How To Set Up Pool Diverter Valves for a Basic System

Step 1

SUCTION VALVE SETUP - This picture shows a typical diverter valve configuration for the suction side for a basic pool. This is a three way diverter valve The center port has to be attached to the pipe going to the pump since it cannot be shut off. The other valve ports are attached to the pool drain and the skimmer. By design the handle of the valve can only rotate 180° on the side away from the center port, so you have the option to close off the pool drain or close off the skimmer or leave both open. The follwing steps show eamples of handle postions for contolling the water flow.

Step 2

DRAIN AND SKIMMER BOTH OPEN -  With the handle lined up with the middle port, the valve is completly open to all ports. Water is going to the pump from both the pool drain and the skimmer,

Step 3

DRAIN CLOSED - If you want to close off the pool drain and only leave the skimmer open, rotate the handle so that it is lined up with the skimmer pipe as shown. The "OFF side of the handle is sitting over the pool drain pipe.

Step 4

SKIMMER CLOSED - Conversely, if you wnat to close off the skimmer and only leave the pool drain open, rotate the handle so that it is lined up with thepool drain pipe as shown. The "OFF" side of the handle is sitting over the skimmer pipe.

Step 5

DRAIN HALF OPEN - If you want to have the skimmer completely open with the pool drain half open, rotate the handle so that the "OFF" end is at a 45° angle across the pool drain pipe.

Step 6

WRONG SETUP - Here's an example of how you shouldn't set up your diverter valve. If you  glue the valve in this configuration, you will see that the handle can be rotated to completely shut off the flow of water to the pump. The pump will not run long in a dry mode without damaging the motor shaft seal. Any port that should always be open, in this case the to pump port, has to be attached to the center port of a three way diverter valve.

Step 7

RETURN SETUP - For this pool system configuration, the return water flow after the pump and through the filter does not require a diverter valve. The only return option is to the 3 to 4 return ports in the sides of the pool. These are generally all open when the pump is operating. So, as this picture shows, the plumbing for the return side is a pipe coming from the filter and branching out to the return pipes. Note if your system has a chlorinator, the connection will be a pipe from the chlorinator to the return pipes.