmer.

What are the 2 holes in skimmer?

The hole closer to the pool connects to the main drain. The other hole goes to the pump. As water is drawn out of the skimmer by the pump, water flows from the drain into the skimmer. There are devices that more directly connect the two pipes to increase flow from the drain.

Which way is open on a water valve?

When it comes to which way you should turn the valve, keep in mind the old saying “righty tighty, lefty loosey.” In other words, turning a valve clockwise, or to the right, will restrict the flow of water while turning it counterclockwise, or to the left, will allow water to flow.

How do I manually turn my pool valve on?

0:062:53Pool Valve Actuator Manual Mode & Manual Override part 1 of 2YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe valves. And there's a switch on back on one which is usually the program office in the middleMoreThe valves. And there's a switch on back on one which is usually the program office in the middle and this is where you want to switch. When you do the manual mode with the knob.

What position is open on a gas valve?

When the long side of the nub or handle is parallel to the incoming gas line, it's open and the gas is flowing. When it's turned a quarter turn, perpendicular to the incoming pipe, it's closed.

What is proper pool filter pressure?

9-10 psiYour filter may be clean and normal at 9-10 psi, but your neighbor's filter gauge could run higher, and be clean at 15-16 psi. Some systems with very low resistance can run very low pressures, barely registering, while other filter systems can run quite high, pushing 30 psi when the filter becomes dirty.

When vacuuming a pool What setting should the filter be on?

To begin vacuuming your pool:If you have a sand filter and are vacuuming to waste, set filter to “waste” option. ... Otherwise, leave setting on “filter” and turn pump on to begin vacuuming. ... Vacuum your pool just as you would vacuum your living room, picking up debris or algae as you go.More items...•

Should air valve be open on pool pump?

To relieve air pressure in the tank, simply open the air relief valve upon turning on the system. Sometimes the problem can be with the filter gauge itself. You may notice excessive readings that suggest an issue with your system.

How do I open my pool skimmer valve?

To turn on your skimmer valves, slowly make the handle go in line with the pipe. Now, this is the correct position for both skimmer(s) and floor drains to be bringing water to the filter pump.

Which way turns water off?

In most cases, the master shutoff valve to the home will have a wheel (gate valve) or a straight handle (ball valve). Gate valves (pictured to the right) are operated by turning the wheel clockwise until the water is off. Ball valves are operated by turning the handle a quarter-turn clockwise until the water is off.

What does O and S mean on water valve?

0:241:56Which Direction to Turn on Plumbing Valves? : Plumbing Help - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo when your handle is pointing away from the pipe. It's actually off the water can't flow throughMoreSo when your handle is pointing away from the pipe. It's actually off the water can't flow through there what i like to remember is that when it's pointing with the pipe that allows the water to flow

How do you open a valve?

0:481:56How to Locate and Operate Your Water Valve - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWater valves are almost always a gate valve or a ball valve a gate valve is operated by turning aMoreWater valves are almost always a gate valve or a ball valve a gate valve is operated by turning a knob counterclockwise.

Why are all the valves open in a pool?

ALL RETURNS OPEN - In this picture, all three valves are open so that water flows after the pump to all four destinations: the pool returns the spa return/fountain, the spa jets, and the water feature.

How many ports does a water valve have?

These valves have three ports: two ends and one center. By design, you can close off part of all of the water flow from either end ports, but you cannot shut off the center port. The handle will only rotate 180° on the side opposite the center port.

How to shut off jets and water features in a pool?

JETS AND WATER FEATURES CLOSED - For maximum circulation in the pool, shut off the spa jets and water features by turning Valve 4 fully counter-clockwise and turning Valves 5 and 6 fully clockwise. This is also the setting you can use with Step 9, to drain your spa.

How to open up vacuum line?

VACUUM LINE OPEN WITH PARTIAL FLOW FROM DRAIN AND SKIMMER - You may find that in shutting off Valve 1 you have too much suction on the vacuum line or that your pump isn't getting sufficient flow from the one line to maintain prime. In this case, you will have to partially open up Valve 2 to increase flow and reduce the suction on the vacuum line. This picture shows opening up the flow from Valve 1 by rotating the Valve 2 handle counter-clockwise 45 °.

What valves are open for lion heads?

FOUNTAIN AND SPRAY HEADS OPEN - This picture shows the valve positions for shutting off all water to everything but the fountain and lions heads. By rotating Valves 4 and 5 fully clockwise, water flows through Valve 4 to Valves 5 and 6. Valve 6 supplies water to the lion heads and Valve 5 supplies water to the spa fountain. Water to the spa jets and the pool returns is blocked off.

What is a return side valve?

RETURN SIDE SETUP - The return side valves control the water flow after the pump and generally after the filter and chlorinator. This picture shows a typical diverter valve configuration for the return side for a pool with one or more pool returns, a spa return/fountain, a number of spa jets and a wheater feature. This setup uses two 3-way diverter valves and one 2-way diverter valve to control the returning flow after the pump to the four destinations. The following steps show some of the main valve settings for selecting the flow of water back to the pool and spa,#N#Please click here to view return fittings.

What valve closes the spa drain?

This picture shows the setting of valve 3 to completely close off the spa drain.

How many valves are there in a pool cleaner?

In the photo below, there are four valves. These are "3-way" style valves. They are, from left to right, SPA MAIN DRAIN, CLEANER, SKIMMER, and POOL MAIN DRAIN. For the cleaner to operate at maximum efficiency, only the skimmer and cleaner valves should be open. No other valves should be open.

What If There Are Only 2 Valves?

