How to Fix Leak in Hot Tub
Nothing ruins your day faster than realizing you have a leak in your hot tub.
Hot tub leaks are frustrating because it can be hard to track them down especially if they’re very small. You might worry you have any expensive repair that requires an expert. While that may be true for some leaks, depending on your level of expertise and handiness, you can fix some of the most common leaks yourself.
In this article, we look at several of the most common leaks found in hot tubs, and how you can easily and (usually) cheaply repair them yourself.
Common Leak Culprits
Some of the most common places you’ll find leaks are in the:
- Pump
- Union Fittings
- Heater
- Valves
- Connections
- Shell
This is by no means a complete list, but it’s a good place to start. In most cases, hot tub leaks are found in these areas. Let’s take a look at each of these components and how you fix water leaks on each one. When hunting down a leak, start at the top of the list and work your way down.
The Pump
The pump is probably the most common location for hot tub leaks. Before checking the pump, turn off the power and look under the pump for leaking water. If you do find water, you may need to replace the pump seal or the entire pump entirely.
The Heater
Once you eliminate the pump as your leak cause, it’s time to check the entire heat assembly manifold. This consists of the heater, pressure switch, and other components. If you find water leaking from any one of these parts, they have to be ordered and replaced.
Union Fittings
The union fittings around both the pump and the heater are another common cause for leaks as they can easily become loose over time. If any of these fittings are loose, tighten them by hand. Do not ever use a wrench to tighten these fittings.
Valves
Inspect every valve on your hot tub. There are several style valves on hot tubs, and this type of valve determine swhat you need to do to repair it. Knife style valves, for example, have two halves that are bolted together. Between them is a gasket that is known to fail and cause a water leak. Some hot tubs have valves installed on either side of the pump so water doesn’t have to be shut off or drained in order to repair the pump. These valves are also prone to leaks and have to be replaced.
Connections
Check all the pipes, jets and any connections for leaks. In some cases, all you need to do is tighten the connections or reseal them. If you find that you have a jet that is leaking, it is most often a failing gasket. That needs to be replaced. Check with us about what type of gasket you should buy. You may find one of the PVC pipes has a crack or even a hole. In that case, you can use a molecular bonding component called Plast-Aid to seal the cracks and holes. This material hardens and is actually stronger than the PVC itself.
Hot Tub Shell
Most hot tub shells are made of strong fiberglass combined with other layers that make a leak almost impossible. In most cases, it is actually a problem with one of the jets or other components that attach to the shell and not the shell itself. If you do have a shell leak though, Plast-Aid will definitely do the trick.
Other Leak Detection Methods
If you have inspected all of these components and still can’t track down the leak, you could always try putting a small amount of dark food coloring into the water and watch where it goes. This helps you track down a leak you may have missed during your visual inspection. It’s also a great way to find a leak in an area that’s already wet.
You can also try letting your water drain and check and mark the level each day. When your hot tub stops leaking, you know that the leak is just above where your water level is. This can point you in the right direction to track down the leak.
Conclusion
If all of this sounds too complicated or time consuming, please give us a call or contact us. Our expert service staff is here to help you solve your hot tub problems so you are ready for a soak every day.
Source: Swim University
