4 AZ Spa Repair & Service



    

    
 

    

     

    

      
        
        
Water
        
        
Odors/Irritation
        
        
Surface/Equipment
      
      
        
        
Water
        Color
        
        
Heater
        Issues
        
        
Bromine
        Generator

In Water
 • Excessive Foaming

    
Possible
    Cause 
    
Solution 
    
Preventative
    Maintenance

    Buildup of body oils, cosmetics
    and detergents from bathers 
    Add FOAM DOWN 
    Shock with RENEW. Use RENEW after
    each use to oxidize unwanted organic material

    Calcium hardness too low 
    Add CALCIUM BOOSTER to obtain 150-400
    ppm calcium level in the water 
    When adding make-up water or freshly
    filling the spa, have the calcium level tested 

    Large amount of total dissolved
    solids 
    Drain and refill water 
    Drain and refill water at least
    once every 3-6 months

Odors and Irritation
 • Eye and/or Skin Irritation 
 
    
Possible
    Cause 
    
Solution 
    
Preventative
    Maintenance

    pH or total alkalinity out of balance 
    Test water and adjust pH and total
    alkalinity as necessary using SPA UP or SPA DOWN 
    Maintain a pH of 7.2-7.8
 
    Chloramines or excessive organic
    contaminants 
    Shock water with RENEW 
    Shock after each use with 1 teaspoon
    of RENEW

 • Water Odor 
 
    
Possible
    Cause 
    
Solution 
    
Preventative
    Maintenance

    Excessive organic contaminants or
    lack of sanitizer 
    Shock treat with RENEW. Check and
    adjust sanitizer level 
    Use one teaspoon of RENEW at the
    end of the day of use.

Spa Surfaces and Equipment
 • Chalky, White Scale Deposits
 
    
Possible
    Cause 
    
Solution 
    
Preventative
    Maintenance

    High mineral content in water 
    Add 2 oz. of DEFENDER per 800 gallons
    of water 
    Use DEFENDER to help with mineral
    content
 
    Over bromination/chlorination 
    Remove excessive sanitizer, drain
    water partially or fully and refill with fresh water 
    Test water 1-2 times a week and
    keep bromine levels between 2.8-3.5 ppm or chlorine between 0.8-1.5
    ppm

 • Scum Deposit on Waterline
 
    
Possible
    Cause 
    
Solution 
    
Preventative
    Maintenance

    Oils, lotions and detergents from
    bathers have caused buildup 
    Clean scumline, use 1 oz. ENZYME
    per 250 gallons of water 
    Use ENZYME when needed, clean filter
    and use RENEW

Water Color
 • Brown Water
 

    
Possible
    Cause 
    
Solution 
    
Preventative
    Maintenance

    High iron or manganese content 
    Add METAL GON to sequester minerals
    in the water. Check pH level 
    Test pH and maintain proper levels.
    METAL GON should be used each time the spa is filled

 • Clear, Green Water
 

    
Possible
    Cause 
    
Solution 
    
Preventative
    Maintenance

    Dissolved copper or iron in spa
    water 
    Add METAL GON to sequester minerals
    in the water. Check pH level 
    Test pH and maintain proper levels.
    METAL GON should be used each time the spa is filled 

    Green water with heavy bromine smell,
    *Bromine Generator System is set too high 
    Turn generator down or off, check
    salt and bromine levels, drain some water, add fresh to balance
    salt and bromine levels, if levels are still high, repeat above 
    Check Bromine level weekly, adjust
    Genesis box to maintain proper bromine levels (2.8-3.5 ppm) with
    drop tester. Salt levels should be 1800-2200 ppm, check salt
    levels every 3-6 months with Bromide Salt Test Strips 

    Green or Clear water with black
    deposits on tub surface, *Bromine Generator System is set too
    high and lead from electrodes are breaking down 
    Turn generator down or off, check
    salt and bromine levels, drain some water, add fresh to balance
    salt and bromine levels, if levels are still high, repeat above.
    If system isn't generating, electrodes may be damaged and need
    to be replaced 
    Check Bromine level weekly, adjust
    Genesis box to maintain proper bromine levels (2.8-3.5 ppm) with
    drop tester. Salt levels should be 1800-2200 ppm, check salt
    levels every 3-6 months with Bromide Salt Test Strips
*(Life Spa specific with Genesis Salt System)

 • Cloudy Water
 

    
Possible
    Cause 
    
Solution 
    
Preventative
    Maintenance

    Buildup of unfilterable material 
    Use 2 oz. of BRIGHT & CLEAR
    per 800 gallons of water or phosphate remover 
    Use BRIGHT & CLEAR or phosphate
    remover 

    pH or total alkalinity out of balance 
    Test water and adjust pH as necessary
    using SPA UP or SPA DOWN 
    Maintain a pH of 7.2-7.8 

