Hot tub guides
Straight answers on water care, upkeep, wiring and repairs, written for owners. Each one ends with the fix for your own tub.
Wiring & GFCI
120V vs 240V hot tubs: differences in heating, power, and wiring120V plug-and-play tubs heat about 1-2°F per hour and pause heating with jets on. 240V tubs heat 3-6°F per hour but need a 50A circuit.Hot tub disconnect: requirements, distance, and typesA hot tub disconnect must be within sight of the tub, readily accessible, and at least 5 ft from the water. Types, sizing, and placement.Hot tub GFCI breaker: what it is, what size, and how to test itA hot tub must be GFCI protected, usually by a 2-pole 50A GFCI breaker in a spa panel. Learn sizing, monthly testing, and why it trips.Hot tub wiring requirements: what the electrical code expectsMost hot tubs need a dedicated 240V 50A GFCI circuit, 6 AWG copper, and a disconnect in sight at least 5 ft from the water. Code basics.What size wire for a 50 amp hot tub?A 50 amp hot tub circuit normally uses 6 AWG copper: two hots, a neutral, and a ground, in conduit. See the chart for 30, 40, and 60 amp.
Water care
Chlorine vs bromine for a hot tub: which is better?Chlorine is cheaper and fast. Bromine is steadier in hot water and gentler on skin. Compare cost, smell, upkeep, and how to switch.Cloudy hot tub water: causes and how to clear itCloudy hot tub water is usually low sanitizer, high pH, or a dirty filter. Follow these steps to clear it in 24 hours and keep it clear.Foamy hot tub water: why it happens and how to stop itHot tub foam comes from soaps, lotions, soft water, or old water. Here is how to get rid of foam fast and stop it coming back.Green hot tub water: causes and how to fix itGreen hot tub water is algae from low sanitizer or metals like copper in the fill water. Here is how to tell which and clear it.Hot tub alkalinity: ideal range and how to raise or lower itHot tub total alkalinity should be 80-120 ppm. Raise it with sodium bicarbonate, lower it with pH decreaser. Always adjust it before pH.Hot tub calcium hardness: ideal level and how to adjust itHot tub calcium hardness should be 150-250 ppm. Low causes foam and corrosion, high causes scale. Here is how to raise or lower it.Hot tub chemicals: what you actually needYou need a sanitizer, shock, pH up and down, and test strips. Here is the short list of hot tub chemicals, what each does, and what to skip.Hot tub chlorine levels: what is right and how to fix high or lowKeep hot tub free chlorine at 1-3 ppm and stay out above 5 ppm. Here is how to raise it, lower it, and why it keeps dropping to zero.Hot tub pH too high or too low: how to fix itHot tub pH should be 7.2-7.8. Lower high pH with pH decreaser, raise low pH with pH increaser, and fix alkalinity first so it holds.Hot tub shock: when and how to do itShock a hot tub about once a week and after heavy use. Here is which shock to use, how to add it, and how long to wait before soaking.Hot tub water chemistry: ideal levels chartIdeal hot tub levels: pH 7.2-7.8, alkalinity 80-120 ppm, chlorine 1-3 ppm, bromine 3-5 ppm, calcium 150-250 ppm. Chart and fix order inside.How to read hot tub test stripsDip for 2 seconds, hold level, read at 15 seconds. Here is what each pad on a hot tub test strip means and the numbers to aim for.
Uncategorized
Parts guides
Hot tub heater element and heater replacement basicsHot tub heaters fail from low pH, scale, or running dry. Learn the signs, element vs full heater assembly, and how to match kW, voltage, and size.How to find the right replacement hot tub filterFind a replacement hot tub filter by its part number, or measure length, diameter, and end caps. Pleatco, Unicel, and Filbur numbers cross over.Which hot tub pump do I have? How to read the pump labelRead the motor label for volts, amps, speeds, and frame (48 or 56), then measure the unions. That identifies the right replacement spa pump.
Troubleshooting
Hot tub jets not working: causes and fixesHot tub jets not working or weak? Check for an air lock, closed jets, a diverter valve, a dirty filter, or low water before blaming the pump.Hot tub leaking: how to find the leak and fix itMost hot tub leaks come from pump seals, unions, heater gaskets, jets, or valves. Find the leak by where the water level stops dropping.Hot tub not heating: causes and what to checkA hot tub that will not heat usually has a dirty filter, low flow, or a wrong mode setting. Check these 8 things before replacing the heater.Hot tub pump humming or not working: what it meansA hot tub pump that hums but will not start has a jammed impeller, bad capacitor, or seized bearings. Running with no flow is an air lock.Hot tub tripping the breaker: why the GFCI keeps trippingA hot tub GFCI that keeps tripping usually means a failed heater element, moisture, a bad ozonator or pump, or a worn GFCI. How to narrow it down.
Maintenance
Hot tub line flush: how and when to clean the plumbingFlush hot tub lines before every drain: remove the filter, add line flush, run the jets per the label, then drain and refill. Steps inside.Hot tub maintenance schedule and checklistA simple hot tub maintenance checklist: what to do after each soak, weekly, monthly, every 3-4 months, and yearly to keep water and parts healthy.Hot tub startup after draining (and how to fix an air lock)Refill through the filter well, power on, prime the pumps, bleed any air lock, balance the water, then heat. Step-by-step startup guide.Hot tub winterizing: how to close a hot tub for winterTo winterize a hot tub: flush, drain, blow out every line with a wet/dry vac, open pump drain plugs, and cover. Or keep it running instead.How often to change hot tub waterChange hot tub water every 3-4 months. Rule of thumb: gallons / 3 / daily bathers = days. Signs it is time, and how to make water last.How to clean a hot tub filter (and when to replace it)Rinse a hot tub filter every 1-2 weeks, soak it in filter cleaner monthly, and replace it every 1-2 years. Step-by-step instructions.How to drain a hot tubTurn off the breaker, then drain with the built-in spigot (1-2 hours) or a submersible pump (15-30 minutes). Full steps and where to drain.