When your hot tub hasWeak spa jets

What you may notice

When spa jets lose their power, you might notice the water flow feels weak. The air blower might fail to push air through the lines. You might notice the spa pump humming loudly. You might notice visible drips at the equipment pad. The filter gauge might read higher than it usually does. You might see an error code on the control display. These signs can point to a restriction in the plumbing, a dirty filter, or a failing spa pump motor.

Common causes in the valley

Jacuzzi recommends draining, cleaning and refilling a spa every three to four months under normal use. Jacuzzi also states that spa filters should be rinsed weekly, deep cleaned monthly, and replaced every 12 to 18 months. The Las Vegas Valley Water District lists the valley tap water at 280 ppm total hardness with 75 ppm calcium. Hard water leaves calcium scale in heaters and jets. The CDC notes that hot tubs should not exceed 104 degrees, and that they need at least 3 ppm of free chlorine. InterNACHI and the US DOE note that pumps commonly last around 10 years, depending on run time and water balance.

What you can safely check

You can make a few safe visual checks around the spa and equipment pad. Check whether the skimmer and pump baskets are full. Check whether the water level looks low. Check whether the filter gauge reads higher than it usually does. Look for any error code on a display. Look for visible drips at the equipment pad. Do not open or adjust the equipment. Electrical sparks, burning smells or water near electrical equipment: turn the equipment off at the breaker only if it is safe to do so, keep everyone away, and call NV Energy or 911 if there is any danger. Gas smell at a heater: leave the area and call Southwest Gas and 911 from a safe place.

When to call a technician

If the baskets are clear and the water level is correct but the jets are weak, call a technician. We schedule urgent repairs, such as equipment that has stopped circulating the water, a leak at the equipment pad, or a failed spa or pool heater, ahead of routine work during business hours. A humming pump can point to a failed motor or capacitor. A technician can evaluate the electrical components and the pump wet end to locate the flow restriction.

How Kingfisher diagnoses it

Our repair diagnostic visit is $85, credited in full toward the repair when approved within 30 days. We provide a written estimate first. The technician evaluates the spa pump, filter and air lines. Filter care is part of Kingfisher spa service. The technician explains what failed, what a repair costs and what replacement would cost. We recommend replacement only when age, parts availability or repeated failures make a repair poor value. We repair most major brands, including Pentair, Hayward, Jandy, Raypak and Sta-Rite. Our repair labor carries a 90-day warranty, and new equipment we install carries a one-year installation labor warranty plus the manufacturer parts warranty.