How To Repair Hot Tub Spa Flex Hose

Spa & Hot Tub Plumbing Repair Tips

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Spa and hot tub plumbing is made upwardly of PVC pipe and fittings. It's a Closed Loop, similar to an electric circuit, if that makes it easier to sympathise. The same drop of water tin can brand this trip several times per mean solar day.

A Spa Plumbing Loop starts at the skimmer and main drain, where the water leaves the spa, pulled under vacuum (suction) by the pump impeller. In one case the water passes the impeller, the water is now pushed under pressure by the pump, through the filter and heater, and purifier equipment.

Later the water has been treated and heated, it's pushed onward into the return manifold, the pipes on the tiptop of the spa (water runs through the lower, larger pipe, and air is pushed or pulled through the upper, smaller pipe), where information technology returns to the spa, via the spa jets. The aforementioned drib of water can make this trip several times per day.

But sometimes water tin escape The Loop, finding it's way into cracks and crevices no larger than 1 mm, and dripping on the footing, below your spa. Spa leak repair more commonly involves the equipment (pump/filter/heater/purifier), but a bad glue joint, leaky union, or cracked pipe could have also brought you to this page.

SPA AND HOT TUB PLUMBING REPAIRS

You can make your own spa or hot tub PVC repairs to the plumbing, with only simple tools and basic materials from whatever hardware shop. Before yous jump in the car, at that place are a few more than things to learn nigh spa plumbing repairs.

You see, I've already fabricated the mistakes for yous - in my years of plying the spa trade, I've made hundreds of plumbing repairs, and dozens of consummate re-plumbing jobs for old spa shells. About of those jobs I'm proud of; a few had to be re-done. :-(

HOT TUB PVC PLUMBING SAWS

If you walk into any hardware store and ask for a PVC saw, you're gonna walk out with a bones hacksaw. Or you tin can pay more for PVC saws that resemble small woods saws. Both volition cut through a 1.5" PVC pipe in15 strokes. However - many times there is not enough room to position a xv-18" long saw to make a complete (and directly) cut on the piping.

That'south why I almost never utilise hacksaws or PVC saws when I practise hot tub plumbing repairs. They simply don't fit very well under the cabinet, with pipes and then shut to the beat of the spa. And forget about using them on an inground spa pipe repair, they are fifty-fifty more cumbersome when you lot're upside down in a hole.

What do I use to cutting PVC pipes? Usually I utilise my extra smallReciprocating Saw, or if I don't have that, my cordlessJig Saw. Both allow me to slip the blade behind the pipe, or at weird angles - and, they cutting fast and straight (with a abrupt blade). However - there are times when even my ability saws don't fit, and I accept to pull out some micro saws.

Also useful is aCable Saw, a length of moving-picture show hanging wire with 2 handles that cuts right through PVC. A cable saw can be wrapped over an extremely tight pipe and cut through in25 strokes.In a pinch, you can wrap a short handle onto the end of ahacksaw blade with duct record, or you could even use adrywall saw - simply these saws may take upwardly of100 strokes.

HOT TUB PVC PIPE AND FITTINGS

PIPES: At that place are 2 types of Schedule 40 PVC pipes used in spas and hot tubs -Flex and Rigid. Flex PVC pipes are used for the return manifold, so that the pipes tin bend effectually the spa to all of the spa jets. Rigid PVC piping is used on the suction manifold, or the pipes from the skimmer and drain to the pump. Be sure to buy Schedule 40 PVC pipage (not thinner walled Schedule 20, used for drainage).

Avoid using Flexible PVC on the suction side, because the ribbed pipe has much more than friction loss than shine, Rigid PVC, and because information technology can collapse nether farthermost suction vacuum. So, utilizeFlex pipe up meridian, and Rigid pipe down beneath,got information technology? Nosotros have Flex pipage spa plumbing kits in 1.5 and ii inch.

Most spas and hot tubs are plumbed withane.five inch PVC, although larger spas may utilise2 inch PVC. The Outside Diameter of i.5 inch PVC (if you were to mensurate across it), is really closer to 2 inches, or 1-seven/viii inches, (with an Inside Diameter of one.five"). ii inch pipage has an OD of 2-3/viii" (and an ID of 2"). The Air Line (the smaller pipe higher up the return pipe), is usually one" Flex PVC, or sometimes 3/iv" Flex PVC.

FITTINGS: PVC fittings like couplings, Tee's, ninety'southward, 45'due south, unions, MTA'south and FTA's (male and female threaded adapters), are common at most Home stores or a good local hardware store. You tin can also find good prices online for plumbing fittings.

Exist certain to usePressure Fittings, which will have a deeper socket thanDrain Fittings. Bathroom bleed fittings often have a glue-able surface of about 9/xvi", just Pressure Fittings allow you to glue the pipe up to 1-1/iv" deep. Drain fittings are Never suitable for spa or hot tub plumbing. And similar with PVC pipe, exist sure to buy schedule forty PVC fittings, non the thin-walled schedule 20 PVC.

Gray Fittingsare often made of CPVC or if much thicker, Schedule 80 PVC, both of which are more oestrus tolerant, or rut resistant. These tin can be useful when making connections in and out of a spa heater, but are not required.

Spa Jet Fittings or Spa Manifolds are specialized fittings that y'all won't find at your local Dwelling house or Hardware shop, just we have all you need!

GLUES AND SEALANTS FOR HOT TUBS

There'due south 1 more affiliate in this spa plumbing story. Making the PVC piping and plumbing equipment connections.

ForSmooth PVC pipe and fittings,PVC glue is used to bond smooth pipe to shine plumbing equipment, but is not used on threaded fittings. Use merely Fresh medium or heavy body PVC cement. Onetime mucilage that's been in your chiffonier for a few years is not going to save you time or money!

Another of import distinction exists nigh PVC Cleaner and Primer. Employ Cleaner for Flex Piping, to remove the slick surface but not overly soften the surface. Primer also functions every bit a cleaner, but information technology rapidly softens (decomposes) the pipe, generating heat for a stronger bond. Flex pipe is as well soft already, and Primer softens it too much. So call up,Cleaner for Flex pipe, Primer for Rigid piping (and fittings), just before y'all apply the glue.Got it?

For aThreaded PVC fittings, you need thread sealants. smear a layer of Silicone over the male threads, and then wrap several times (clockwise!) withTeflon Record. Mitt tighten the fitting in as far as you tin can, and so requite another full plough with Channel blazon pliers, or a strap wrench.

Happy Hot Tubbin'!

Daniel Lara
Hot Tub Works