shenry43 Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 We had our pool opened last week and everything looked fine. Today, we went to use the spa--we had it heated and turned on for about 2 hours. After we turned the spa off, the spa water level was falling dramatically and the pool started to fill up. My daughter was over and she noticed that one of the valves (we believe for the spa) was in the closed position. We put it in service mode and turned the value to the open position. The levels seemed to stabilize and fill back up (with the help of a hose). Since things seemed stable, we put it back in auto mode and the spa started to drain back into the pool. We put it back in service mode and it stabilized again. Can we leave the pool in service mode until Monday when the pool company can come out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbear Posted April 14, 2012 Report Share Posted April 14, 2012 Exactly what automation system do you have? You most likely either have a bad or out of sync actuator, or a bad valve or check valve. Keeping the system in service mode should not be a problem but be aware that some systems (Hayward/Goldline) have two service mode positions and one reverts back to normal mode automatically after three hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenry43 Posted April 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 I have the Pentair EasyTouch 8 and 4 pool and spa control system. It seemed to stay in service mode. When they opened the pool, they forgot to open one of the valves to the spa, we had the spa on the first time this season for about 2 hours. After we turned the spa button off and got out. we noticed (almost immediately) that the water level was going down at a rapid pace--then we noticed the pool level was going up. I hope that when they forgot to open that one valve it didn't mess things up, but I guess it did. I hope it's an easy fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoolGuyNJ Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 The Service mode? It needs to be in Auto if the initial cleaning and balancing are completed. Then, both valve actuators will function as expected. In Service mode, everything is done manually. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenry43 Posted April 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 but when I put it back in auto mode the spa starts to drain again into the pool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Clown Posted April 15, 2012 Report Share Posted April 15, 2012 You will find a small toggle switch on the actuators. Find the switch on the actuator that is closest to the filter pump. From the position that it is in now, click it all the way over to the other direction. You should feel it click twice, now run the system(in auto) and see if the spa still drains. Note: please post and tell if you felt one click or two when switching the toggle switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoolGuyNJ Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 Generally configured: Pool Mode - All suction from the pool, return water goes to both the pool and spa. The spa may be plumbed either with a separate pool return in it or have water sent to the spa jets. The former needs to be shut when going to spa mode and spa drain mode and often has a second booster for the jets when in Spa Mode. The latter is a more common approach but not by a whole lot. Spa Fill Mode - Pool water is used to fill the spa. Sometimes referred to as spill over mode. Spa Drain - Empties the spa. The suction rate exceeds the fill rate and sends the extra water to the pool. Spa Mode - The valves are set to have an equal amount of suction and return, in other words, what comes in must go out equally. As Pool Clown noted, there is a three position toggle switch on each of the valve actuators. These dictate to which side the valve actuator turns. Generally, setting the automation to spa mode and setting the actuators so spa water drawn in is also sent out to the spa should get your other modes set correctly. Once that is done, setting the automation system to AUTO should work correctly. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenry43 Posted April 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 thanks everyone, when I clicked the toggle switch the valve didn't turn, it the actuator is broken--our pool company came out today to replace it--luckily it's still under warranty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbear Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 the actuator is broken As I suspected and stated above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoolGuyNJ Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 Need a LIKE button! Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Clown Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 the actuator is broken As I suspected and stated above. Touchy touchy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbear Posted April 17, 2012 Report Share Posted April 17, 2012 Why? Broken actuator or valve is most likely reason. Out of sync less common unless someone is messing with the actuators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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