Understanding Your Hot Tub Pump
Just like your car's engine, most people do not put a lot of thought into the inner workings of their bubbly, soothing spa until something goes wrong. The pump is the heart of your hot tub, and without it, your backyard oasis has now become a large bucket of cold, stale water. The pump is designed to move the water through the heating element, the filtration system, and helps to create the force from the jets that soothes and calms your aching muscles.
Why Knowing Your Pump Matters
It’s a good idea to become acquainted with the unique requirements of your pump, to help you avoid, troubleshoot, and diagnose problems that may arise during the life of your pump. Most pumps have a label on the side that describes the critical conditions for that unit, such as horsepower and motor speed. Other specifications, like discharge size and type, can be decided by a visual inspection of the unit.
Variable vs. Single Speed Pumps
Hot tub pumps can either be a variable or single-speed pump, and are used to power jets and circulation systems of the spa. To be able to power both systems, it needs to have both a high and a low speed. When measuring and discussing the speed of the motor, we measure it in RPM or revolutions per minute. The variable pumps are able to change between a high and low setting, whereas a single pump only has one speed available. Some spas will have more the one pump moving the water, usually when they are using a single speed pump or need a secondary pump to power the jets. If the primary pump only has the high speed setting, usually, it will have a secondary pump with the slow speed to help circulate the water. These pumps are commonly referred to as circulation pumps and will run at a lower speed, pumping at a general rate of 25- 35 gallons per minute. Variable pumps have a wider gallons per minute rate, 100 GPM – 260 GPM, as they are able to run at either a high or slow rate depending on the needs of the spa.
What Makes Up a Hot Tub Pump
The wet end and dry end of your hot tub pump are an integral part of the heart of your spa. Keeping water from entering and destroying the electrical motor is why all pumps have a wet and dry end. The wet end houses the impeller, which propels the water through the circulation system of the spa. The dry end holds the motor in a separate compartment to help protect it from dampness and water.
Understanding Pump Voltage Requirements
The voltage is the amount of electrical current required to power your pump. It is critical to ascertain the voltage on your pump motor, as they do come in either 110-120 volts or 220-240 volts. The voltage information can be found on the label on the side of the pump.
Horsepower and Why It Matters
As in your car, the horsepower of your motor refers to how much power the motor can supply. Hot tub pumps have a large range of HP and can range from 1/15 HP to 7HP. As hot tub manufacturers can list different types of horsepower and sometimes list brake horsepower (BHP) instead of the true horsepower, we always recommend looking at the AMP specification on the motor label to get the most accurate HP number. It’s important to replace an existing pump with a new pump with similar electrical requirements: too small a pump can cause problems like limited power and sensor errors due to inadequate flow. Replacing an existing pump with a more powerful pump is not recommended, as it can void the electrical safety certification of the hot tub and potentially overload or damage the circuit board.
Discharge Orientation and Why It Matters
The discharge is the area of the pump where the water exits; it is also known as the discharge orientation. It will either be located on the side or in the centre of the top of the pump. Most pumps allow you to change the orientation of the discharge to accommodate the configuration of the pumps in your spa. However, if your discharge is located in the centre of the pump, it can not be swapped for a side discharge because the plumbing will not line up.
Pump Frame Sizes
The box containing your pump includes pre-drilled holes where it will be connected inside your spa. The holes are either farther or closer together, depending on the size of the frame. Spa pump frames come in either a 48 or 56 size; this information should be available on the pump’s label. If not, you can determine the size by measuring between the bolts on the frame or on the motor. If the fasteners are closer than 4 inches, it’s a 48 frame, and if over 4 inches, it’s a 56 frame.
Popular Hot Tub Pump Brands and Replacement Tips
Some of the most popular brands of hot tub pumps are Waterway, Laing, Jacuzzi/ Sundance and Balboa. If replacing or servicing your existing pump, looking at the manufacturer's specifications for your spa is key. It is recommended to look at existing pumps' volts, amps and HP to ensure you are selecting the correct parts or a new pump for your hot tub. If you are unsure or have a question, feel free to contact us, and we would be happy to help. So you can get back to enjoying your retreat with friends and family.