What Are The Most Common Hot Tub Issues?

What Are The Most Common Hot Tub Issues?

Much like your car or your furnace, hot tubs are mechanical things, they have lots of moving parts and require regular maintenance to keep in tip top shape. In this article, we’ll go over the following.

• How to pick a hot tub that requires the least repairs
• What the most common failure points are
• How to avoid potential hot tub problems

Which Hot Tub Requires The Least Amount Of Repairs?

The design and construction of a hot tub play a very large role in determining how much maintenance it will require, and how many repairs it will need down the road. Some of the key points are:

• Exterior Cabinet: Materials like wood require regular cleaning and re-staining to keep them from discolouring or rotting. Here at Zorra we prefer exterior cabinets made from plastic or other composite materials, these don’t require any maintenance of this maintenance and stand up much better to the harsh winters and scorching hot summers we get in South-Western Ontario.
• Interior Frame: Just like the exterior cabinet, wood interior frames are susceptible to rotting or warping from heat and moisture. Here at Zorra we prefer galvanized steel interior frames, these are stronger, lighter, and imperious to corrosion.
• Insulation: Many older hot tubs used lots of spray foam insulation inside to keep the water warm. This works fine as insulation but makes servicing very difficult as it completely conceals the pipes, so if you’re intending to keep the hot tub for a long time, consider one that uses a more modern style of insulation. Our preference here at Zorra is thermal foil insulation or EPS foam sheets, these options insulate very well, while still preserving service access.

  
  An in-progress repair of a full foam hot tub.

• Plumbing: All hot tubs have plumbing, sometimes called pipes or hoses, these are the parts that route water around the hot tub and to the jets. That being said, not all plumbing is created equal, some brands use cheap components, some brands just rely on glue, some just rely on clamps for connections. In our experience having serviced dozens of different brands over 30 years, hot tubs that use high quality parts, and use both glue and clamps on their connections will have fewer issues.
• Pumps: What good is a carriage without a horse? Just like plumbing, all hot tubs have at least one pump, this is the part that creates the jet pressure and does all the action in the hot tub. Having a brand name, high quality pump means it will work better for longer. Some hot tubs will have circulation pumps as well, these do a great job of taking strain off the other pumps and extending their lifespans as well.

What Are The Most Common Problems Hot Tubs Have?

In our experience, the most common hot tub problems we experience in Oxford County are ranked in order as follows:

1. Water Care Issues – Improper water care is by far the most common cause of hot tub problems. This can range from minor problems like cloudy water, to major problems such as acidic water damaging seals and causing leaks. These issues almost always stem from negligent or nonexistent care-routines. Typically, we suggest that the filter be rinsed, the water balance (pH and Alkalinity) be checked and corrected, and sanitizer (chlorine or bromine) be maintained weekly, if this is skipped too many times, then small issues like cloudy or smelly water can snowball into water that is both hazardous for your health, and the wellbeing of the hot tub itself. Check out our page here for lots of good instructions on water care.

2. Heater Failures – The most common part failure we see is a heater failure; these parts put in a lot of work and often work overtime in the winter months. The average lifespan of a hot tub heater is around 5-8 years, but this number can be drastically reduced if proper water care practices aren’t followed. On the flip side, this number can be indefinite if a strict water care regime is maintained every week. If a heater fails, the symptom will be that the heating icon on the control is lit up, but the water isn’t getting hot. Sometimes a failing heater can cause the GFCI breaker to trip as well, though not always. If you need to have a heater replaced outside of warranty, expect to spend around $500, You can view our service rates here.
3. Pump Failures – Much like a heater, a pump does a lot of heavy lifting to keep the water in your hot tub flowing. The average lifespan of a pump is around 5-8 years, and much like a heater, this number can be drastically reduced if proper water care practices aren’t followed. On the flip side, this number can be indefinite if a strict water care regime is maintained every week. If a pump fails, there are a variety of symptoms but the most common are a leak, grinding sounds, very low jet pressure, or no water movement at all. Sometimes a failing pump can cause the GFCI breaker to trip as well, though not always. If you need to have a pump replaced outside of warranty, expect to spend around $875, You can view our service rates here.
4. Leaks – The average hot tub has well over 200 plumbing connections and around 200 feet of hose. Any brand or model can fall victim to leaks, but what we find important is that when a brand wet tests each hot tub they make, uses high quality parts, and uses both glue and clamps on their connections, the number of potential leaks is greatly decreased. Another massive factor for the repairability of leaks is the type of insulation used, if your hot tub uses spray foam, then expect the leak to be much harder to find and much more difficult to repair.
5. Error Codes – Error codes and warning messages are typically not very common but can sometimes happen. The most common error code however is a FLO error, you can read out article here that goes deep into how to prevent and fix this error.
6. Breaker Tripping – Every hot tub is required to be installed with a GFCI breaker, it is a safety device that prevents water and electricity from every touching each other. Sometimes problems with the electrical components like the heater or pump can cause the GFCI breaker to trip, if this happens, then the most common culprits are the heater or pump. If you need to have a heater or pump replaced outside of warranty, expect to spend around $500-875, You can view our service rates here.
7. Cover – The hot tub cover is a not intended to be a lifetime part, much like the tires on your car or the shingles on your roof, they’re intended to be replaced after they wear out. In the case of a cover, it’s normal to expect a lifespan of 3-8 years. If your hot tub is installed under a roof and out of the elements, the cover will last longer than if the hot tub were out in the open exposed to harsh weather conditions. Expect to spend around $600 on a new cover, you can check out our cover options here.

