banner



Home  ›  How To Repair Abs Tub

How To Repair Abs Tub

Written By Wednesday, April 13, 2022 Add Comment Edit

Owning a hot tub is one of the luxuries of life. But eventually, every hot tub owner asks "what do I do if my hot tub is leaking?"

Here's are the steps I follow having owned and fixed leaks many times:

With a leaking hot tub, offset, remove the paneling to locate the leak. The most likely causes volition be a rubber gasket at the heater connections, a croaky pipe, or a loose jet. If it's not possible to access the leak's location, use leak prepare products for small leaks, or waterproof epoxy putty for larger leaks.

Merely at that place's a lot more that goes into fixing hot tub leaks than that!

That's why, today, nosotros'll exist showing you everything you demand to know nearly leaky hot tubs. We'll exist going over the causes, fixes, and telltale signs.

We know that information technology'southward going to seem similar a lot of information, and so we'll be breaking everything downward into easy to read sections for you.

Those sections volition look like this:

  • What causes a hot tub to leak?
  • How do I notice a leak in my hot tub?
  • Why is my hot tub leaking from the bottom?
  • How practise I prepare a leak in my hot tub?
  • Can a crack in a hot tub shell be fixed?
  • How to gear up it when your hot tub only leaks when the jets are on
  • How to repair cracked hot tub pipes

Feel free to skip effectually at your leisure, but it'due south definitely best to pay attention to each and every department.

This is because knowing everything yous can about leaks volition be your outset line of defense confronting them.

With all of this existence said, nosotros know how catchy leaks can exist, so let'south jump correct into the facts.

What causes a hot tub to leak?

A broken or worn safe gasket on either finish of the heater connection is a common crusade of hot tub leaks. Simply it tin also be a loose connection on any of the jets or plumbing lines, many of which are encased in spray-on foam, making them hard to identify.

It may seem simple, water in and water out. But there are a lot more moving parts than you may initially think.

So, in this section, nosotros'll be showing you all of the possible reasons that a hot tub may start to leak. Permit's start by reviewing the master parts of a hot tub and what they exercise.

Chances are your leak is caused by a failure in one of these:

So what causes leaks? It'southward most frequently a failure of a safe gasket or the PVC glue that holds 2 pieces of pipe together.

The water going through the equipment is oftentimes upwardly of 104° F. That's too a lot of heat being applied to everything, often 24/7.

And so normal habiliment and tear is the culprit. Luckily, most of it is easily stock-still, which nosotros get into below.

Of class, age is e'er a gene equally hot tubs don't concluding forever.

So if you're wondering whether or not it's simply time to replace your hot tub or prepare it, make sure to check out a recent article I published. In it, I encompass the lifespan of hot tubs, including all the dissimilar types.

Simply click that link to see information technology now on my site.

How practice I notice a leak in my hot tub?

To observe a leak in a hot tub, remove the side panels, and note where the water is pooling on the ground. That will exist directly nether the leak. If you lot see wet foam and the source is unclear, the leak is probably inside the spray-on cream, making it very problematic to repair other than using liquid fix-a-leak products.

But, in this section, nosotros'll be breaking all of those steps down for y'all.

So before nosotros begin to dive into some popular searching methods, we'll layout the areas you need to bank check:

A leak can come from whatsoever of these areas. Luckily, if this seems overwhelming, we have some cracking methods for you to follow for each surface area.

Why is my hot tub leaking from the bottom?

Ultimately gravity will crusade most hot tub leaks to pool on the ground at the bottom. The source of the leak tin nevertheless be from the jets, a croaky PVC pipe, or a worn rubber gasket in the heater unions. Only the leak could also be a crack in the trounce or a loose light fixture.

Unfortunately, a hot tub tin can leak from numerous places.

Because of that, there isn't one respond to this question. But ultimately, no matter where the leak, eventually you lot're going to see it on the basis around the base of your hot tub.

Here are some of the near common reasons:

  • The light – If your hot tub has a calorie-free at the bottom, that light housing tin become a flake loose. If that happens, it tin cause a leak on the bottom
  • The Jets – If whatsoever of the jets are leaking, or the connections between the pipe and beat out are leaking, this volition crusade water to leak out of the bottom
  • The shell – a fissure in the vanquish tin can be the culprit. Cracks effectually the summit are easy to spot. However, if y'all have a crack below the water, you may not know it's there without draining the water. Looking behind the paneling may not reveal that either due to insulation and spray-on cream
  • Gaskets in the plumping – These are rubber and habiliment out over fourth dimension. Replacing them is the only pick when they neglect

Nosotros get into fixes for each of these issues below. Only troubleshooting to figure out which expanse is the cause is crucial.

How do I ready a leak in my hot tub?

