Simple Pool and Spa Repair from Harvey at All Parts Pool and Spa

Adding a floating thermometer to your spa or pool can make it easy to check the actual water temperature.  In your spa it is a safety backup to your digital display, which can fail, putting you in line for a shock when you enter.  A too hot spa can be a health hazard and a cold spa can be real disappointyment. In your pool the thermometer can tell you whether you are going to have a refreshing swim or join the polar bear club. It can tell you instantly if your pool heater has brought your pool to a comfortable level.

You can add a party atmosphere to your hot tub by just changing your standard mundane light with a color changing light. For under $100 you can have a different single color to suit your mood (soothing aqua, exciting red, etc.) or you can have the light scroll through a series of different colors at either a fast or a slow speed. I have this on my personal hot tub and my wife loves it. The one I use is from Balboa and fits 98% of the hot tub spotlights.

I have been asked what kind of lifter to use for a hot tub of an odd shape (round, oval, etc.) or of a larger size. No problem.

You can use the same E-Z Lifter Cover Lift on odd shaped hot tubs as long as they are 96″ or less without modification. You can add an extension kit to your E-Z Lifter so that the lifter can be used on hot tubs up to 108″ of any shape.

I would also like to point out that you can buy mounting kits for your E-Z Lifter that have all the mounting hardware you need without going to your local store.

Another good accessory to get for your hot tub is a cover lift. If you have a bad back, like I do, a spa cover lifter can save you wear and tear both on your back and your cover.

The E-Z Lifter Cover Lift is easy to use and works with one single motion.  It requires only 18″ of space from a wall and sits low so it minimizes visual obstruction. The E-Z Lifter fits most spas up to 96″.

Your cover is kept in better condition because it doesn’t get thrown on the ground or stuffed between the tub and a wall or fence. Your spa remains safer because if it is easier to put the cover on it will be done more often. A closed and latched hot tub cover is the first step in preventing accidents around the hot tub. And your back will say ouch a little less because you don’t have to man h-handle an awkward and large hot tub cover.

You have other options when choosing a safety handrail for your spa. Again remember to choose a handrail that will stand-up to the wet environment of the hot tub. I recommend a figure 4 handrail that attaches to the hot tub skirting. It is stainless steel for durability and comes with a universal mounting bracket. Again as a reminder it is worth using stainless steel bolts or screws from your local hardware store to mount the railing. Since this attaches to the hot tub skirting, open the hot tub so you can assure that you are securely mounting this railing and also not screwing into any of the hot tub components.

Adding a handrail to your hot tub can not only make it easier to get in and out of the hot tub, but can be an added safety feature around wet slippery surfaces that are always a part of  the hot tub environment. It would be wise to look for a handrail that will withstand the wet environment. A stainless steel handrail fits this criteria. The stainless steel swivel handrail is particularly useful because it moves out of the way to allow easy open and close for the hot tub cover. Make sure that you use stainless steel screws or bolts to mount the railing. It is worth it in the long run to use stainless steel connectors  from your local hardware store for both visual aspects and longevity. For maximum safety do not skip any of the holes. Use them all!

When it comes time to replace your existing spa or pool filter cartridge gather as much information as you can on your cartridge using the following steps to help you get the correct one.

1. Measure the outside diameter of the cartridge in inches to the nearest 1/16″.

2. Measure the overall length of the cartridge including the end caps in inches to the nearest 1/16″. Do not include any handles, strings, etc. The most accurate measurement will be if you can measure through the center of the cartridge.

3. If the top and or bottom are open measure this inside diameter to the nearest 1/16″. The picture below will help you match the end cap configurations.

End Cap Configurations

4. Make note of the manufacturer (OEM) and model number of the filter that you are replacing.

5. Take not if there is or isn’t a center core (PVC pipe in the center). And count the number of pleats.

Now use the information you have gathered to fill-in a webssite filter finder or filter search program.
Note: If you are having difficulty finding your filter, just putting in the diameter or the length and searching, will give you a long list of many filters fitting your one criteria and you can then choose what you need from the pictures and/or descriptions.

If your hot tub is not heating and your GFCI breaker is tripping, you may have a bad heater element. You can check out the heating element without a meter.  First make sure the breaker remains off and that there is no power to the hot tub.  After making sure that the power is off, disconnect both leads from the pack to the heating element. Turn on the  breaker. If the breaker does not trip, check all the other equipment on the hot tub (pumps, blowers, lights, jets, etc) If everything is working, it is mostly likely a bad heating element. Replace the heating element.

Note: For the next parts on Testing Heater Elements I recommend that you get a Clamp-on electrical meter.

When your spa is not heating, the first thing to test, after making sure your spa has power, is your heating element.

The first step is to make sure that power is disconnected from the spa.  The second thing is to double check that there is no power going to the spa. Now disconnect the element from the pack leads. If the leads are disconnected from the element you can now test the element with an ohm meter either in or out of the pack.

To test the heating element for integrity start with the ohm meter on its lowest setting. Use the meter’s test leads to measure the resistance between the two terminals on the heater.  An acceptable range for most hot tub heater elements is between 9 and 13 ohms.  If the reading is too low it indicates a short circuit and the element is bad. It needs to be replaced. If the reading is very high or infinite it indicates an open circuit or limited conductivity. The heating element is bad and needs to be replaced.

You can get free heat from your spa, bath or pool motor with the addition of a simple and inexpensive (~$100) accessory. With a Hydrothermix “Thermal Wrap” heat transfer kit and parts bag you have everything you need for free heat. This patented heat transfer system absorbs the heat generated by the pump motor and redistributes it back to the water of the spa, bath or pool. The system thus increases the temperature of the water while allowing the motor to run cooler, increasing the pump’s longevity as an added bonus.

Hydrothermix is made from a special polymer compound that insures maximum thermal conductivity and durability. There are no moving parts, no electrical connections and nothing to wearout. The Hydothermix jacket kits are made to retrofit to almost any existing pump wet end.