Coming home after a long day, grabbing your fluffy robe, and climbing into your hot tub to have the jets melt your stress away is possibly one of the best ways to recover from your busy day.
But what happens if, when you lift your cover, you discover your water has gone murky, smells bad, or worse of all, is cold?!
This may signal that you need a hot tub service or that one or more of your parts may need to be repaired!
The good news is that problems should be rare when you purchase a high-quality hot tub from leading brands, such as the ones in our showrooms.
When they do happen, you’re not alone in facing them, and they can often be repaired quickly, letting you get back to your regularly scheduled spa session.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the steps you can take to minimize the risk of hot tub problems developing and what you should be watching for so you know when it’s time to call in the hot tub service professionals.
How Often Will I Need My Hot Tub Serviced?
Maintaining your hot tub and keeping it running in prime condition will require regular maintenance, which can often be completed on your own to support the day-to-day state of your spa.
If you miss steps in your regular hot tub maintenance schedule, you’re more likely to discover issues with your hot tub that can require a professional service to help get you back up and running properly.
When you create your maintenance schedule, be sure to break things down into how often they need to occur.
To make this easy, we’ve compiled a short list of items that should be completed at various intervals.
Weekly
- Water temperature check
- Test your pH and alkalinity levels
- Shock your water
- Wipe the exposed surfaces
- Check your water level
- Rinse your filter
Monthly
- Deep clean your filters
- Inspect your jets & seals
- Clean inside and outside of your hot tub cover
Quarterly
- Drain
- Deep clean your shell
- Flush the pipes
- Refill
- Balance the water chemistry
If you’re keeping up with these steps, you shouldn’t experience issues with your hot tub very often, and you’ll be maximizing its lifespan with ease.
6 Ways to Know If Your Hot Tub Needs To Be Professionally Serviced
If you’ve been keeping up to date with your maintenance routine but still seem to be experiencing certain issues, it’s best to call in a professional service technician to help get your hot tub back in top condition.
Here are six things that can signal it’s time to give your local dealership a call to book a service appointment.
1. Leaking
If you’ve been keeping an eye on your water levels and they need to be topped up often, it may be due to a water leak somewhere in your system.
Leaks can be difficult to diagnose. It could be from a leaking pipe or, even worse, a crack in your hot tub. The problem is that if it’s due to a small crack, it can be difficult to spot during an inspection but can cause significant problems.
If you want to be sure you’ve taken every step possible before calling a technician, check all the pipes in your system for leaks, then drain the hot tub and thoroughly inspect your shell.
If you find a crack, call our technicians to come out and repair it, or schedule a technician to come out and diagnose and repair the problem if you cannot find the culprit behind your leak.
Additionally, it’s crucial to check for leaky seals, which can often be a hidden culprit behind water chemistry issues or water loss. Ensuring that your pump seals, o-rings, and filters are in good condition can prevent small leaks that disrupt your hot tub’s base functioning.
Over time, these seals can wear out and allow water to escape, which not only requires more frequent water refills but also affects the chemical balance necessary for clean and safe water. Addressing these issues promptly can save you time and money, avoiding more serious complications like electrical shorts from water buildup around spa equipment.
2. Temperature Changes
While body temperature water is great for kids when they play in a hot tub, it certainly doesn’t give the relaxing, stress-reliving experience you’d expect to get out of your spa when you settle in for your steamy evening soak.
If you’ve lifted your cover only to discover your water has gone cold or isn’t nearly as warm as it should be, it may be a sign that your heater needs to be repaired or replaced or that there is a problem with your control panel.
Heater failures in hot tubs are often due to issues such as heating element corrosion. This type of corrosion can frequently be traced back to low pH levels in the water. If the pH remains below 7.2 for a prolonged period, it can severely damage the heating element and even trip the GFCI breaker. Most of these problems can be avoided with proper maintenance of water chemistry.
When troubleshooting heater failures, check the element for any corrosion or scale buildup, and call a service technician to stop by and check your system for any issues that may be the cause of your cold water. It’s also advisable to check the filter and thermostat for any signs of damage or malfunction.
