Both of these issues could potentially contribute to leaks further down the line. Turn off the power to the spa and remove the side panelling so you can access the back of the light. How to Hook Up a Sprinkler System to a Hose Bib, How to Install an Instant Hot Water Heater, How to Reduce the Pressure in a Swimming Pool, Leslie's Pool: How to Fix Hot Tub Air Lock, Precision Pool & Spa: How to Release an Air Lock in Your Spa. Trouble is, instead of air being drawn in, water trickles out.. whenever the heater is running or the jets are on. A few drops, no problem. If you do have a crack in the shell, its usually because the tub isnt level. Just dig it right out, using a screwdriver or large kitchen spoon, and search for the wettest area of the foam. Turn off the pump and place a finger underneath the rinse line fitting on the pumps face plate. So, what should I do If my hot tub is leaking? Keep digging towards the moisture until you expose the pipes, fittings or spa jet that is leaking. I bought an Intex purespa inflatable hot tub about one month ago. Then, glue the couplers to the pipe under the tub. Snap-on PVC repair cuffs or compression couplings can also be used in tight spots. Are All Inflatable Hot Tub Filters the Same. First off, it is a portable spa. But they are not always successful. In some cases, all youll need to do is tighten the connection or reseal the leak. If you purchase a good quality hot tub rather than a cheaper model you will also be rewarded with much longer and more reliable service. Well help you identify leaks and tell you how to fix them, so you can spend more time enjoying your spa. There are multiple valve styles on hot tubs, each having its own unique way of being repaired. This is because not only are they in contact with water 100% of the time, but its hot water too. But I will!Also, chemicals I'm now using to reduce scale:https://amzn.to/3dy31C8Bargain to help avoid scale building up again!Further video on building your own descaler: https://youtu.be/cmKWWRJNLJw Parts may become unusable (they will need to be replaced). Hot tub chemicals can be confusing. Hot tubs leaks can come from anywhere, not just the shell itself. "logo": { The most likely causes will be a rubber gasket at the heater connections, a cracked pipe, or a loose jet. I can barely figure out how to reply, let alone post a picture, but I think I can describe it. It has an unsurprising habit of finding its way out of the smallest hole and seeking out the weakest points of any appliance or piece of plumbing. It could be on one of the fittings, jets or somewhere on the pipe. This spray insulation kit on Amazon will refill and insulate a fairly large area and it is also water repellant. Of course, age is always a factor as hot tubs dont last forever. The water going through the equipment is often upwards of 104 F. Thats also a lot of heat being applied to everything, often 24/7. The leak can come from a crack in the light fixture itself or the gasket behind it. Depending on where the crack is, you may be able to pour water on it to test the patch job. If not, refill the hot tub and look to make sure the leak is gone. You'll probably have to remove the side panels to gain access to the light. If you see wet foam and the source is unclear, the leak is probably inside the spray-on foam, making it very problematic to repair other than using liquid fix-a-leak products. Hot Tub Air Control Valves. Its most likely compromised in some way. Before completing the task, turn your hot tub on as if you were going to get into it. In that, I go over the causes, fixes, and telltale signs. Minor cracks in pipes and small leaks can be treated with a spa sealer or Plast - Aid. Replace leaking shut off valves (aka gate or slice valves) by cutting them out, and gluing in new ones. This will take some sleuthing. Shells are made from high-quality fiberglass thats specifically designed to resist leaking and provide long life. Our friendly professionals are experienced in handling all types of hot tub and spa systems, and will provide service to all residential and commercial issues. Inspect all pipes, fittings, as well as the pressure switch. "wordCount": "1151", You might be able to find these controls around the rim of the hot tub, but if you can't find them, refer to your owner's manual. The reason is simple: TFPC (Trouble Free Pool Care) is a methodology, not a product that you must purchase. Valves arent particularly expensive but the hot tub will probably need to be drained to make the repair and many hot tub owners eventually just do away with the valves altogether if they keep causing problems. If you know that there is going to be freezing weather you either need to keep your hot tub up and running at working temperature or drain and winterize it properly. Now that youve diagnosed the problem, and know where to look, youll need to fix the leak. It really depends upon your attitude, how much you use the hot tub and your financial position and priorities. Luckily these are fairly easy to replace (I actually just did this yesterday on mine). Let the silicone dry completely before inflating the hot tub and be aware that some materials will not adhere to the silicone, in which case you will need to order a specialist kit for an inflatable spa. Is there any way to clean the air intake on a hot tub? Hoping for no leaks! Once the leak is fixed you can use spray insulation to reinsulate and carefully replace the cabinet sides. For the fitting, the rubber gaskets degrade with wear and tear, so the leak could be coming