A “Spa Zone” within a pool system refers to an integrated or adjacent spa that shares water and circulation with the main swimming pool. This design is popular for homeowners wanting the benefits of both a pool and a spa without separate plumbing and filtration systems. Understanding how your spa zone interacts with your pool is key to maintaining optimal water levels and enjoying both features effectively.

When operating a spa zone, it’s natural to observe changes in the water level of both the spa and the pool. Typically, when the spa is activated, water is drawn from the pool to fill the spa and power the jets. This process can lead to a decrease in the pool’s water level, which is a common concern for pool owners.

Pool Skimmer with Ideal Water Level for Spa Zone Functionality

Maintaining the correct water level is crucial for the proper functioning of your pool system, especially the skimmers. Skimmers are designed to remove surface debris, and they operate most efficiently when the water level is halfway up the skimmer opening. If the water level drops too low, the skimmers can start sucking in air, reducing their effectiveness and potentially damaging your pump. For spa zones that share water with the pool, understanding the water level fluctuation during spa use is essential to prevent issues with skimmer operation.

The overflow feature is a significant aspect of many spa zones. As water is pumped into the spa, the water level rises. Once it reaches a certain point, it’s designed to overflow back into the pool. This overflow is not a malfunction but a deliberate part of the system’s design, ensuring continuous water circulation and preventing the spa from overfilling. The rate at which your spa overflows and how quickly it impacts the pool level depends on factors like pump speed and the volume of your spa.

Invigorating Spa Jets in a Pool Spa Zone

Optimizing the water flow within your spa zone is essential for both efficient spa operation and maintaining balanced water levels. The pump speed plays a critical role here. Spa jets require a certain flow rate to function correctly, typically around 40 GPM for many in-floor cleaning and spa jet systems. Running your pump at an appropriate speed ensures that the spa jets are powerful and the water circulates effectively between the spa and pool. Understanding the flow rate at different pump speeds is vital for managing the spa zone effectively.

The equipment area of your pool system houses the components that control the water flow to your spa zone. Valves are key elements in directing water to either the pool returns or the spa jets. Identifying which valves control which features, such as the spa jets (“therapies”) and pool returns, is important for understanding and adjusting your system’s operation.

Pool Equipment Area with Pump and Valves for Spa Zone Control

Without check valves in the plumbing between the spa and pool, water can naturally flow back and forth due to gravity and pump action, especially if the spa and pool are at similar levels. This backflow is normal in many integrated spa zone systems and is part of how the water level in the spa zone equilibrates with the pool. By understanding these dynamics and the function of each component, you can better manage your spa zone and ensure a consistently enjoyable and functional pool and spa experience.