To fix a hot tub leak, first, identify the source. For leaks smaller than 1/8 of an inch, employ a liquid fix-a-leak product. Worn rubber gaskets or cracked PVC pipes will need to be replaced. Small cracks in the acrylic shell can be patched, and waterproof epoxy can also be used in camouflaged places.

Now that yous've diagnosed the problem, and know where to expect, you'll need to gear up the leak.

Since I have problem shooted many leaks over the years of owning hot tubs, I've had to deal with most of these. And being on a budget means I practice near of the work myself.

Here, I intermission down each area prone to leaks and how to bargain with each one:

A pump leak

The pump is what pushes the water coming from the hot tub into the heater tube.

Then the heated water exits the heater and goes back into the tub. Information technology's constantly circulating and occasionally heating, depending on the settings yous take on your system.

The most likely places for a pump leak are going to exist the connections on each end of it. Information technology could be a worn gasket or a cracked piping.

I embrace both of those types of repairs below.

If you have to supersede the pump

If the pump itself is leaking from the primary torso and not i of the connectors, it's probably time to replace the pump itself.

I've washed this myself and I outline the steps beneath:

  • Buy a replacement pump that is roughly the same power as what you have (it does not need to be the same brand). Do brand sure it is the same diameter connectors on each side of information technology (2″ PVC is most common). Also, brand certain that the in and out connections are in the same position as the pump y'all have at present.
  • Turn the main billow off since yous'll be dealing with electricity
  • Either drain the water or, if your hot tub has gates (shut off valves), just shut them as long every bit they are on either side of the pump.
  • Disconnect the ability cable to the one-time pump from the control box. Some brands merely plug into the side of the control box making this like shooting fish in a barrel. Others may require you to open the control box panel and unscrew the wires from inside (again, brand sure the main power billow is off).
  • Loosen the connectors – With round vice grips, gently plough the connecting basics on each end of the pump to the left if you lot are facing them
  • Audit the gaskets and replace them if needed. If the new pump came with gaskets only utilize those.
  • Remove the sometime pump
  • Identify the new pump in and follow the above steps in opposite to connect it

A skilful replacement pump is this 5 hp pump from Waterway on Amazon (click to see the current price on Amazon).

A croaky beat out

If your shell becomes has minor cracks, don't panic. Tiny little stress fractures are non uncommon. These tin exist caused over time peculiarly if your hot tub isn't on a concrete pad that's perfectly level.

After all, filled with water and people, that thing weighs thousands of pounds. And so a little shift hither and in that location puts a lot of pressure on the acrylic shell.

The best manner to fix a small crack in the acrylic shell is to exercise the following:

  • Get a Plast-assist Acrylic Spa Repair kit (click to see on Amazon)
  • Drill a small hole on each end of the crevice using a drill bit just slightly larger than the crack itself. That will cease the crack from spreading and getting bigger
  • Mix the dry out and liquid spa repair glue in a cup; how much depends on how big the crack is
  • Add together a small amount of acrylic pigment to the gum to lucifer the color of your shell (optional)
  • Spread a small corporeality into the crack and 2 holes
  • Allow fifteen minutes to cure, fuse, and harden
  • Can be gently sanded and/or buffed smooth

CLICK Hither TO SEE THE ACRYLIC REPAIR KIT ON AMAZON

The heating system

A heating chemical element volition fail over time. But that mostly causes it to non oestrus or to non heat to the proper temperature.

The heating system is virtually likely to develop leaks at the gasket and split nut assembly on either side of the heater tube.

That fix can be done yourself for about $twenty bucks and I get into that in the section just below us.

Gaskets

Rubber gaskets neglect over time.

This is because not but are they in contact with water 100% of the time, but information technology's hot water too.

In my experience, the gaskets most decumbent to failure are the ones on either side of your heater tube. Luckily these are fairly easy to supplant (I actually but did this yesterday on mine).

If you have 1 that failed (like I did), information technology's a skilful thought to get alee and supplant both as chances are they are the same age and the other one is close to failure also.

Here'south how I replaced the gaskets and split basics on my hot tub:

  • Either drain the water or, if your hot tub has gates (shut off valves), simply shut them on each side of the control box that houses the heater tube
  • Loosen the split nut by hand by turning left (if you were looking at information technology straight ahead). The split nut is typically a round black slice of plastic that screws onto the cease of a pipe. Still, information technology'due south 2 halves instead of just one piece. You tighten the two halves together with screws
  • In one case the divide nut is rotated to where you can become to both screws, use a screwdriver (typically Phillips) to loosen the screws and set them bated
  • Remove the split nut (may need to be turned further)
  • The gasket will be inside the divide nut. Remove information technology and check for wear or if information technology'due south cleaved
  • While y'all can just replace the gasket, I replaced the split nut as well feeling like it had probably been worn a petty too. You may exist able to find this at a pool/hot tub supply store, but not likely at places like Home Depot. I likewise couldn't find my exact one on Amazon. So I bought mine from SpaDepot.
  • Identify the new gasket in (it has a ridge that presses into the tube that connects to the heater
  • Skid-on one half of the split nut, and then the other half
  • Tighten the screws that connect the split nut halves
  • Hand-tighten the split nut onto the pipe by turning to the right.
  • Repeat the process for the other side of the heater tube

