Hot Tub Pump Troubleshooting
Poor Water Flow
Hot tub pumps tend to be extremely well made. They will continue to run at full bore for as long as electricity is being supplied to them, right up until they break entirely. That's not something that can really be fixed by a layman. If there is a problem with a hot tub, the problem does not typically originate in the pump. If the water flow from the jets is low, or has very little pressure, there are a few possible reasons why. The water level of the hot tub could be low, falling below the intakes and therefore unable to pass through the pump. If that's the case, simply add more water to the tub. The intakes could be also be blocked or partially obscured by something. Just feel around them for any loose tub toys or articles of clothing that might've become lodged there. If there's nothing blocking the intakes and the water level is sufficient, then there's likely a clog within the tub filter. You must remove the tub filter housing, inside which will be a cartridge filter through which the tub water passes as it cycles through the pump. Rinse the filter out thoroughly and make sure that water can pass through it without difficulty before slotting it back into place and starting the pump again.
No Water Flow Though Pump is on
If the pump is turned on, though no water is flowing through the intakes or jets, a number of problems may have occurred. The pump may not have been primed. Essentially there's a large air pocket stuck in the pump's impeller chamber that prevents water from being pulled through. Just fill the chamber with water from a bucket or hose and then start the pump again to fix this. The lines leading to and from the pump may have leaks, though you'll be able to see this by the huge puddle of water forming around the outside of the pump from the leaking pipes. You could patch the lines with water-resistant plumber's tape, though a more long-term fix would be to replace the pipes entirely. The only other possible reason for this problem is that the impeller within the pump, the paddle which spins to create the water flow, is broken. If this is the case, the pump must be replaced entirely.
Pump Won't Start
The only easy fix for a pump that won't start is to check and make sure that it's plugged into a working electrical outlet. These pumps run off electricity, so if the outlet isn't working, obviously neither will the pump. There could be a problem with the control circuits connecting the pump to the electrical cord. Most hot tubs have an internal circuit breaker to reduce any possible danger of electrocution. Reset the breaker and see if the pump runs then. If not, then either the circuitry is damaged, or the pump has seized up. In either case a certified repair person must be contacted to assess the problem and fix it.
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