3. Weak or No Jet Pressure
One of the first things people do when they lean back in their hot tub seat is turn on the jets and let go of all their stress as they get a personalized, deep tissue massage.
But what if you turn them on and nothing happens, or you’re greeted with a gentle stream instead?
This can be caused by several factors, including an airlock, clogged pipes, dirty filters, or a buildup of debris in your jets.
If you want to try to troubleshoot the issue yourself before calling a service technician, you can try a few things. First, take out your filters and give them a good clean.
Clogged filters, which impact the flow of water through your system, are by far the most common cause of poor circulation and pressure issues.
This not only results in unwelcoming water but can also trigger error codes like FLO on your spa’s control panel. This indicates that water cannot effectively flow through a dirty filter, and often, your hot tub will shut down as a safety measure.
Furthermore, a dirty filter means contaminants remain in the water, which can lead to water chemistry problems that may damage vital components such as the pump and the hot tub cover.
To prevent these issues, it’s essential to regularly inspect and clean your filters. Setting a schedule to keep your filter clean is the best way to avoid these disruptions and ensure your spa remains a healthy, enjoyable place.
After cleaning your filter, you’ll want to check your jets as well for any buildup of debris or any corrosion around them. If they look good but still aren’t functioning properly, there is one last thing you can try before it’s time to schedule an appointment: troubleshooting an airlock.
Open all your jets and turn them on full for 10-15 seconds at a time until you begin seeing bubbles. Once you see bubbles, leave them on high until all the air has been released.
If this still doesn’t seem to fix the problem, or the bubbles never seem to start coming out of your jets, it’s time to call in the professionals to diagnose and repair the issue.
4. Error Codes
Hot tubs have come a long way over the years and have high-tech devices to help discover and notify you of any issues that may be occurring that you’re unaware of.
Hot tub error codes are essential tools for diagnosing and resolving issues with your spa. These codes might initially appear cryptic, but they are actually quite helpful in pinpointing the exact problem your hot tub is experiencing.
By understanding what each code means, you can identify the issue quickly and either fix it yourself or know what to tell a professional repair technician.
If you’re unsure of what a code means, refer to your user manual and follow the recommended next steps, or give us a call. We can help you troubleshoot or book a service appointment if it requires a more in-depth diagnosis and signals potential repairs.
Why Error Codes Matter
- Swift Diagnostics: Error codes can save you time by eliminating the guesswork in troubleshooting. Each code corresponds to a specific problem, whether it’s a malfunctioning heater or a faulty pump.
- Cost Efficiency: Identifying the problem accurately can prevent unnecessary repairs and expenses. By tackling the root cause directly, you avoid the trial and error that can inflate maintenance costs.
- Preventive Measures: Error codes can alert you to minor issues before they evolve into major damages, helping you maintain your hot tub’s longevity and performance.
Some of the most common error codes you may see include:
- DRY: Your water level is low.
- COOL: Your water temperature is too low.
- OH: Your water temperature is too high.
- FLO: There is something wrong with your water pressure.
Whatever the code, refer to your manual for clear next steps, as this can change based on the model you have.
Depending on the code, you may need to check your circuit board for any signs of malfunction. These include burn marks, cracks, or even melting of the circuit components. When a circuit board fails, it usually overheats, and this excessive heat can cause it to overload and become irreparably damaged.
A circuit board malfunction in a hot tub can be expensive, often resulting from neglecting regular maintenance. Routine upkeep is crucial to prevent such issues, as it helps avoid the heavy costs associated with repairing or replacing a damaged board.
Navigating hot tub error codes doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With the right resources, diagnosing and solving hot tub issues based on these codes can be straightforward, ensuring that your hot tub remains in prime working condition.
5. Frequent Dirty Water
The quality of your water is one of the most important aspects of your hot tub and can have long-term effects on your system if it’s frequently dirty or unbalanced.
Dirty water can take various forms, from a foamy surface, a cloudy appearance or algae blooms beginning to develop!
There are some common issues for this problem and some steps you can take to verify it’s not a more serious issue.
The first thing you should try is treating your water with a shock treatment.
If this doesn’t seem to clear up your water, you can take it a step further by completing a full deep clean on your system.
