My hot tub won’t heat up. Is there anything I can try before calling for service?

There are many reasons why a hot tub heater might not be working.  Often, a heater that won’t turn on is a symptom of another problem.  Sensors, thermostats, and electrical relays can all malfunction or break down, which will turn off your heater even though the problem isn’t with your heater. A few things you can do that might save yourself a service call are:

1. Check your power.  Is the breaker tripped?  If it is, you can’t just turn it on.  Flick it to the off position to reset it, then move it to the on position.
2. Check your GFCI.  Sometimes a GFCI will trip and cut power to the hot tub, and can be reset by pushing the “Reset” button.  If the GFCI trips immediately, shutting off power, there may be an electrical problem in the spa or in the GFCI.
3. Check your spa’s filter.  Not just the skimmer, but the filter inside as well.  A clogged filter will restrict water flow, which can cause the spa controller to turn off the heater.
4. If the pumps and motors are operating but there’s still no heat, chances are there is an electrical problem in the spa.

Most spa’s operate at 240 Volts AC and draw close to 50 AMPS.  Unless you are trained in dealing with High voltages and large electrical currents,  you are better off calling a trained technician who has the proper tools and experience to get involved.