In Ground Hot Tub - No air in the jets

[palp1138]

We inherited an older pool and hot tub. Both beautiful!

When we first moved in the jets in the hot tub had tiny bubbles in them all the time, even when the little air vents were cranked all the way down. I was also losing water in the pool so I had some leak repair work done, the weir edges in the pool caulked and the hot tub jets replaced. Leaks are gone, but ever since then, I can't get ANY bubbles in the jet stream. Even with the Control Stems all the way open.

I open up those control stems on the side and water will come out of them. So SOMETHING is screwy with the airflow system for sure. I had the company that did the repairs out and they said that the original valve inside the wall must have been installed wrong and there was no way to fix it. That can't be true because it was working before I had the leaks repaired. I replaced all the jets again and examined all the inlets (4 jets) everything looks fine I guess, just can't get this dumb venturi system to work and get bubbles in the jet stream.

I have seen some threads in the forum of people dealing with similar issues, and I see mention of an "air intake" either by the pool equipment or by the hot tub itself, but the only air intake I can identify (besides the blower which works fine and I think is unrelated) is the control stems themselves. If there is supposed to be air intake OTHER than the control stems I don't know where to find em!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

A spa system either uses a blower such as you have or a venturi air system.

The air bubbles you got used to were caused by your suction air leaks. Now that they are fixed, no more bubbles.

What happens when you run your spa air blower?

 

[palp1138]

Hey Allen! Thanks for the reply. Blower works great. the air from the blower comes out of 4 floor returns in the spa. The jets in question are in the wall (4 of them) and seem venturi driven. I went out and drained the spa and removed and replaced all the jets again after I posted this evening. (i have been working on this thing for like 2 years!). After carefully reinstalling the jets and making sure the opening that lines up with the air (at the top of the seat) was lined up with the largest opening in my jet body. I was actually able to get 3 out of 4 jets to suck air!

So progress for sure. My jets are: Hayward SP1434PAKB Vari-Flo Adustable Nozzle. There is a clip that sits on the jet body on one half that half covers the hole where the air is sucked in. I positioned the jets with that clip facing the BOTTOM of seat. I don't know what the clip does. but i assumed the half without the clip covering the hole just be lined up with the air intake hole in the seat.

Other than careful positioning I DID also use a leaf blower to blow out the air intake and each jet seat position (got lots of water out but did not see any debris). SO i gues if you have any ideas on getting the 4th jet to suck water I sure would appreciate it. Glad I found TFP!

 

[ajw22]

Ok, you have two air systems in your spa. A blower system for the floor jets and a venturi system for the seats.

I think blowing out the seat air system with the leaf blower did the trick.

You said when you removed the air valve you got water out. That showed you had water in the air lines. The venturi system is not strong enough to pull water out of air lines. The air lines need to be water free.

Work on that last jet to clear water from its air line.

 

[palp1138]

Sweet! Thanks for the advice!

 

[palp1138]

Hey Allen, I really appreciate you helping me out. I have been thinking. I want to actually understand what parts are necessary and how they are supposed to work together. I have seen you answer questions related to my quest on other conversations, so i figure I'd ask you for just some general info if ya know:

For reference I have 2-3 vari-flow jets (3 currently) or 1-2 (1 currently) pulse flow jets

1. in the replacement seal kits for jet iii jets there are two seals and 1 o-ring. I assume I only use one seal per jet & body as opposed to trying to use both seal rings to sandwich the jet between the body and the locking ring. and assuming the black o-ring is for something i don't have as I do not see where it would go. Also the seals have a little flat part...does that need to be oriented in any specific way?




2. what is the purpose of the clip on the Var-Flo Nozzle and does it actually matter what the orientation is (up or down)


3. Does the pulse flow nozzle pull in air like the vari-flow?



I have looked at the Jet-air iii manual several times but it is a little light on explanations. I also tried to find some youtube videos about how it may all work together but I struck out. So I am hoping you may hold the knowledge I seek. Thanks again!

 

[ajw22]

I have no experience with those specific jets. Maybe @1poolman1 @JamesW @RDspaguy does.

 

[palp1138]

So for posterities sake I will update here. I drained the hot tub then blew out the lines (at each jet with the air control knobs CLOSED) with a leaf blower. I blew them out till NO water came out. then I carefully inspected each seal at the back of the jet body and found a warped seal. I replaced the seal and put in 3 vari flow and one pulse flow. All jets are bubbling now when air control is opened up.

Few things I have learned in case anyone else finds this thread later:

1. for each jet you only need one seal between the jet and the back of the jet body with the contour of the seal mated with the contour of the back of the jet. The part of the jet you screw in after you insert the jet is the "front" seal to isolate the air portion of the jet from the water parts.
2. do NOT over tighten the jets. you can easily crack the seals and/or warp them and then you'll get a water leak into the venturi system.
3. the clips on the vari flows are retaining clips that serve to keep you from accidentally unscrewing the adjustable part of the jet completely out of the housing. Also the black o-ring can be seen here when you remove the clip and unscrew the front part of the jet out. the orientation of the clip does not matter. the jet spins freely inside the jet body. (the previous owner had cut off the cage at the back of this vari-flow jet so don't let that be confusing..i am using new jets with cage intact)



4. the pulse flow jet does indeed pull in air if installed correctly. (there is no front screw-on ring on this one, just the jet itself acts as the "front" seal.

Fixing this hot tub has been a 3 year odyssey for me. Thanks for the help to encourage me over the finish line.

 

[ajw22]

Glad you got it figured out.