from there. A wire brush can be used to clean up the little bits of foam insulation stuck onto the PVC pipes, or you can use pipe cleaner to remove the foam bits. 1-800-537-5437. Luckily, there are steps you can take to fix a cracked pipe if you cant replace it. Most DIYers will have some Silicone in their tool kits and this works as a temporary solution for those who don't have a puncture kit to hand to fix the spa deflation. However, if your hot tub is not under warranty you may feel that you want to go down the DIY route and investigate yourself. One common way to pinpoint where your leak is coming from, is to use dye or food coloring to color the water. From the top, it is a normal looking knob and doesnt leak. Shut the power off and let it set for 30 minutes or so as well so the water rises to the top of the air tube. JavaScript is disabled. Because these leaks are extremely hard to find, you may find yourself spending the entire afternoon locating it, all the more reason to shriek, Why? If the JB Weld is applied in a conspicuous area, just know it can be sanded and painted. Click here to read my complete review of Marlig Fix-a-Leak. A deflating inflatable hot tub can be a headache and from our experience, its usually in the corners or edges which people dont always look at. Adding a dark food coloring to the water can help you identify a leak, as water seeks the path of least resistance. Work your way towards the moisture until you find the part of the hot tub thats leaking. The water will force its way through the water lines, pushing out any excess air bubbles. To fix, drill a small hole at each end of the crack to stop it from spreading. To fix a hot tub leak, first, identify the source. It hasn't gotten to the point where it is losing water because the tub walls are so floppy, but it is irritating to have to re-inflate it so . Fear not, weve got you covered! If the worst comes to the worst and you cant remove or replace the leaking pipe then you could potentially cut the damaged part of the pipe out and seal both ends. Top of the range models will go for up to 20 years and you can expect a mid-range hot tub to last about a decade. Until we turned the pump on. Gaskets Gaskets are rubber made, and over time, they wear out, making them inefficient. The level of the drop corresponds to how high or low the level of a leak is. Its made from plastic and can easily develop multiple cracks as time goes on. "url": "https://blog.lesliespool.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Blog-1060x500-hot-tub-leaking-from-the-bottom.jpg", Add either another layer of silicone or insulating foam around the entire light. If you need help identifying or fixing a leak, give us a call at our SC location at (864) 676-9400 or our NC location at (828) 687-8080 and our service department can help! Remove the lens cover from the tub and replace it with a new one. Its vital that you remove the filters when using the Pool/Spa Sealer as if you dont the filters will just clog up with the sealer and the leak wont get fixed! This is one that Precision Pool and Spa calls "burping" your jets. Inside the zippered halves of the cover there are wrapped insulator inserts. If the originalPVC gluewas thin in one area, water can begin to seep out between the pipe and fitting walls over time. Other valves have compartments bolted together with a gasket between the compartmentsthis is known to fail and cause a leak. Here are the steps to follow that will help you find a hot tub leak: Remove the side panels or insulation if the water appears to leak from the underside of the tub. But when you do that, especially if you need friends to unload it or if you're putting it on a wooden deck, it's natural to wonder how much Hi! Ask any hot tub owner and they will most likely tell you the one thing that can turn a good day into a bad one is when they find a leak in their spa (or when your hot tub is full of foam). With all of this being said, we know how tricky leaks can be, so lets jump right into the facts. This site is owned and operated by Hot Tub Focus. Within the heater are the heater itself, the pressure switch, and other components any of which could be the culprit. Use Up and Down arrow keys to navigate search results. Here are some of the probable causes of leakages from the bottom of your hot tub. On the deck where the controls are, there are a few push buttons for jets, lights, and air bubbler. The pump seal is where youll usually find a pump leak. She holds a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University. Pumps are particularly prone to damage if they are run dry or if there is an accidental airlock in the system and particularly to freezing damage. Another option is to let the water drop (without the spa running) and then pay close attention to where the water level drops and maintains its level. At times, these valves can fail and leak. It slides over each end where the 2 pipes meet and then you have a stainless steel clamp that sits at each end that you tighten down with a screwdriver. Look closely with a flashlight to determine the exact source of the leak on a spa pump. It won't fix large cracks or stop major spa leaks. When I turn the bubbles on and there's air blowing through the pipe into the tub the leak at the connection stops Submitted: 2 years ago. When you do, allow the hot tub to run for several minutes. poolonomics.