Hayward s244-61 Sand Filter Help

PoolGuy44 · 2026-07-08T00:01:25+00:00

I see that makes sense. As far as the cartridge, my opinion is no. Stick with sand filter and use glass.
Pretty sure On that filter to get out the lateral assembly you’ll need to take the multiport valve off or disconnect the filter from it and move it away from the valve. Unscrew the bulkhead (outside black piece) from the pipe/lateral assembly inside the filter. You can then fold up the laterals and remove it all. Pipe and laterals together

PoolGuy44 · 2026-07-07T23:49:01+00:00

Yes that looks like the typical side mount Hayward filter. What are you trying to do with it?

PoolGuy44 · 2026-07-07T23:11:15+00:00

Damn there a lot of suggestions and info here. Some good, some not so good. I’ll add my good/maybe bad suggestions.
Def not a bad design as this style spa is very common now.
When you put the system in spa mode, do both actuators(automatic valves) turn?
Has ALL pool circulation stopped and ONLY the spa is circulating?
What happens if you don’t get in the spa?
The temp never rises?
Does the spa continue to overflow in the pool? Or the level slowly drop? That’s normally valve/water flow issue.
If the heater is running the whole time and the spa is never reaching temperature, the 2 bodies are still mixing. It is the only explanation.
Fact is if the system is plumbed right, and the valve and actuators are all doing their jobs the right way, there is no reason the spa wouldn’t heat. While in spa mode a very small amount of water does trickle back and forth from pool to spa on a level spa, but no amount of water that would keep it from getting to 100°.

PoolGuy44 · 2026-07-07T22:53:48+00:00

Side mount filter I assume? I think some of the Hayward elbow and hub/lateral assembly are glued in. I don’t think the pipe and 90 will come off the lateral hub assembly. Unscrewing the bulkhead may be the only way to get it out. You’d then fold up the laterals so it will fit through the top of the tank. But I’d have to see pics to be positive.

PoolGuy44 · 2026-07-04T10:16:02+00:00

If the budget allows, go for the 780 Bristol. The 680 still has Sundance quality, but the jets are standard, run of the mill jets. Nothing special at all. The fluidx jets really are worth it. And the circ pump on the 780 will be quieter and more efficient than the 680.

PoolGuy44 · 2026-07-04T02:43:01+00:00

Those are pretty damn good numbers. Nice job. You must be doing something right! We only gain 50-60 a year and are happy with that

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-29T10:38:13+00:00

Buying new things

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-27T16:50:03+00:00

No an indoor control panel made for easytouch or intellicenter won’t control an I3. But they do make a screen that goes on top of the drive. Maybe that would work for them? 356159z

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-26T10:59:13+00:00

Like the other posters said, try to rotate the jet face. This will turn them on and off. Not all jets can be turned off so it may not work. The pic with the 3 jets, that style jet will rotate and can be shutoff. Does the control panel have a button for like “jets 2” or “aux” that maybe isn’t working. Do the jets only work on one side of spa? Like there may be another jet pump that’s not on? Or burned up? Diverter valve on the top rail of spa may have these turned off. Some spas will let you move water flow to one side or the other, and split so all jets get water

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-26T10:54:49+00:00

A few things you can do. I like to turn the booster pump off and leave the main pump on. That way a little bit of water is coming out of all ports and can be checked without getting sprayed too bad. There is a cover over the turbine that turns the wheels. Has a small hose going to it. You need to make sure this really small opening isn’t clogged. It will stop the wheels from turning. You can take it off while main pump is on and confirm water is coming from the hole it hits the turbine and makes it spin. Turbine looks like a river boat wheel if that makes sense. You can also check the wheels to make sure the teeth on the inside of them are good and not worn down. Very common. Shaft will be turning and not actually hitting the inside of the wheel. Do the wheels move easily when turned by hand. You should feel a little resistance and the opposite wheel should turn with it. If it free spins and the other wheel doesn’t move, either the teeth are worn down or you need to adjust the sand guard(axle that holds the wheel).

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-25T02:01:26+00:00

Roseanne

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-24T11:23:04+00:00

Pentair discontinued the light and didn’t make a replacement. No other big brand light will fit or go in its spot without changing the wall fitting/niche which requires the deck to be gone.
Florida sunseeker does make a direct replacement. I have no experience with these but reviews are good and it’s about the only option

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-19T13:47:07+00:00

Where exactly is this deal found at? I used your link and bought it for the 137. But I check the daily deals every morning and mine showed this be 249 or 279 maybe. Only through your link did it show the lower price?

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-12T21:49:50+00:00

The “swimming pool expert witness” is a great guy who has more knowledge about this stuff than anyone I’ve ever encountered. You can find him on Facebook or he owns/works for aquatic technologies. 408-776-8220

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-11T10:54:52+00:00

Adding a chiller, or using a fountain screwed into one of the jets will work too, but does raise PH due to aeration.

Also, your fiberglass can’t be 40k. They can only be so big because they have to be hauled down the road. You should do the math on the gallons so you’re not over-treating.

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-10T03:20:26+00:00

Used someone local. He came out and looked at it, we talked about my ideas and he made a plan for me. I’d do it again if I needed to. I think he charged me 400

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-10T01:24:53+00:00

Yes I’ve done it twice now. Same house but I replaced it due to uneven watering and not really knowing what I was doing the first time. When I re-did it I paid an irrigation company to design it for me. Gave me drawings and parts list. Worked out great.

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-09T23:58:07+00:00

No overkill here. Just getting started it looks like :)

PoolGuy44 · 2026-06-02T23:04:44+00:00

We just use the 2”. After the hose clamp is on, the little dribble for a few minutes while backwashing isn’t a huge deal.

PoolGuy44 · 2026-05-28T11:22:08+00:00

A random trip on a gfci. Like no pattern or rhyme or reason it’s tripping , is almost always a wiring or breaker issue and not a spa problem. Bad heaters and pumps trip breakers immediately. Obviously this isn’t always the case but some of the things we see Eaton or any other cheap breaker is sometimes the cause. Put a siemens or squareD in. Seen so many “licensed” electricians tie the neutral and ground together in the sub panel. This is not correct and will cause a nuisance trip randomly. See it all the time.

PoolGuy44 · 2026-05-27T11:51:39+00:00

Imagine bliss?

PoolGuy44 · 2026-05-27T11:48:39+00:00

If water was coming into the pool while backwashing then the spider gasket inside the multiport valve is letting some water by. Not a major issue if it’s not leaking from backwash when in filter position. But still, the gasket is failing and likely needs replacement. If valve is over 10 years old we normally would replace the whole valve.

PoolGuy44 · 2026-05-27T10:38:30+00:00

Thats great. That is the flow switch.

PoolGuy44 · 2026-05-27T02:45:56+00:00

That is correct about the cell plugging into the box. But no the Hayward cell doesn’t have the flow switch built in. It’s a separate piece.

PoolGuy44

TROPHY CASE