It's a good idea to fill the tub support before replacing the paneling in case y'all need to farther tighten the dissever basics. I found I had to tighten just a little flake more and I used a big circular vice grip to do information technology (gently since the split up nut is plastic).

Tin a crack in a hot tub shell be stock-still?

Yes. Small cracks in a hot tub beat tin can be stock-still. To set up, drill a small hole at each end of the crack to stop it from spreading. Then apply an acrylic patch. This tin can be mixed with acrylic paint to friction match the crush color. Once dry, information technology can be sanded and buffed smooth.

As we've mentioned in the previous section, a hot tub trounce can definitely exist fixed. The best manner to ready a minor fissure in the acrylic trounce is to do the following:

  • Become a Plast-aid Acrylic Spa Repair kit (click to see on Amazon)
  • Drill a small hole on each end of the scissure using a drill bit simply slightly larger than the crack itself. That will finish the cleft from spreading and getting bigger
  • Mix the dry and liquid spa repair mucilage in a cup; how much depends on how big the cleft is
  • Add a small amount of acrylic pigment to the glue to lucifer the color of your shell (optional)
  • Spread a small-scale amount into the crack and 2 holes
  • Allow fifteen minutes to cure, fuse, and harden
  • Tin exist gently sanded and/or buffed smooth

CLICK Here TO Meet THE ACRYLIC REPAIR KIT ON AMAZON

What if the beat is too far gone?

For larger cracks or a chunk missing, y'all can apply the above process in larger amounts.

Merely know that glue, however strong, isn't designed to hold water under pressure level, then really big gaps may crave professional help.


How to gear up it when your hot tub just leaks when the jets are on

In most cases, if your hot tub leaks when the jets are on, at that place's either a small crack or a worn prophylactic gasket.

While, of course, it'south always ideal to replace a worn gasket or croaky piping, the jets are ofttimes encased in spray-on foam. That makes them actually difficult to get to.

So before I go excavation out the foam and crawling into the enclosed hot tub area, here's what I like to try first.

I use Marlig Ready-a-Leak (click to see on Amazon)

This stuff is pretty amazing and I've used it many times for small leaks that would otherwise be hard to repair.

It works peachy. It'southward likewise an Amazon's Option product with some great reviews.

This is a liquid that y'all but cascade into the suction area. You don't have to drain the h2o earlier OR afterwards using it. Just give it 24-48 hours to meet if it fixed the leak.

Here are the steps to using it:

  • Remove the filters and set aside
  • Shake the canteen really well
  • Pour about 1/4 of the bottle (if you got the 32 oz canteen) into the area where the filters were (it will get sucked into the pipes here
  • Turn on all jets to get it moving through the hot tub plumbing for half-dozen hours
  • Plow the system off (at the breaker would be the easiest fashion)
  • Simply walk away and allow information technology to work for 24-48 hours
  • Check back after 24-48 hours to see if there is nevertheless whatever evidence of leakage
  • If no leak, replace the filters, cheque and adjust water chemicals if needed
  • Wait another 48 hours before using
  • If the leak has slowed but not been stock-still, repeat the procedure

Set-a-Leak is heavier than water, so information technology naturally sinks to the lowest place.

Nearly often this is wherever the leak is since that's where the h2o pressure is moving towards. Information technology can fill cracks up 1/8″ in diameter, so it's perfect for tiny cracks that would be challenging to replace.

CLICK Hither TO Check OUT FIX-A-LEAK ON AMAZON

How to repair cracked hot tub pipes

A cracked pipe in a hot tub should be replaced. If you lot accept gate valves, close them off & loosen the fittings on either side of the crack. Replace with a new slice. Glued pieces will need to be cut out with a saw. Waterproof epoxy tin can work for small cracks merely it may not concluding equally long as replacing it.

When it comes to the plumbing of a hot tub, there are a lot of pipes involved. While most pipes are extremely durable if one of them cracks you'll want to know about how to prepare it.

With a cracked pipe, the platonic solution is obviously to replace it. Unfortunately, that isn't always possible due to where it's located and the historic period of the hot tub (it could be harder to discover the parts).

