Spa Pump Stopped Working, Started Working Again...

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BigOrangeSpa

BigOrangeSpa

Gold Supporter
Oct 8, 2024
41
Brownsburg, IN
Hey everyone,

First post here! I’ve been learning a lot from the forum. We recently got a new hot tub and have been really enjoying it. Yesterday, while running the jets for about 30 minutes (two back-to-back 15-minute cycles), one of my three pumps stopped working. It wouldn’t turn back on, and there was no noise coming from the pump when I tried to activate it from the control panel.

A few hours later, the jets started working again. I’m guessing it could have been a thermal protection issue, but I’m not sure what might have triggered it. It was sunny but only about 70°F outside.

We had just done our first drain and refill (our CYA had built up to 150 ppm due to bad Dichlor usage advice from the dealer), and I encountered an airlock in a different pump despite filling through the filter compartment. I was able to clear that airlock by releasing some air from the diverter valve attached to the pump that eventually stopped working (a recommendation from the dealer).

We contacted the dealer, and they scheduled a tech to come out on Monday. Now that the pump is working again, I’m wondering if it’s still worth keeping the appointment to have them check things out since the tub is so new. Does anyone have ideas on what might have caused the pump to stop, or anything specific I should ask the technician to look at?

Thanks in advance!
 
BigOrangeSpa said:
Hey everyone,

First post here! I’ve been learning a lot from the forum. We recently got a new hot tub and have been really enjoying it. Yesterday, while running the jets for about 30 minutes (two back-to-back 15-minute cycles), one of my three pumps stopped working. It wouldn’t turn back on, and there was no noise coming from the pump when I tried to activate it from the control panel.

A few hours later, the jets started working again. I’m guessing it could have been a thermal protection issue, but I’m not sure what might have triggered it. It was sunny but only about 70°F outside.
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The bearings in the pump could be going bad. When friction increases, the load on the motor increases causing higher current and more heat in the motor. After the thermal limiter trips and the motor cools off, the motor can be run for a while until the same thing happens again.

Have you noticed that the motor is a bit louder than it used to be?

If you rotate the impeller shaft my hand, does it move freely?

Have you run the pump again for long enough to reproduce the problem?

If it doesn't happen again, another possibility is that there was something stuck in the impeller that was causing the extra load and it has since cleared out.
 
Thanks for the reply!

It doesn't really sound any louder to me.

One thing that I'm not sure is normal, is that after the jets run with air open, they gurgle for a few seconds when stopped. It makes sense to me that they would do that, since air open would let air in that would need to come out when stopped, but I never noticed that before the drain/refill. I guess in the back of my mind I'm still worried that there's an airlock that is causing strain on the system. All the jets work and feel at full strength and the spa heats just fine.

I have not run that particular jet more than 1 cycle since it happened.
 
True airlocks (i.e. total stoppage of flow), really only occur in gravity fed systems and not pressurized pump systems.

In a pump system, the flow rate is too high and the pressure high enough that it should overcome any air trapped in the system. Air cannot stop the water flow from a pump.

However, I think you may be mistaking an air leak for an airlock. Air leaks are quite common in pump systems and usually occur on the suction side of the pump. But the only time they cause issues is when they are so large that the pump loses prime and will not pump water (i.e. pump runs dry). It doesn't sound like it is that bad.

Do you see air in the pump basket lid or do they pumps not have pump baskets?


Try running the affected pump for a longer period of time to see if it trips the thermal limiter.

.
 
Thanks! I'll give that a try and report back.
True airlocks (i.e. total stoppage of flow), really only occur in gravity fed systems and not pressurized pump systems.
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Could you explain this a bit more? When we drained and refilled the tub, we would press the button for one of the jets and heard the pump but no flow from either of the seats it controlled. We thought this was an airlock, and the dealer gave us instructions to clear it (by letting air out the diverter cap) which did eventually work.

Overall it sounds like you're saying I don't really need to be concerned about there still being air in the plumbing that could cause damage if I'm noticing flow from all of the jets. Do I have that right?
 
BigOrangeSpa said:
Could you explain this a bit more? When we drained and refilled the tub, we would press the button for one of the jets and heard the pump but no flow from either of the seats it controlled. We thought this was an airlock, and the dealer gave us instructions to clear it (by letting air out the diverter cap) which did eventually work.
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This sounds like a priming issue that occurred when the pipes were full of air rather than water. Since the pump is not yet pumping water, then technically, an airlock could occur under these conditions. However, once the pump is primed and pumping water, airlocks are not possible.

By opening the diverter cap (venturi air inlet?), it gave a path for air to escape so water could flow into the pump inlet and thus allowing the pump to prime. To avoid that in the future, just leave the air inlets open while refilling the hot tub. Filling the tub via the skimmer would also help.

BigOrangeSpa said:
Overall it sounds like you're saying I don't really need to be concerned about there still being air in the plumbing that could cause damage if I'm noticing flow from all of the jets. Do I have that right?
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As long as the water is being pumped and you get water out of the returns, then it should be fine.
 
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JamesW said:
2 - 5.0 HP Pumps, 1 - 3.0 HP Pump, 1 - 24 Hour Circulation Pump.

That's a lot of power draw.

Is this on a 240 breaker?

What size is the breaker?


What size breaker and wiring are specified in the manual?

Which pump?

What is the spa make and model?
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Yep, it does draw a lot. It’s 240 with a 60 amp with 6 gauge wire. That matches the manual. It was one of the 5.0 pumps that controls two seats.

It is this tub here: Tropic Seas Spas - Oahu Spa- Luxury Hottub Aching Muscles Relax (Elite Dual Foot Jets version).
 

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Air locks do happen in spas, and the diverter is often the location as it is the highest point.
From your description I'd guess thermal cut-out, meaning the motor is getting hot. This is not uncommon on newer spa pumps not really built for continuous use after repeated high-speed cycles. They don't make them like they used to.
Venting issues, foam overspray, flow restrictions (such as an air lock), wiring/installation errors, and even control protocols can also cause pump shut down.
 
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