Pool newbie

[Limeybiscuit]

Hi Everyone :-D

Myself and the wife recently bought our new ( to us ) home and it came with a pool. We have thus far understood the basics of maintaining the chemical balances, every week we get the water checked out and it comes out fine so far.

My newbie question is that I do not quite understand what all the valves are near my pool pump. I only know what the main tank does in respect of cleaning filtering and back washing. Our pool consists of 6 jets one of which doesnt work, a waterfall and two skimmers.

Below are some pictures of what the pool pump looks like, I would be most grateful if you could advise me on what all these valves do? The pool was heated via solar at one point, that is all I know.

When I turn the black valve near the basket the pool pump starts to make a high pitched noise, as if it is loosing prime so I put it back to original setting, the water in the basket also appears to go down when I turn this dial.

I am unsure what the red valve on the wall is , when I turn it I can hear water traveling through them pipes, however again I put it back to original setting.

The other area of uncertainty is the object called the chlorinater , unsure if maybe this was once salt water based perhaps?







Sta-Rite skimmer with a winterizing plug still in place:




Pool pump, filter, and piping with 'train-wreck' pipe layout





Suction side piping, probably with 1 pipe from skimmer and 1 from the main drain.
Note the 'train-wreck' layout - see comments below.



Pressure or return side piping, with reverse train-wreck layout.



Old Sta-Rite pump, strainer basket lid view.


Jandy type valve


Abandoned loop for solar heating panels?
If those are spring check valves, that loop is a MAJOR flow restriction.


Rainbow 320 trichlor feeder on return piping.


Bold green = PoolDoc notes on photos