    Dirty filter 
    Clean filter with INSTANT CARTRIDGE
    CLEAN or FILTER CLEAN if dirty 
    Clean filter with a cartridge solution
    every 3 months 

    Calcium too high 
    Add 2 oz. of DEFENDER per 800 gallons
    of water 
    Use DEFENDER as needed 

    Excessive organic contaminants 
    Shock water with RENEW. Check and
    adjust sanitizer level 
    Shock water at end of the day of
    use with one teaspoon of RENEW to prevent build up of organic
    contaminants

 • Cloudy, Green Water
 

    
Possible
    Cause 
    
Solution 
    
Preventative
    Maintenance

    Low sanitizer level 
    Shock treat with RENEW. Check and
    adjust sanitizer level 
    Maintain a sanitizer level of 2.8-3.5
    ppm.

Heating Issues



    
Example of a bad heater. Corrosion around
epoxy seals, coil element is split open and
distorted from water getting inside outer
sheath caused by chemicals being out of
balance.

    
Example of a bad heater. Corrosion around bulkhead nuts and terminals
caused by chemicals being out of balance.



    
Problem 
    
Cause

    No Heat 
    A heating element is similar to
    a light bulb in that its filament [13] is a heating coil which
    in time can break or burn out. Assuming that the heater's connection
    terminals [1] are in good condition, it is properly energized
    by your hot tub's control system when it should be and that the
    thermostat and high limit switches are functioning properly,
    no heat can indicate a burned-out or broken heating coil, which
    results in an open circuit.
 
    Reduced Heat 
    Low heat is more often caused by
    a reduced water flow rather than an electrical problem with the
    heater itself. Check your filter to make sure it is not clogged
    and that there are no other obstructions restricting spa water
    flow. Excessive scale buildup on the heater element, as a result
    of poor water balance, can reduce heating efficiency. 

    GFCI Tripping 
    A heater causing the GFCI to trip,
    even intermittently, more often than not indicates a short circuit
    caused by water intrusion into the heater element's outer sheath
    [12]. Water can seep inside at various other entry points such
    as the epoxy seal [5] or at the braze [9], but the most common
    cause will be a pin hole in the sheath caused by corrosion. When
    the electrical current finds a path from the heating coil [13]
    to the water, the short will cause the GFCI to trip. If you see
    a hole in the sheath, the element is toast!
 



    
Problem 
    
Description 
    
Preventative
    Maintenance/Solution

    Overheating 
    Spa will not function, topside
    is flashing or water is to hot to be of comfort.

    Digital Systems: Topside display
    is showing one of the following error messages/codes:

    
      OH
      
OHS
      
HOT
      
HT
      
HO
      
OHH
      
Flashing or Solid Dots .
      . .
    

    Analog Systems: Top side has
    temperature adjustment dial or knob and may have air push buttons
    to control light, pumps, etc.

    On the pak is usually a red button
    that will say high limit or reset. If spa will not turn on or
    function, this may have tripped, press it in, if spa temperature
    has cooled down, spa will start back up. 
    
      Vent lid. Place folded up wash
      cloths, tennis balls or PVC pipe under lid at the folding seem
      on both sides. This allows hot air to escape from under the lid,
      similar to cracking your car windows on a hot day. By placing
      the tennis balls or wash cloths at the seem, it allows the cover
      clips to still latch closed. Click
      here to see this used on 4 Az Spa Repairs' test spa.

      

      
Add fresh water. Add fresh,
      cool tap water to tub. If accessible, place hose in filter housing
      to force cooler water directly into the plumbing where the temperature
      sensors are located. If spa is nonfunctional do to overheat scenario,
      this will allow for faster recovery. If pump turns on, turn pump
      on low speed to allow circulation of cooler water into tub. Do
      not overfill tub.

      

      
Drain a few inches of water
      and add cool, fresh water. As above, place hose in filter housing
      to permit quicker cool down.

      

      
Add ice. If spa runs, add ice
      to filter area of tub with spa on low speed. Do not remove
      skimmer basket or filter, you do not want the ice to have
      a direct path to the pump, impeller damage could occur. If spa
      is nonfunctional, then place ice on top of skimmer basket or
      next to filter if spa has free standing filter, the colder water
      will sink down into the plumbing and allow faster recovery time.

      

      
At night, open half the lid.
      As a repair company, we don't recommend this, but it works. After
      sunset and before the heat of the next day, open half the lid
      to allow water to cool down. By doing this, you leave the water
      vunerable to dust, debris, leaves, bugs, etc. to get into the
      tub. Also, if a strong wind comes through, your lid could fly
      off and get damaged or damage cover clips. We recommend using
      folded wash cloths or tennis balls to vent the lid.
    


