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.

Visual inspection of your spa pump should be performed every time you change or clean your filter.   You should be looking for signs of leaks, excessive noise, and excessive heat.   If you see anything that looks out of the ordinary, then it may be time to repair or replace your hot tub pump.

If you see any water around the pump, carefully look to see where it is coming from, it may simply be that the threaded port fittings need tightening or need new o-rings.   However it may be that the sealed pump shaft bearing is leaking.   This requires more work and may be a sign of more failures to come.  Also check the pump housing for cracks.  A small crack will eventually become a large crack and must be fixed or replaced immediately

If you hear excessive noise you may find it is coming from the pump’s sealed bearing or the motor.  If the spa pump bearing is worn, this means the pump is working harder to overcome the worn bearing.  It is also a sign that leaks will follow.  Take care of this right away!  if the pump is making excessive noise then chance are the motor windings are failing and it is time for a new spa pump.

Poor water flow in your spa is generally not caused by pumps.   A pump either works or does not work.  however the impeller can become clogged or a something might be lodge inside the pump housing.  Remove both ports and physically look inside the pump.   Check for obstructions.  Try and spin the impeller, it should not turn freely as there should be resistance from the spa motor.  If you are experiencing poor flow, I would suggest looking at your filter and suctions as the leading cause.

A spa pump motor does run hot.  However, it should not be excessively hot when only running on circulating mode.  If you touch the motor and find it nearly burns your hand then this is a sign of something wrong internally.  You are wasting energy as a significant portion of power is being utilized as heat instead of driving the pump.  If a motor fails, it is generally advisable to replace the entire pump as it is usually the same price.

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).

If you decide for a new pump, make sure you choose a quality pump.  You need to match port sizes usually 1.5″ or 2″.  Also you need to determine whether you need a 1 speed or 2 speed pump (check the label).   Also you should match the voltage, is your pump 110-120 VAC or 220-240 VAC?  Finally, ensure you match the amps listed on your pump with similar amps.  Never assume HP listed on the pump is accurate (often used as marketing gimmick by manufacturers), use the Amps rating as a proper guide. 

Finally, I would recommend you shop around.  Do not replace your pump with a cheaper model and if your pump has failed pre-maturely then look for another manufacturer. All pumps manufacturers make similar pumps; you don’t have to buy the original pump.  I would suggest you step up to the plate and spend some extra money as a pump failure can be very costly!  Quality pumps cost less to operate, make less noise and will last longer.

About the Author: Danny P Jung is owner of Cedar Tubs Direct, which is a leading wholesale Spa Parts replacement store. Here you will find top quality name brands Spa Pumps from manufactures such as Pentair and UltraJet, at discount prices.