Drain your hot tub and clean your shell, ensuring you use a quality shell cleaner and thoroughly rinse it off afterward. At this time, you’ll also want to remove your filters, cleaning them under running water and leaving them to soak in filter cleaner.
If your water is quick to return to its dirty state even after refilling and rebalancing your water, it may be time to schedule a hot tub service appointment to get the issue diagnosed and repaired right away.
6. Off Putting Water Smell
The water in your hot tub will always have a distinct smell to it, often a light scent of chlorine or some other sanitizing product.
However, your hot tub should never smell so bad that it shocks you or seems like an assault on your senses! If you’ve lifted your hot tub only to discover your water is not smelling normal, there can be a few things happening.
Imbalanced Chemical Levels
Your chemical levels may be too high, often resulting in your hot tub creating the suffocating smell of chlorine you’d find at the local public pool or gym. Identifying this is as easy as testing the chemical levels of your water and treating them accordingly.
Often, your water may smell bad and have high chemical levels simply because the cover was put on after treatment and trapped the gases in, overloading the water. Remember to always leave your cover off after treating your water for at least 30 minutes to off-gas the chemicals as they do their job.
Poor Circulation
Your water may also smell bad if you have a clog in your pipes, your filters are dirty, or your pump isn’t working properly. All these problems result in your water sitting stagnant, which is the perfect environment for bacteria to develop and get out of control, leaving you with foul-smelling water.
Try cleaning out your filters and inspecting your system for any issues. You can try doing a full water change and shell clean as well, flushing the lines with a line cleaner beforehand. If it’s being caused by blocked pipes or a faulty pump, your fresh water will end up sitting stagnantly as well, resulting in the same issue recurring.
If this is the case, schedule an appointment immediately for a hot tub service to avoid your water causing any damage to your shell or system.
How Can Water Chemistry Maintenance Help Prevent Hot Tub Issues?
Maintaining the chemical balance of your hot tub water is essential for preventing a variety of common problems. Ensuring the correct water chemistry helps in several critical ways:
- Prevents Biological Growth: Regular monitoring and adjustment of water chemistry keep harmful organisms like algae, mold, and bacteria at bay. These organisms not only make the hot tub unsanitary but can also clog filters and damage the system.
- Protects Equipment: Correct water chemistry prevents the corrosion of hot tub components such as heaters, pumps, and jets. Acidic or overly alkaline water can cause significant damage to these parts, leading to costly repairs.
- Enhances User Experience: Balanced water contributes to clearer, more inviting water and prevents skin irritation and other discomforts for users.
To maintain optimal water chemistry, regular testing, and adjustment of the water’s pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels are necessary. Utilizing multi-function test strips regularly can help ensure that your hot tub’s water chemistry stays within the recommended ranges, making it easier to enjoy your hot tub without the hassle of frequent and complicated maintenance tasks.
By addressing these key aspects, water chemistry maintenance plays a pivotal role in the overall health and longevity of your hot tub.
How Can I Know If My Pump Is Malfunctioning?
You may have noticed a malfunctioning pump came up quite a few times as a culprit for these issues.
If you’re wondering how to tell if your hot tub pump is failing, there are some clear signs to look out for. By far, the most common signs of a pump issue are noticeable sounds, such as humming, squealing, or banging.
These noises could suggest issues like worn-out bearings or damaged seals within the pump assembly. Additionally, any signs of leakage around the pump area should be taken seriously, as they could point to problems that may worsen over time.
To prevent such issues, regular maintenance checks, either monthly or yearly, are highly recommended.
Hot Tub Service and Repair in New Jersey
If your hot tub has developed any of these issues, or you simply want someone to come by and give your hot tub an inspection to catch any issues early before they become a problem, our team of hot tub service professionals is here to help.
Hot Tub Central is your go-to hot tub dealer and service provider with showrooms and hot tub service technicians in Toms River, Oakhurst, and Manalapan.
If you’ve been considering investing in a top-quality hot tub or are looking for a reliable, professional hot tub service provider to perform regular maintenance on your existing spa, get in touch with us, or visit your local showroom.
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