Is it common to have a valve for sending water through the heater?

[angelleye]

We just had our pool installed. I'm a total n00b and have been reading a lot, but now I'm a little confused by the way our plumbing is configured.

Here's a picture of our setup: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/150a ... sp=sharing

Notice that I have a Heater Valve, so I have to choose to either send water through the heater or not.

If I have the valve opened to the heater, then it skips my salt chlorine cell and my return to the Pool Bubbler and Spa/Waterfall.

If I have the valve closed to the heater, then I get my chlorine, bubbler, and waterfall, but I can't maintain the temperature.

Is this a common setup? I feel like most of what I'm seeing sends everything through the heater, and then you can use your pump timers to control it by having low rpm's scheduled which wouldn't be turning the heater on anyway.

Of course on days where the water is maintaining on its own the heater wouldn't kick on either.

I'm confused why they even put this heater valve on here to begin with..??

Any information on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Denniswiseman]

Is the heater valve a mid position valve like the others so water can go both ways. That would work
The SWCG needs to be after the heater
I agree with you it is strange how it's been plumbed maybe to stop heated water going down a waterfall
Talk to the installers and see what they say