Water
        

        
Odors/Irritation
        

        
Surface/Equipment
      
      

        

        
Water
        Color
        

        
Heater
        Issues
        

        

Topside Display Codes
        
      
    

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 
 
 
     
  
 
    
 
      

     
• 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.
    




Common Topside Display Error Codes

Balboa Equipment