How To Repair Hot Tub Leak

When it comes to relaxing, a hot tub is pretty difficult to beat. The jets and cozy temperature soothe aching bodies and create a comforting atmosphere. But, if that hot tub starts leaking, it can exist the beginning of a major headache—though non if you know how to gear up it.

Once you know what to look for, you lot can locate your leak, seal it, and go back to kicking back. Information technology'due south not always an easy task, but it can salve your hot tub from a irksome, leaky death.

On the outside, a hot tub doesn't seem all that complicated. Just pare back that skirting (which you'll probably have to do to fix it), and you'll notice a network of pipe and mechanical components. Don't let them intimidate yous; to prepare your hot tub leak, merely follow these steps.

How to Set Small Hot Tub Leaks

At that place's a gamble your leak is pocket-sized and easy to fix, and then don't start ripping things out from under your hot tub without taking a moment to investigate. Pinholes and small-scale cracks caused past age, cold temperatures, or manufacturing flaws are sometimes conquerable with a fix in a bottle. For that reason, it's worth trying this step offset.

With a bottle of leak-sealing product on hand, remove your hot tub filters. With the pump running, follow the leak-sealer manufacturer'south instructions and pour ¼ to 1/iii of the bottle (this will depend on bottle size) directly into the filter expanse, which is also where your suction intake is located.

Take note of the h2o level and let the hot tub to run for 24 hours. If the water level doesn't drop, you've fixed the leak, so put your filters back in. If the water loss slowed, repeat the process with more leak sealer.

How to Fix a Leaking Hot Tub Pump or Heater

A common area for leaks is on either side of the pump or heater, and to admission this area, you'll accept to remove the hot tub'southward side panels. Typically, this just takes loosening a few hand-turned fasteners and some shuffling. With the panel removed, take a look at the pump and heater. If water is dripping, spraying, or puddling around the pump or heater, you've found your leak. Usually, cracked fittings or worn-out O-rings are to blame. Follow these steps to correct the issue:

Start past powering off the unit and closing the gate valves on either side of the pump.
Using the screwdriver and pump pliers, remove the leaky fittings and take them to your local pool supply shop to notice a replacement.
Finally, reinstall the new part in the reverse order, and so open up the gate valves, turn the pump on, and cheque for leaks.

How to Prepare Leaks Effectually the Light

Another mutual area for leaks is the spa light. If the water level drops to around the height of the light, it could be to blame. The leak tin come from a crack in the light fixture itself or the gasket behind it. You lot'll probably accept to remove the side panels to gain admission to the calorie-free. Follow these steps to correct leaks around a hot tube lite:

Get-go by shutting off the power to the hot tub and removing the side panels one at time.
From nether the hot tub, bank check each light for water to locate the suspected leaking light. If the leak isn't evident, remove the side by side panel and continue checking lights for moisture.
With the leaking light located, remove the bulb by carefully twisting and pulling information technology from the fixture.
Use a large pair of h2o pump pliers to remove the plastic retaining nut that holds it the fixture in place. You may accept to cut away insulation foam for access.
Push the lens from the back, and then it drops into the hot tub.

Spa lights come up in different styles and sizes, so it's all-time to take the fixture to a pool supply store and allow them to either match information technology with a new light or provide a replacement gasket. To reinstall a new light, simply make clean any gasket residue from the inside, slide the new gasket onto the new lens, place the lens into the hole from inside the tub, and tighten the plastic retaining nut in the access area.

Annotation: If you have several lights, it's best to replace all of them at in one case. They're nigh probable the aforementioned age and liable to leak presently.

Other Common Hot Tub Leaks

A man crouches to inspect the inner workings of a hot tub.

Insulation Leaks

The most challenging leak to locate is 1 coming from a jet, pipe, or hose buried within the insulation. Finding a leak within the insulation takes quite a bit of detective work. With as many admission panels removed as possible, allow the hot tub to run like normal. Lying on the footing, utilise a flashlight to notice whatever drips or wet foam, which will give you a full general idea of the leak's location. Using a metal spackle knife or similar tool, cut away at the foam effectually the drip, checking for water every then often to ensure you're nonetheless on grade (and the water isn't coming from somewhere else).

Hot tub jet leaks

If the leak is from a jet, you'll need to remove the hoses attached to information technology. Using the pump pliers, squeeze the metallic tabs on the clamp and slide it to the side. If the hoses are hard to remove, use a heat gun to warm them upwards a bit (don't melt them). Then, remove the plastic retaining nut that holds the jet in identify.

Take the jet to the spa shop for a replacement if it'south cracked, or but buy a new gasket if that was the culprit. To reinstall the jet, slide the gasket over the dorsum of the jet, place it into the hole from the within of the tub, and tighten down the plastic retaining nut from within the access area. Reattach the hoses, heating them if necessary, and slide the hose clamps dorsum over the fittings. Once you test the repair by running the hot tub, comprehend the repair area with a can of spray foam.

Hose and pipe leaks

If information technology'due south a hose or pipe that's leaking, you'll need to remove the foam to notice the cracked section. Using a tubing cutter or hacksaw, cut out the cracked section of pipe or hose. Match that department of pipage or hose with replacement fabric at a local home centre and option upward a few couplings meant for PEX/PVC pipe or hose.

To replace the pipage or hose, install the fittings onto the existing section on the hot tub and cut a replacement section to fit. Then it'south merely a thing of sliding 1 end of the replacement into or over the fitting (depending on the type) then into or over the other fitting. Once yous test the repair by running the hot tub, supplant the insulation with a can of spray cream.

Your hot tub should exist back up and running, leak-free. Finding and accessing the leak is almost always the hardest part of repairing a leaky hot tub, so take your time and be prepared to cut abroad a lot of foam. The end result is worth it.

Tools and Materials

There are a few different ways in which a hot tub can leak, and the crusade will make up one's mind which tools and materials you'll need. Your all-time resource for replacement parts and materials will be a local pool supply shop, but you may be able to gild parts online. Permit the post-obit list serve equally a guide to what you lot might need, not a definitive shopping list:

Screwdriver
Water pump pliers
Spackle knife
Tubing cutter
Hacksaw
Flashlight
Heat gun
Spa fittings and couplings
PVC pipe or hose
Leak-stopper liquid
O-rings
Various gaskets
Spray foam insulation