There comes a time in every spa or pool owner when their hot tub pump will eventually fail. Routine inspection should be done on your spa pump to look for signs of wear. The average pump should last 5-8 years with proper use and maintenance. Spotting pump trouble in advance could save you $1000's of dollars in potential spa damage and home damage.



A good rule to follow is to inspect your hot tub pump every time you clean your spa filter. You should be checking for water leakage, loud noises and hot pump motors. If you find any of these symptoms then it is time to repair or replace your pump before the pump fails and damages other parts such as the heater.

Water is a sure sign of trouble. Look closely at the spa pump and determine where it is coming from. It may be leaking from the ports and simply need to be tightened or require new o-rings. It may be coming from the motor shaft and pump housing. This is usually a sign of a leaking bearing and will need to be fixed before the bearing fails completely and you have a flood to deal with. Also check the pump housing for small cracks. A cracked housing will get bigger with vibration and should be fixed or a new housing purchased.

Do you hear loud noise, or metallic sounds? Listen closely as it may be your pump bearings are seized. This means you are wasting money as the pump is not turning freely. If the noise is coming from the spa motor then it could be internal and require repair or replacement. Any loud noises should be addressed before they become bigger problems.

Lack of water pressure is usually not the pumps fault. Most people assume they need to replace the hot tub pump. However, a spa pump either works or does not work. I would suggest you check other areas first such as a clogged spa filter or a plugged suction port. You can also check the internal pump housing by removing the couplers and visually inspecting the inside to ensure nothing is lodged.

An efficient pump motor will still be warm to the touch. However, it should not be hot when running on low speed. If you find you are almost burning your hand then there may be a problem. Excessive hear means the pump is running inefficiently and costing you lots of money. It may be time to replace!

If your hot tub pump has a hard time to initially start it may mean one of two things. First, check that nothing is stuck in the pump housing. Ensure there is no ice from a winter freeze. If all looks good then you starting capacitor in the motor is probably shot. Time to replace the pump or take it to your local spa service station (may cost more to fix than buy new).

When looking to replace your spa pump, there are a few specifications you should match closely. Power requirements, 120 VAC or 220 VAC. Single speed or double speed? Port opening 2" or 1.5". Finally is HP rating, never use the pumps rating a guide as manufacturer's use this number as a marketing ploy. Instead match the amp rating with your pump close to the amp rating of another pump. The amp rating should be found on the sticker of you old pump.

When looking for new pumps consider quality. Remember your old pump failed so try and buy a pump that will last even longer. All manufacturer's make replacement pumps so don't feel you need to replace your spa pump with the same brand name. Paying a slight premium can be a great investment versus the cost of a failure! Premium pumps will last longer, run quieter and consume less power.