Many pools have suction type cleaners without having a dedicated line for it. This will connect into the skimmer. The valves would be set as skimmer open, main drain closed. Most cleaners come with a skimmer adapter that allow adjustable flow to be able to skim as well as having the cleaner connected.

What is a robotic pool cleaner?

Robotic: This cleaner uses electric power to operate. The most common robotic cleaners will have a water-proofed power cord that will plug into an outlet near the pool. pinterest-pin-it.

What are the different types of pool cleaners?

Types of Pool Cleaners. There are many different brands of automatic cleaners, yet there are only three "types" of cleaners. These are either suction, pressure, or robotic cleaners. Suction: This cleaner will use the hydraulic pull from the pool pump to pull water through the cleaner. The cleaner itself is comprised of gears ...

Do pool cleaners have a return line?

Since pressure cleaners use a pool return line, there are no valves on the front, or (suction) side of the pump for it. Some systems have a dedicated return line for this in which a booster pump is used to create a stronger return flow to the cleaner. A booster pump is usually on a separate timer from the main pool pump ...

Can you use a suction cleaner on a pool?

No, not if you are using a suction type of cleaner. The purpose of a pool main drain is to pull water from the bottom of the pool through the pump and filtration system. With a suction cleaner operating, it is already doing exactly what the main drain does, which is to pull water from the bottom of the pool.

Can a skimmer and drain be open at the same time?

Never main drain+skimmer+cleaner all open at the same time. All valves open will not hurt the equipment, but the cleaner will not operate correctly. When more suction is applied to the cleaner, it will operate better. Also, with the main drain open, this can cause the cleaner to become stuck on the drain.

Where should the pool valve sit?

If your pool is relatively free of debris and leaves, the valve can sit comfortably in-between the main drain and skimmer. If you have an automated floor vacuum and your pool collects leaves and debris, refer to the automated floor vacuum chapter for proper adjustments. Water Flow Troubleshooting.

What is the main drain in a pool?

The Main Drain - draws water from the bottom of the pool into the filter system. They each have an individual pipe that converges into one pipe just before your pump and filter. Typically, there is a valve that allows you to adjust the water flow from these two pipes. Side Port is an opening in the side of the pool for a floor vacuum attachment.

What is a skimmer in a pool?

The Skimmer - is the housing at the side of the pool that pulls water, leaves and debris into the system and collects debris in a basket.

How to shut off a pool skimmer?

(don’t forget to tighten it when done.) Turn handle to one side to shut off one of the pipes. Now go to the skimmer in your pool, remove lid and look inside to see of there is water movement by dropping a couple leaves into the water (do not put hand inside). If leaves move in circles, or are drawn into the skimmer in a circular motion, you have effectively shut off the main drain. If this is the case, with a felt tip marker, label pipe that is shut off with MD (main drain). Opposite this marking, label the other pipe SK (skimmer). If the water in the skimmer is not moving, turn handle in the opposite direction and then check skimmer and label appropriately.

How to keep leaves from falling in pool?

This is a very effective way to keep your pool relatively free of debris settling on the bottom of the pool. However, you will have to empty the skimmer basket frequently so it doesn’t jam and interfere with the water flow. Ideally, empty basket right after motor shuts down so leaves don’t float back into pool if your skimmer opening doesn’t have a door.

What to do if water in skimmer is not moving?

If the water in the skimmer is not moving, turn handle in the opposite direction and then check skimmer and label appropriately. Valve Adjustment - (two valves), If you have a side port, you will have to determine which one of these valves works the side port as the main drain and skimmer adjustments typically work off the same valve.

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1.Videos of How Should Pool Valves Be Set

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35 hours ago The valves would be set as skimmer open, main drain closed. The ability to open and close the valves is one of the things that most cleaners come with. This is a great way to clean your car …

2.Pool Valves: What You Need to Know - Poolonomics

Url:https://poolonomics.com/pool-valves/

6 hours ago  · Check Valves. Check valves, also known as non-return or one-way valves are installed in plumbing to prevent the backflow of water, usually due to gravity. Also, if the pump …

3.How to: Pool Valves - YouTube

Url:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e5du6aGm98

4 hours ago  · A normal pool valve setting would have the skimmer valve(s) fully open, main drain half-open and spa drain fully closed. To operate a suction pool cleaner or manually vacuum the …

4.How To Set Up Pool Diverter Valves For Pool, Spa, Water …

Url:https://www.inyopools.com/HowToPage/how-to-set-up-pool-diverter-valves-for-pool-spa-water-features.aspx?CommentPage=1

26 hours ago  · The correct water flow into your pool pump is when you leave the two plumbing lines (the main drain and the skimmer lines) open simultaneously. However, it’s different with a …

5.How to Set Valves for an In-Ground Automatic Pool Cleaner

Url:https://dengarden.com/swimming-pools/How-to-Set-Valves-for-an-in-ground-Swimming-Pool-Automatic-Cleaner

32 hours ago Should pool skimmer valve be open or closed? For proper water circulation, it is best to position the flap so that it is about 2/3 closed. This will allow for more flow through the main drain than …

6.Adjusting Pool & Spa Valves - INYOPools.com

Url:https://www.inyopools.com/pool-101-adjusting-pool-spa-valves.aspx

19 hours ago  · The valves would be set as skimmer open, main drain closed. Most cleaners come with a skimmer adapter that allow adjustable flow to be able to skim as well as having the …

7.How to set the valves for your manual or automatic pool …

Url:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5FgfpPm3XI

28 hours ago Adjusting Pool & Spa Valves Valve Adjustment - one valve. Turn on motor and let pool run for a few minutes, ensuring that there is no air in the... Loosen nut on top of handle just enough to …

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