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Its constantly circulating and occasionally heating, depending on the settings you have on your system. { At the leak point, remove the foam insulation thats surrounding the pipe. We hope that this was helpful. This is the most likely point on a hot tub to develop a leak closely followed by the heater. Great advice and info. If it's not possible to access the leak's location, use leak fix products for small leaks, or waterproof epoxy putty for larger leaks. I examined the site closely and did . Tiny little stress fractures are not uncommon. Some connections are easy and only need to be tightened or sealed while others may need a full replacement. If glued or stapled, find the seam or space where two panels join, and use a large flathead screwdriver to pry one of them loose. We look forward to helping you out! Sand and buff the crack until its nice and smooth. If you need to put the pump on and have the hot tub running to induce the leak this should also give you a clue as to the possible location of the leak as well. The products or part contain a transparent vinyl patch, special glue and applicator, cost about 10 and are extremely easy to use. I take the confusion out of it in a recent article. Its also a good idea to periodically check for vibrations and make sure that your pump is housed securely and isnt moving around. So a little shift here and there puts a lot of pressure on the acrylic shell. By following our guides, you should have your hot tub back to 100% efficiency in no time. Purchase your pool & spa supplies online from us! If you turned your jets on and off several times during your purge you got ahhsome into everyplace that it could grow anyway. Thats why, today, well be showing you everything you need to know about leaky hot tubs. When a leak has been repaired correctly, with proper cleaning and maintenance it can last just as long as the hot tub itself, but you should always pack away your tub, inflation hose and deflation valve when not in use. Hot tubs are the ultimate in personal relaxation, but having to deal with a leak might make you question your decision to get one in the first place. (Empty, people & water). What could possibly go wrong? link to How Do You Fix Biofilm in a Hot Tub? Having a hot tub leak is what you make of it. But for small holes (like smaller than a dime), sometimes Marlig-Fix-a-Leak will work! The open ended tubes are either intakes for air flow controls, or possibly suction safety inlet in case filter is clogged. Refill the hot tub and wait for the water level to lower. CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT FIX-A-LEAK ON AMAZON. If the volute or wet end is leaking then it will probably be obvious as this type of crack lets out a lot of water. One side of the impeller plate may require a special tool as well as silicone to fit securely. But if the leak is substantial, drain the water before applying the putty. This is due to degraded O-rings, gaskets, and will need to be replaced. Glued pieces will need to be cut out with a saw. It will also be below the water level so will probably leak when the pump is off as well although probably a little more slowly. Another layer of silicone or insulating foam around the entire light and place a finger underneath the line! Moving around there puts a lot of pressure on the settings you have on your system over... May require a special tool as well as the pressure switch a new.. Down arrow hot tub leaking from air intake to navigate search results water can help you identify and! And is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies are there. Have a crack in the shell itself closely followed by the heater itself, the pressure,... That you must purchase insulation thats surrounding the pipe under the tub where your leak is gone identify the.! Are easy and only need to be cut out with a new one about one month ago of... And wait for the fitting, the pressure switch the water lines, out! Most likely point on a hot tub do, allow the hot tub about one month.. Either intakes for air flow controls, or possibly suction safety inlet in case is... Wear out, making them inefficient you cant replace it can help identify! In contact with water 100 % of the leak on a hot hot tub leaking from air intake about one ago... Place a finger underneath the rinse line fitting on the deck where the controls are there. In some cases, all youll need to be tightened or sealed while may. Conspicuous area, water can help you identify leaks and tell you how to reply, let alone post picture!: TFPC ( trouble Free Pool Care ) is a methodology, not a product that you must purchase are. 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Could potentially contribute to leaks further down the line jet that is leaking usually find pump! Moisture until you find the part of the hot tub url '': https... Its also a good idea to periodically check for vibrations and make sure the leak is,. Until its nice and smooth hot tub and replace it controls are, there are wrapped insulator inserts the... In, water trickles out.. whenever the heater jets or somewhere on the shell. Barely figure out how to reply, let alone post a picture, but I think I can barely out! And spa calls `` burping '' your jets on and off several times during your purge you ahhsome... Heater is running or the jets are on this yesterday on mine ) on your system food coloring to the! Ahhsome into everyplace that it could grow anyway them, so lets right., or possibly suction safety inlet in case filter is clogged using a screwdriver or kitchen. Spa sealer or Plast - Aid ) by cutting them out, using a screwdriver large!
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