Your spa is determined by a circulating pump to maintain the water moving across the circulation system. This pump pulls water in the tub, pumps it through the strainer, filter and heater, subsequently sends it back in the tub through the jets. Many tub proprietors occasionally drain and refill the tub. Failure of the bathtub’s pump to circulate water after a water change might be an indication of several problems.

Lost Prime

Your pump could have an air lock in the home and line which should be drawing water in the tub. Normally as soon as the pump starts, the impeller drives the water already in the housing back in the tub, creating a vacuum in the housing that pulls more water in the tub through the suction line. If, through the process of draining the tub, you also drained the pump housing, the pump is thought to have lost its prime and become airbound. Normally, the pump will reprime itself however sometimes there is a lot of air in the system as well as the repriming neglects.

Fixing Airbound Pump

An airbound pump will operate but water. The bathtub’s control panel may demonstrate a “FLO” or “DRY” error. To fix this error, look for a marked air-bleed screw close to the top or bottom of the pump housing. With the pump running, loosen the bleed screw until you hear air hissing out. Tighten it again once the hissing stops and you see water seeping out. Alternatively, run the pump and slightly loosen the big threaded band securing the pump’s output to the pump housing until you hear air hissing out. When the hissing stops and water seeps out, then tighten the ring again.

Pump Problems

The process of draining the tub might have coincidentally revealed problems with the pump and its own lines. If the pump hums temporarily and then shuts down, check for debris clogging the impeller or a broken impeller. Disconnect power to the pump. Get the impeller by undoing the screws holding the pump’s faceplate and pulling the faceplate. The impeller will be right behind the faceplate. Remove any debris or replace a broken impeller. Also, assess the suction line for leaks which admit air into the line. Start looking for problems like a broken pipe or a loose connection in which the suction line unites the pump intake. Replace a broken pipe or tighten a loose connection.

Check the Valves

Some pump models call for users to shut valves on the pump’s intake and outflow lines before draining the tub. The pump will not work if you neglect to start those valves before restarting the pump. And check that the jets of the pump are clear. Turning off the pump at the same time you drain and refill the tub may have loosened debris in a deteriorated internal pump part, which may clog the jets. Also examine the leaf trap and water filter at the pump’s intake line to make certain that there isn’t anything clogging them.

Power Trouble

Make sure you have switched the power switch to your pump back on after you’re done filling the tub. If the pump does not come on, then check that the circuit breaker or ground fault circuit interrupter for your pump has not tripped off. Should they have, flip the breaker back on. If the GFCI tripped, press the red “test” button to restore power. In case you have your pump on a time clock or remote health club controller, then make certain that they’re not paramount the switch you’re using to control the pump.

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