How a Broken Diverter Valve Handle can Ruin Your Equipment & Cause Death
In this video I show you a potential hazard when your diverter valve handle is broken and the safety tab is cracked or snapped off on the bottom. This will lead to over rotation and even the possibility of someone turning off the flow of water to the pump or to the return lines. I show a Jandy Diverter Valve as they are the most commonly installed valves on swimming pools.
The diverter valve does what the name implies, it diverts water from one pipe to another. In the case of the return lines it usually will control the return of water to either the pool or spa. From the inlet part or the part before the pump, it usually will control the suction from the pool, spa, main drain or vacuum port. These valves are handy and serve a valuable function.
But if the valve handle is broken (specifically the safety tab) it can pose a potential deadly hazard.
If the valve is over rotated and the return line is closed, when the pool comes on the pressure in the filter with no outlet could cause the filter to explode.
This happened to me at one account. I turned on the timer manually to service a pool. I noticed that the pump started making a strange loud noise, the filter began to shake and I heard some popping noises coming from the filter. I quickly shut the pool off and started to inspect the equipment. After careful examination I noticed that the customer had over rotated the return valve handle by turning it the wrong direction and snapping off the safety tab on the bottom. They had left the valve in a position where all of the return lines were closed off completely.
After using the spa the night before, someone had inadvertently broken the valve handle. Many fortunate things happened that morning, the first being I was there before the pump turned on that day. The second thing was that I noticed right away that something was dangerously wrong and shut things off within 10 seconds. What could have happened is that the pool could have turned on, the pressure would build in the filter and the clamp would either snap off or the filter would have cracked. Both having a potential fatal outcome. So I make it a note to always check the valve handles to make sure they are working fine.
At another account the customer broke the side port/ vacuum port valve and had over rotated it to completely closing that valve. While the primary suction line still was pulling water, the pump was struggling and shaking like it would explode. I simply turned the side port valve to it's correct position and everything was fine again. Eventually the pump would have burned out or a pipe might have snapped from the violent shaking.
This is an easy fix and all you need to do is purchase the overpriced valve handle. Here is the link for the most common Jandy Valve Handle:
https://www.amazon.com/Zodiac-R0487200-Handle-Replacement-NeverLube/dp/B008E6LLVO/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=swimmingpooll-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=04d94d4a342f9762c4e3abc1c29287af&creativeASIN=B008E6LLVO
If you have a Pentair system here is that valve handle:
https://www.amazon.com/Pentair-270028-Handle-Replacement-Diverter/dp/B004VTGY8I/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=swimmingpooll-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=6c4fbd8e76f894d429f5114a93d030a3&creativeASIN=B004VTGY8I
Just remove the knob (plastic nut on top) and pull off the old handle – making sure to put the new one on the same direction.
So I hope after watching the video you will see the potential hazard that a broken handle can present. Inspect your pool valve handles today to prevent a future potential fatal incident.
Related Videos:
Poolman Tips and Tricks: For Pool Service Professionals and DIY Homeowners: https://youtu.be/sUcjLt9Sk8s
Replacing the Jandy Valve O-rings; Pool Pump Not Priming Part 8: http://youtu.be/IMEcmvCeHuY
Valve Actuator Manual Mode & Manual Override part 1 of 2: http://youtu.be/btj792gZ268
Valve Actuator Removal part 2 of 2 http://youtu.be/W756cDaaRyA
Pool Equipment Overview part 2 of 2 Swimming Pool Valves: http://youtu.be/YVdtMq0A4ug
The diverter valve does what the name implies, it diverts water from one pipe to another. In the case of the return lines it usually will control the return of water to either the pool or spa. From the inlet part or the part before the pump, it usually will control the suction from the pool, spa, main drain or vacuum port. These valves are handy and serve a valuable function.
If the valve is over rotated and the return line is closed, when the pool comes on the pressure in the filter with no outlet could cause the filter to explode.
This happened to me at one account. I turned on the timer manually to service a pool. I noticed that the pump started making a strange loud noise, the filter began to shake and I heard some popping noises coming from the filter. I quickly shut the pool off and started to inspect the equipment. After careful examination I noticed that the customer had over rotated the return valve handle by turning it the wrong direction and snapping off the safety tab on the bottom. They had left the valve in a position where all of the return lines were closed off completely.
After using the spa the night before, someone had inadvertently broken the valve handle. Many fortunate things happened that morning, the first being I was there before the pump turned on that day. The second thing was that I noticed right away that something was dangerously wrong and shut things off within 10 seconds. What could have happened is that the pool could have turned on, the pressure would build in the filter and the clamp would either snap off or the filter would have cracked. Both having a potential fatal outcome. So I make it a note to always check the valve handles to make sure they are working fine.
At another account the customer broke the side port/ vacuum port valve and had over rotated it to completely closing that valve. While the primary suction line still was pulling water, the pump was struggling and shaking like it would explode. I simply turned the side port valve to it's correct position and everything was fine again. Eventually the pump would have burned out or a pipe might have snapped from the violent shaking.
This is an easy fix and all you need to do is purchase the overpriced valve handle. Here is the link for the most common Jandy Valve Handle:
https://www.amazon.com/Zodiac-R0487200-Handle-Replacement-NeverLube/dp/B008E6LLVO/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=swimmingpooll-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=04d94d4a342f9762c4e3abc1c29287af&creativeASIN=B008E6LLVO
If you have a Pentair system here is that valve handle:
https://www.amazon.com/Pentair-270028-Handle-Replacement-Diverter/dp/B004VTGY8I/ref=as_sl_pc_tf_til?tag=swimmingpooll-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=6c4fbd8e76f894d429f5114a93d030a3&creativeASIN=B004VTGY8I
Just remove the knob (plastic nut on top) and pull off the old handle – making sure to put the new one on the same direction.
So I hope after watching the video you will see the potential hazard that a broken handle can present. Inspect your pool valve handles today to prevent a future potential fatal incident.
Related Videos:
Poolman Tips and Tricks: For Pool Service Professionals and DIY Homeowners: https://youtu.be/sUcjLt9Sk8s
Replacing the Jandy Valve O-rings; Pool Pump Not Priming Part 8: http://youtu.be/IMEcmvCeHuY
Valve Actuator Manual Mode & Manual Override part 1 of 2: http://youtu.be/btj792gZ268
Valve Actuator Removal part 2 of 2 http://youtu.be/W756cDaaRyA
Pool Equipment Overview part 2 of 2 Swimming Pool Valves: http://youtu.be/YVdtMq0A4ug
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