Bromine Generator
  • Low or No Bromine Reading
 

    
Cause 
    
Solution

    Old or wrong test kit 
    Replace old test kit. Use OTO to
    test bromine.

    Controller set to low 
    Increase power on controller 

    The circulation run time is to low 
    Set to 6+ hour per day circulation
 
    Heavy bather load 
    Shock water with non-chlorine shock
    at the end of each day of use

    Low Tru-Blu level 
    Test Tru-Blu level, add salt and
    test water with bromide test strips 

    TDS Above max limit (above 3000
    PPM) 
    Test TDS level, lower by partial
    drain and refill of tub water

    Possible phosphate contamination 
    Test water for phosphates and use
    a phosphate remover as directed on bottle

    Hardness to low or to high 
    Test water hardness, hardness needs to be between 200-400 ppm.
    If to low, as hardner increase, if to high, drain some or all
    water, refill.

  • Flashing or Solid Decimals on Digital Display
 

    
Cause 
    
Solution

    High TDS - means no power to electrodes 
    Test TDS level, lower by partial
    drain and refill of tub water
 
    Debris build up in bromine generation
    cell 
    Requires cell removal and cleaning

  • White Flakes in Water and/or Water Line Scale
 

    
Cause 
    
Solution

    High calcium or mineral content
    in water 
    Use a dealer directed scale inhibitor/metal
    remover (phos free)
 
    Chemical water imbalance 
    Insure pH and total Alkalinity are
    correct

  • Black Smears on Tub in the Water, Black Ring at Water Line and/or Blackened Filter
 

    
Cause 
    
Solution

    Broken or cracked electrodes 
    Replacement electrode required
 
    Generator set too high or set too
    high for a long duration of time 
    Turn generator down, inspect the
    electrodes for proper function, may need replacement

Possible Cause	Solution	Preventative Maintenance
Buildup of body oils, cosmetics and detergents from bathers	Add FOAM DOWN	Shock with RENEW. Use RENEW after each use to oxidize unwanted organic material
Calcium hardness too low	Add CALCIUM BOOSTER to obtain 150-400 ppm calcium level in the water	When adding make-up water or freshly filling the spa, have the calcium level tested
Large amount of total dissolved solids	Drain and refill water	Drain and refill water at least once every 3-6 months

Problem	Cause
No Heat	A heating element is similar to a light bulb in that its filament [13] is a heating coil which in time can break or burn out. Assuming that the heater's connection terminals [1] are in good condition, it is properly energized by your hot tub's control system when it should be and that the thermostat and high limit switches are functioning properly, no heat can indicate a burned-out or broken heating coil, which results in an open circuit.
Reduced Heat	Low heat is more often caused by a reduced water flow rather than an electrical problem with the heater itself. Check your filter to make sure it is not clogged and that there are no other obstructions restricting spa water flow. Excessive scale buildup on the heater element, as a result of poor water balance, can reduce heating efficiency.
GFCI Tripping	A heater causing the GFCI to trip, even intermittently, more often than not indicates a short circuit caused by water intrusion into the heater element's outer sheath [12]. Water can seep inside at various other entry points such as the epoxy seal [5] or at the braze [9], but the most common cause will be a pin hole in the sheath caused by corrosion. When the electrical current finds a path from the heating coil [13] to the water, the short will cause the GFCI to trip. If you see a hole in the sheath, the element is toast!

Cause	Solution
Old or wrong test kit	Replace old test kit. Use OTO to test bromine.
Controller set to low	Increase power on controller
The circulation run time is to low	Set to 6+ hour per day circulation
Heavy bather load	Shock water with non-chlorine shock at the end of each day of use
Low Tru-Blu level	Test Tru-Blu level, add salt and test water with bromide test strips
TDS Above max limit (above 3000 PPM)	Test TDS level, lower by partial drain and refill of tub water
Possible phosphate contamination	Test water for phosphates and use a phosphate remover as directed on bottle
Hardness to low or to high	Test water hardness, hardness needs to be between 200-400 ppm. If to low, as hardner increase, if to high, drain some or all water, refill.

Cause	Solution
High TDS - means no power to electrodes	Test TDS level, lower by partial drain and refill of tub water
Debris build up in bromine generation cell	Requires cell removal and cleaning

Cause	Solution
High calcium or mineral content in water	Use a dealer directed scale inhibitor/metal remover (phos free)
Chemical water imbalance	Insure pH and total Alkalinity are correct

Cause	Solution
Broken or cracked electrodes	Replacement electrode required
Generator set too high or set too high for a long duration of time	Turn generator down, inspect the electrodes for proper function, may need replacement