Later on all, while it seems odd to me, PVC pipes (which is what make upwardly a lot of the hot tub piping) aren't universal.

Retrieve of them like cell telephone chargers in 2002; each one tin exist a lilliputian different. Even if y'all find a two″ slice, if information technology'south threaded, the thread may not be the same every bit your thread.

Luckily, there are steps y'all can have to set up a cracked pipe if you tin can't replace it.

To replace a cracked pipe

If it's a simple part that's hands attainable and piece of cake to supersede, only:

  • Drain the hot tub
  • Remove the croaky pipe (information technology could simply be screwed on which makes removal easy). If it's glued, yous'll have to use a hacksaw to cut it out
  • Supplant with a new PVC pipe the same size
  • If information technology's a glued in piece, mucilage in and allow to fully set before filling with water (typically 2 hours)

Apply epoxy putty

Another way to repair pipes, and if these pipes are PVC this works all the better, is to apply an epoxy putty like JB Water Weld (click to run into on Amazon).

This stuff is great as it tin can literally be applied in moisture conditions or even underwater!

It's not, nevertheless, going to work if the water is actively squirting out of the leak spot at high pressure. A few drops, no trouble.

Just if the leak is substantial, drain the water before applying the putty.

Here's how to use information technology:

  • Break off a small piece (about ane″) and mix thoroughly with your hands (I like to wear latex gloves). Epoxy works past combining the 2 materials
  • Press it over the leak and spread out so it conforms to the area (if this is behind your panels, how it looks plainly doesn't matter)
  • Information technology will set inside 25 minutes and harden within 1 hour

If the JB Weld is practical in a conspicuous area, just know information technology tin can exist sanded and painted. But it helps if you utilise information technology smoothly and neatly in the first place.

Here is a picture of JB H2o Weld I used to fix ii spots that were leaking.

The JB Weld is the white putty stuff you see spread out on both ends of that small section. Since this is backside the paneling, how pretty it looked didn't matter.

But it works!

CLICK Hither TO SEE JB Water WELD ON AMAZON

Using a flexible coupling clamp

Sometimes there is only a modest leak where two pipes meet simply it'southward not easy to go those pipes out and supplant them.

What I did one time when I had this happen was to employ what's called a flexible coupling clamp (click to run into on Amazon).

It'south a prophylactic sleeve (2″ is typical for a lot of hot tubs, but I did once accept an older one that was 1.5″).

Information technology slides over each end where the two pipes meet and then yous take a stainless steel clamp that sits at each terminate that you tighten down with a screwdriver. It worked not bad for me and was MUCH easier than if I had replaced both pipes.

Here are the steps:

  • Ideally, bleed the hot tub (otherwise information technology could be spraying y'all while you're doing this)
  • Disconnect the two pipes where they meet
  • Slide the rubber (with the loosened clamps) over one end
  • Press the 2 pipes touching each other
  • Slide the rubber back towards the other piping so the center of the safe sleeve is about where the two pieces meet
  • Tighten (by hand) the 2 screws that control the clamps. Since you'll exist dealing with water nether pressure y'all do want it to be tight. But obviously non and then tight that yous chance cracking the pipe
  • Information technology probably makes sense to fill the hot tub back upwardly and see if any further tightening is needed earlier replacing the console

CLICK Hither TO CHECK THIS OUT ON AMAZON (multiple sizes available too)

Did I cover all you wanted to know most fixing hot tub leaks?

Hot tubs are excellent luxury units, and the memories you lot'll make in them will exist ones that concluding forever.

While hot tubs may exist more durable than e'er, that doesn't hateful that they're perfect.

Sometimes, no affair what you lot practice, you'll end upwardly with a leak. And then in this commodity, we reviewed all the almost common types of leaks. We explored what causes them. But more than chiefly, a diverseness of ways to fix them.

Ultimately, we answered the question of what practise I do if my hot tub is leaking?

We hope that this was helpful. At present that you know all of the options, y'all'll definitely be prepared to handle whatever leaks your hot tub may throw at yous.

Confused about hot tub chemicals?

Hot tub chemicals tin can be disruptive. How much to add, which ones to buy, and are all of them really needed?

I accept the confusion out of information technology in a recent commodity.

I not only go into which chemicals you demand but as well the ones you don't need that are a waste of money. So I also explore the chemicals that are best for sensitive skin and how to avoid hot tub rash.

Then just click the link to read that now on my site.

How To Repair Abs Tub,

Source: https://hottubownerhq.com/what-do-i-do-if-my-hot-tub-is-leaking/

Posted by: boydafterand.blogspot.com

0 Response to "How To Repair Abs Tub"

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Iklan Atas Artikel

Iklan Tengah Artikel 1

Iklan Tengah Artikel 2

Iklan Bawah Artikel