Hot Tub / Spa Won't Heat

[jjbodean1970]

Pressure switch was tripping. Service guy said the filter was too clogged (it probably was). Cleaned filter, run spa, got heat. This lasts about a week. Pressure too high again, pressure switch throws, no heat. The filter is pretty damn clean, clean it again since I have it apart, get heat for a few days before the pressure switch throws again.

I've drained the spa and checked the inlets for any blockages, theyre all good.

Ideas?

TIA,

Jeff

 

[bogus one]

Time for a new pressure switch

 

[Michael Hanson]

New pressure switch or filter, looks clean buts worn out. You can by pass the switch by a jumper wire between them ,if it keeps running you need a new switch. MIke

 

[WarDamnEagle]

New pressure switch or filter, looks clean buts worn out. You can by pass the switch by a jumper wire between them ,if it keeps running you need a new switch. MIke

Michael, I know little or nothing about spas but that makes no sense to me. If the only thing that cuts off the heat is the pressure switch then of course it's going to keep heating if you bypass the switch. Is there a flow switch as well that would keep the heating element tripped if the pressure switch didn't?

I'm not saying he doesn't need a new pressure switch; just trying to make sense out of bypassing it if it's the only limiting device in the system.

 

[jjbodean1970]

New pressure switch or filter, looks clean buts worn out. You can by pass the switch by a jumper wire between them ,if it keeps running you need a new switch. MIke

the entire unit is less than a year old, all hayward, cartridge filter. Could the filter be bad after less than a year? The pressure reading is consistently around 20, which seems high compared to when the unit was first installed.

 

[se2000]

Filter could easily get clogged. A few women with makeup on and you could have clogged it. You have nothing to lose. Try another and if it doesn't fix it, at least you have a spare.
Are all your jets open?

 

[jjbodean1970]

Filter could easily get clogged. A few women with makeup on and you could have clogged it. You have nothing to lose. Try another and if it doesn't fix it, at least you have a spare.
Are all your jets open?

yess, all jets are open.

i'll try one of the filters from my pool filter, theyre the same size.

does anyone know if 20 psi is too high or about right?

 

[Michael Hanson]

I would think it should be around 16 psi., as stated if flow is reduced you will get no heat. Also clean contacts on the thermo switch. Mike

 

[WarDamnEagle]

yess, all jets are open.

i'll try one of the filters from my pool filter, theyre the same size.

does anyone know if 20 psi is too high or about right?

If it's less than a year old then I would be phoning either the manufacturer or the dealer to ask.

 

[jjbodean1970]

If it's less than a year old then I would be phoning either the manufacturer or the dealer to ask.

i'll likely do that this week. had them come out the first time and they werent much help, charged me for the service call since they suspected dirty filter was the cause. i dont have a whole lot of faith in them to do anything other than to charge me again, but it looks like we will see.

 

[tltaylor22]

Is the filter in a pressure canister? I work in product development at a major spa manufacturer(yep I test hot tubs for a living). Try removing the filter all together and runn the system. Depending on the media type in the filter, it could last from a month to a couple years. Most manufacturers use a media that if cleaned monthly should last a year with average bather loads and proper chemical maintenance. Whish brand and model spa is it? PM me if you don't want the info out there. A pressure switch should last much longer than a year and I don't konw many companies out there that don't have a warranty longer than that. Unless it was a Costco/Home Depot spa. Some of those have a 1 year warranty. Good luck.

 

[jjbodean1970]

tech just left - problem was two-fold: indeed, a bad pressure switch. replaced pressure switch, would attempt to come one, but still would not. removed filter, which appeared to be clean. ran with no filter, heated fine. filter needed to be cleaned with muriatic acid, not just sprayed off. cleaned with muriatic acid, pressure dropped from 20 to 13 psi, works like it should.

thanks to all who chimed in and provided feedback.

jeff

 

[craptabulous]

i just soak my filters in hydrogen peroxide for the night and rinse them out when im feeling cheap .

replacing the filters once a year has proven to work quite well for me , along with buying a filter for my hose when i replace the water .

i had the same problem as you , you can adjust the pressure switch . i don't see why it would ever need to be replaced since they are just micro switches . to adjust you simply shut the spa off and spin the nut until it clicks the switch then back it off a half turn .

its always the damn filter .