The Top Signs That Your Hot Tub Needs Repair

While it’s common for hot tubs to break down occasionally, some signs indicate your spa needs professional attention.

Dirty Water: If your hot tub water is dirty or has an unpleasant smell, this may be caused by the buildup of dirt, algae or other debris. Regular water maintenance is essential to keep your hot tub clean and healthy.

Dirty Water

Your hot tub should always have clean, safe water. This helps prevent various health problems, including diarrhea, vomiting, fevers, and typhoid fever.

It also protects the environment by preventing chemicals and harmful bacteria from getting into bodies of water. It also reduces the need for costly disinfecting substances and equipment.

Dirty water in your hot tub can lead to several issues, like odors and algae buildup. To help get your water back to normal, test it for pH levels and metal content.

If you’re having difficulty cleaning it, take a sample to a pool expert from DND and let them assess it. They’ll be able to tell you what chemicals your spa needs to stay healthy. This can save you a lot of time and hassle later.

Error Codes on the Control Panel

Whether you’re an experienced hot tub owner or just starting, knowing what error codes on the control panel mean can be helpful. These messages can help you troubleshoot issues and get your spa up and running again.

Flow errors are one of the most common reasons you see these errors on your panel. They occur when there isn’t enough water flowing through the heater or if it is blocked by dirt or debris.

Faulty sensors or low pump water levels can also cause flow errors. Often, these error codes are quickly resolved by topping off your water and cleaning out any clogs in the circulation system.

Low or Irregular Pressure

If you have low or irregular pressure, this is a sign that the pump needs to be repaired. This can occur when the filter is clogged or the circulation pump malfunctions.

You can solve this by resetting the pressure valve or forcing water into the system with a garden hose. Uneven pressure, such as the jets on one side having high pressure and the jets on the other having low pressure, may also indicate a problem with the pressure switch or individual jet flow.

Water leaking from the system could result from a leaky drain or a cracked hot tub structure. These can be difficult to find and repair, so schedule a desirable tub service appointment if you spot this issue.

Green or Dark Water

If your tub’s water has turned a slimy green or black color, you may have a contamination problem. These colors are typically caused by algae buildup, which a routine application of balancing, bromine, shock chemicals, and algaecide can remedy.

The color can also be a sign of corrosion inside the pipes. In these cases, the best action is to call a professional.

While your hot tub is not likely to leak, it can still cause significant damage and expense, so it’s essential to have it properly maintained and repaired as soon as possible. 

Leaks

Hot tub leaks can significantly drain your water and energy consumption. They can also cause damage to your cabinet and wiring, so you want to be sure that they are fixed before they become a more significant problem.

You can spot a leak by looking for water pooling around your spa. This usually indicates a problem with the shell, but sometimes it may be caused by a crack in the equipment chain pipes.

The easiest way to pinpoint a leak is by adding dark food coloring to the water, then noticing where it starts to show up. This will tell you where it’s coming from because water tends to follow the path of least resistance.

Other familiar leak sources include the pump, heater, valves, and connections. If the pump is leaking, it can often be replaced or tightened. The heater, valves, and connectors will likely require replacement O-rings or gaskets.