A real-world fix for a centrifugal hot tub jet pump that wouldn’t prime because the pipework sat too high, using a self-priming pump and three ball valves, plus the options to consider first.
Category Archives: Support & Maintenance
Air Source Heat Pump Related, Support & Maintenance
How I Cut My Hot Tub Running Costs by 66% with an Air Source Heat Pump
19
May
May
My before-and-after smart meter figures from fitting an air source heat pump to my DIY hot tub: heat-up, use and weekday costs, what it would cost at today’s prices, and how quickly it paid for itself.
Air Source Heat Pump Related, Support & Maintenance
How I Added an Air Source Heat Pump to an Existing Hot Tub (Paul’s Acrylic Tub)
27
Apr
Apr
Step by step, how I fitted a 7kW air source heat pump to my friend Paul’s new acrylic hot tub: the location, electrics, plumbing, bypass, testing, and what it did to his heat-up times and running costs.
DIY Hot Tub Building, Support & Maintenance
Can You Control a Swimming Pool Light with a Hot Tub Spa Pack?
08
Apr
Apr
Spa pack light outputs are too small for a proper pool light. Here’s why, what Balboa and Gecko packs actually supply, and how my connection kit lets your topside switch a pool light on and off.
DIY Hot Tub Building, Support & Maintenance
Hot Tub Wiring Explained: Spa Pack Wiring, Cable Sizes and RCD/GFCI (UK and US)
13
Dec
Dec
How a hot tub is wired, from the consumer unit or panel to the spa pack and pumps, with cable sizing, RCD/GFCI protection and the key UK vs US differences.
04
Oct
Oct
I fitted Balboa’s ControlMySpa WiFi module to my own hot tub. Here’s how it sets up, what it does well, where it falls short, and what’s changed by 2026.
06
Sep
Sep
Pump humming but no water from the jets? Here’s how to tell it’s an air lock, clear it safely with priming mode, burping and bleeding the pump, and fill your tub so it doesn’t come back.
05
Jul
Jul
If your hot tub pump hums but won’t turn, the capacitor is the first thing to check. Here’s how start and run capacitors work, and how to test and replace one safely.
16
Jun
Jun
Where the sand in your hot tub comes from, the best ways to get it out of acrylic and DIY tubs (including using your skimmer as a vacuum), and how to stop it coming back.
13
Nov
Nov
Everything a new hot tub owner needs: circulation, cleaning, chemistry and cover care, the right chemical ranges, and a simple daily-to-yearly maintenance schedule.