What Impact Can Hot Tub Insulation Have On Repairability?

The type of insulation used in a hot tub will have a massive impact on how easily a hot tub can be repaired. Spray foam or “full foam” insulation does a good job of keeping the water hot but can be a nightmare to work around if there is a leak. Because it completely conceals the plumbing pipes and connections, finding and repairing a leak can take hours or days, and in extreme cases, completely prevent the repair altogether. Our preference here at Zorra is thermal foil insulation or EPS foam sheets, these options insulate very well, but do not complicate or prevent future repairs.

An example of foil insulation instead of full foam.

How To Avoid Potential Problems

• Proper Water Care – Just like taking care of your dog, your car, or your house, a hot tub needs proper care to ensure the highest possible lifespan. This extends to every aspect of the hot tub, but most importantly the water, improper water care is by far the most common cause of hot tub problems. It is important to check the water using either test strips or bringing in a water sample every week. Test strips will give you a rough idea of the condition of the water, but a sample ran through our machine will give a very detailed breakdown of what’s going on, we don’t charge for these tests and they only take a few minutes to perform, we can do it while you wait. Check out our page here for lots of good instructions on water care.
• Environmental Care – The area that the hot tub is installed in can also play a large role in the wellbeing of the hot tub. Things like shade from the sun, protection from snow and ice, shelter from extreme wind can all make a big difference. For example, if the hot tub is directly under a roof eave where large icicles form, they could break and fall onto the cover, punching holes in it. Or, if its installed near a big tree, falling branches or excess leaves can stain the cover. If you’re not sure if the spot you have in mind is ideal, feel free to give us a call at 519-423-6703 or send us an email at support@zorrahottubs.com for some input.
• Filter Cleaning – This may seem like a minor thing, but clogged filters can lead to a lot of problems, both water care and pump related. At their core, filters are designed to clog, they collect unwanted debris from the water and hold it all in one place. They aren’t designed to last forever either, typically we see filters last around 1-1.5 years before needing to be replaced. Using a clogged or “full” filter in a hot tub can lead to cloudy and smelly water, and in extreme cases it can put extra strain on the pump, shortening its lifespan.
• Dealer Support – If you feel like you’re in above your head, or if you’re just not sure if what you’re doing is best for the hot tub, you’re always welcome to reach out to us for support and advice. You can give us a call at 519-423-6703 or send us an email at support@zorrahottubs.com

How To Fix Your Hot Tub Problems

We hope this article has been helpful and hasn’t scared you out of buying a hot tub but has rather informed you and helped you pick the perfect model for you and your family.

In this article we’ve gone over the following:

• How to pick a hot tub that requires the least repairs
• What the most common failure points are
• How to avoid potential hot tub problems

We carry Hydropool hot tubs because they check many of these boxes for a low maintenance hot tub; they use galvanized steel frames, synthetic cabinets, and each one is wet tested for reliability. We also like that they’re very easy to service thanks to the foil insulation, it means we can be more efficient and save you money in the long run.

Here at Zorra we’ve been selling and servicing hot tubs for 30 years, and we’re glad to pass some of our knowledge on to you. Again, hot tubs are mechanical things that need regular attention, and it’s normal to have some problems, most owners will only need one service call every year or two though.

We always hope for a problem-free experience, but at the end of the day nothing is perfect. We don’t make the hot tubs we sell, but we do our best to take care of the people that buy them.