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How To Service Your Swimming Pool Filter's Multiport Valve
Next to your pump and filter, the multiport valve is your most important piece of equipment as this is the device that controls the water flow through your pool filter. The multiport valve is also known as a Vari-Flo valve, backwash valve, or filter control valve, but although they serve the same pourpose is very different from a push-pull valve, plunger valve or multi-valve system.
It is important that it operates easily and properly.
Some of the most common problems caused by a malfunctioning multiport valve is water leaking out of the backwash line, debris returning to the pool when vacuuming, and water that never clears up.
Things You'll Need:
Troubleshooting:
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Most problems associated with the multiport valve have to do with water leaking by the spoke or spider-gasket inside the multiport valve. This can allow water to bypass the filter and return to the pool. It also can make the water very difficult to clear up because the water does not go through the filter.
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As a general rule of thumb, if the spoke gasket is failed, then the spring and gaskets in the multiport key cover assembly as due for repair as well.
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First you need to turn the pool filtration pump off at the circuit breaker.
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Secondly you need to remove the series of machine screws and nuts form the perimeter of the valve.
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Lift firmly on the handle and the entire top or key cover assembly will come out of the valve.
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If you would look down to where the key assembly had come from you will see a black gasket with branches that looks like a wagon wheel. In some designs of multiport assemblies, this gasket is contained on the key assembly, so if you do not see it in the hole, turn the key assembly over for inspection.
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The gasket should have be solid with a slight raised lip and should not turn your hand black when you touch it. If it turned your hand black, is torn or is completely flattened out, it is time for repalcement.
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Inspect the key assembly
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The multiport key assembly has a cone with a gap, a spring and a couple o-rings that control where the water goes in the multiport assembly. The spring has the potential of weakening over time and can rust despite being made of stainless steel.
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If you have a difficult time depressing the handle of the multiport or rotating the cone you should either rebuild or replace the key assembly.
As a pool owner or pool professional you need to look at the overall condition of the multiport and key assembly and determine if rebuilding or replacemnt is right for you. If you look at the grooves that hold the spoke gasket in place and fing them to be damaged you should really look at entire multiport replacement. If the gasket comes out easily and cleanly, repair may be advisable. The key assembly is something that you would typically replace the entire unit for reliability. Too often has the multiport key assembly been taken apart to replace the spring and upon re-assembly there is a continuous leak from the stem.
To replace the spoke gasket on most multiports is a straightforward process once you have the key assembly off of the unit. If the gasket is contained within the key assembly you simply install a replacement key assembly and you have finiished the job.
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Carefully remove the gasket from the reciever in the multiport itself.
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Clean and thoroughly dry the multiport gasket reciever.
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Carefully apply adhesive to the multiport gasket reciever (Gel super glue works very well)
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Install the replacement gasket.
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Install the key assembly with a replacement cover o-ring.
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Tighten the machine screws alternating from side to side in order to torque the assembly down square.
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Rotate the multiport around and place the filter back into FILTER mode.
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Restore the filtration pump breaker to normal operation.
The multiport key assembly is something that I would always suggest reppalcement over repair, however you can rebuld the unit if you take into account the stored energy in the spring.
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Examine the handle mount in the middle of the key assembly. Typically there is either a friction fit pin or a screw that holds the handle to the key assembly.
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While applying pressure to compress the cone and cover plate together remove this pin or screw.
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Gently release the pressure and lift the handle off of the key assembly.
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Now separate the key assembly into it's main components.
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The cover plate will lift off of the diverter cone by pressing the shaft through the plate.
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On the center shaft will now be a spring, a couple of shims and a non-metallic bearing.
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On the shaft will be a reciever groove with at least one o-ring.
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To rebuild the key assembly the o-ring, shims, spring and non-metallic bearing should be replaced.
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Assembly is the reverse of disassembly however witht he new spring in place compressing the key assembly in order to re-install the pin in the handle will be considerably more difficult.
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