Where Do Hot Tubs Usually Leak?

The first step to making sure that your hot tub is fixed is going to be determining where the leak is coming from.  Whether you’re dealing with a leak now or you’re just looking to be a prepared hot tub owner and familiarize yourself with the most common locations for a hot tub leak, you’re in the right spot -- see what we did there?  

• The pump: Realistically speaking, your hot tub pump is the most likely scenario for your leak.  There are so many spots that it can be leaking, really, including the seal shaft, the union fitting and even the volute.  These all wear with use and time, no matter how good your tub is.

• The water heater: The heater is also another common place mostly because the increase in temperature shifts the pressure, too, and over time, this can lead to weaknesses with the pressure switch, amongst other things.  This often requires total replacement, but sometimes it can be repaired if you hire the right person!

• Connection points: Whether it’s the jets, the lights, the pipes, or even just the actual connections, hot tub leaks also come from those connections.  WHy?  Because they’re all considered weak points.  Most of these weakened spots can be caught with proper maintenance.

Some points to remember with a leak
    If you do find yourself dealing with a leak and you’re trying to figure out which of these spots is the culprit, here are some tips to help you sort it out before you call in the professionals for a repair.

• Water travels: Water doesn’t leak straight down and stop.  It can permeate, roll and bead, meaning that you’ll have to trace the leak back to its key point.  Just because the water pools under one jet doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s that particular jet that is leaking.

• Find the level of your leak: The level of your leak is important.  Water pooled on the floor could be a low level leak, or it could be a higher up leak from the rim of your tub.  Again, water travels and it’s actually pretty mischievous about it!

• Use dye: If you are struggling and working hard to find the source, make it easier by using some sort of dye.  This will help you learn where the water is flowing from, and to, and can be one of the best tools to help you and your specialist know what needs to be addressed.

    Your hot tub deserves care and attention, especially when it comes to understanding where a leak comes from and how you can find it.  While a specialist is still needed to come in and repair it, knowing what to expect and how to source it is going to be very helpful to keeping the process as simple and straight-forward as possible.  While there is a bit of work that goes into it, leak detection can be one of the key points to getting your tub back up and running with as minimal a delay as possible.

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