Good day,
I have a large inground spa capacity 8 or so people next to my inground pool. Both are approx 14 years old both have had periodic service ever the years. The problem I now have is while the spa jets always work they don't always take air suction. I can blow a little air down the air intake pipe and that always works. Once running normally the air intake has a fair amount of suction. If I shut if off for 10 min or so its back to not working.
I did notice a small amount of water in the bottom of the air intake pipe.
Is this my problem?
Is the standing water preventing some sort of check valve from opening?
What am I doing when when I blow air into the intake pipe?
Thanks

 

It is possible a check valve has failed or is leaking allowing the air line to fill with water.

Have you let the jets run a long time to see if it eventually can purge the water and start injecting air?

 

Hi Dane,
I turn on the jets, the water volume is normal just no bubbles. At this point I blow a little air into the air intake pipe and the jets now produce the normal amount of aerated water. I can let it run for hours this way and it seems all is well. After shutoff it may or may not start up normally.
You mentioned a check valve. where is this in location to the air intake pipe? The main pumps and heaters for the pool are 65 ft from the spa the air intake is about 10 ft from the spa
All the pipes are under the pool deck paver stone.
I ran this all by by pool guy who shrugged it off with an I dunno. I'm trying to educate him and myself
thanks for any help you can offer up

 

Answer the question: Have you let the jets run a long time to see if it eventually can purge the water and start injecting air?

 

Pilot Dane,
I have lets the jets run approx 2 hrs with no aerated water (bubbles) present. At that point a quick shot of air into the intake pipe and the jets resume normal operation immediately.

 

It sounds like something is partially clogging the venturi or air system causing just enough resistance that it can't clear itself. Are there any parts of the system that are accessible? If nothing is accessible you are really limited to what you can do short of tearing things open to get at the plumbing. You can try gently snaking out the air line. If you drain the pool/spa then you might have some luck with a pour down the drain drain cleaner. Sometimes things can grow in lines that don't get used regularly. These biologicals can form a gooey "snot" that can block the line unless there is enough pressure to blow by. Some of the better drain cleaners could break this down and allow you to flush it out.

 

Pilot Dane,
Thanks, I'll try to run a snake down there and see what I can pull out, I maybe able to get a handle on this issue.
I'll post what ever I find.

 

As Paul Harvey said, now the rest of the story.
After consulting with a number of local "experts" the root cause of the reason for the air jets being inoperative was never determined. There seemed to be only two options. The first was to dig up the piping from the pump house out to the spa (60ft) or install an external blower on the air intake pipe.
The second option was by far the cheapest and most practical way to go.
This case is now closed. Thanks to all who responded with ideas and possible solutions