4 Common Hot Tub Issues and How to Fix Them

Hittin’ the hot tub after a long day’s work is one of the best ways to unwind. It’d be unfortunate to get into the hot tub and realize something’s gone wrong, jeopardizing your relaxation. Be sure to look out for the warning signs of a potential problem, and know how to solve the issue. Here are the four most common hot tub issues and how to fix them.

• Hot Tub Gone Cold

  The last thing you want is to dip into a hot tub only to find a harsh cold ice bath. Yikes! The first steps to solving a cold “hot” tub is to check the water level. Then, check for any clogging in the circulation system. You can also wash and change out your filter, if needed. These tasks seem pretty basic but are the quickest and most cost effective solutions. The next step is to look into resetting your heater. Begin by flipping the heater breaker on and off. The heater may need a manual reset. If that’s the case, reset the heater and it should be able to troubleshoot any other problems and it’ll fix the problem itself. Next, monitor for air lock which can prevent your water from getting hot. If your hot tub has a bad heating element you may need to call an expert and schedule a repair.

   

   

• Jammed Jets

  Without jets, a hut tub is just a really large bath tub. No one wants to sit around in lukewarm hot tub water; you want a hot jacuzzi with massaging jets coming at you from every angle! The jets in your hot tub may stop working, but there are some quick fixes to solve the issue. Our biggest tip for jets is to not use a plunger! It could damage your circulation system. The first step is to turn each of your jets and check for any blockage or debris. You could also check the plumbing line for clogs. The last step is to check for an airlock which prevents air from running through the jets. After checking off those tasks, you could look into pros to help you get those jets back up and running.

   

   

• Control Panel Error Code

  The most common error codes are FLO, OH, DRY or COOL. FLO is a code that means your hot tub isn’t seeing any movement in the water, which can be solved by following the aforementioned jet issue solutions. OH stands for overheated, which is very serious and means you should not get into the hot tub. This could be caused by circulation or filter issues, so clean out the filter and monitor circulation to solve the overheating. DRY indicates a dry fire which means the heating element is damaged caused by low amounts of water. This means you probably should top off your hot tub with more water to solve the problem. COOL notifies you that the temperature of the water is 20 degrees or lower than your set point. All you need to do is check for any heater issues, then if you don’t find any, turn the heater on and let it do it’s thing for 24 hours.

   

   

• Noisy Pump

  Your hot tub may kick on one day and start making either a low rumbling sound or high-pitched squeal. This sound may remind you of a screaming toddler, but we promise the hot tub has a much simpler solution. If it’s rumbling or growling, it may need more water. Check for any clogging in the circulation system and clean it out. Top off the water, and make sure the valves of the pump are open. If the hot tub is squealing, there are probably bad bearings. You can lubricate the bearings for a quick temporary fix but will eventually need circulation system replacement. The sooner the better, for your sanity that is.

Now that you’re aware of the most common problems your hot tub may face and the potential solutions, don’t let your relaxation suffer any longer. Be on top of maintaining your spa and enjoy it more often. You work way too hard not to have a great spa experience. So keep the hot tub maintenance up to date, then kick your feet up and relax in your hot jacuzzi with a nice jet massage.