HOT TUB Pump Not Working? 6 Common Problems & Fixes

Swim University makes pool and hot tub care easy for millions of homeowners. Each year, we continue to help more people with water chemistry, cleaning, and troubleshooting. We know taking care of a swimming pool or spa can be difficult. And it’s hard to find a trusted source of information. This is the reason we created Swim University.

Is your hot tub pump not working? If your hot tub pump isn't priming, your pump won't circulate water or it won't turn on at all, there are a couple of ways to troubleshoot your hot tub pump. Here are 6 common reasons why your hot tub pump is not working and how to fix them.

⏰ Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Why Your Hot Tub Pump Is Not Working
00:19 - Problem #1: Your Hot Tub Pump Won't Prime
01:10 - Problem #2: There's No Water Pressure
01:39 - Problem #3: Motor Turns On And Off
02:19 - Problem #4: Motor Runs But Nothing Happens
02:56 - Check Out The Hot Tub Care Video Course
03:36 - Problem #5: Pump Doesn't Turn On
04:32 - Problem #6: Pump Is Leaking Water

[bmontano]

Great videos.
I have a MAAX Spa 471 b model. It’s about 6 years old. The place I purchased the tub is no longer in business. My spa has a dedicated seat where a sequencer was added to mimic a shiatsu message with water jets. I would press pump 2 on the display twice to activate it. Last week it stopped working. When I press pump 2 I only get water flowing out of the jets pointed at my neck and shoulders and very little water coming out of the jets pointed at my back and no water flow coming out of the jets pointing at my hips or lower back. When I press pump 2 a second time the flow does increase on my neck and shoulders and very little on the jets pointing at my upper back but still nothing coming out of the lower jets and the sequencer is not turning on as it is supposed to. There is a diverter knob valve that diverts flow from that specific seat to my feet and to a seat that is adjacent to it. The adjacent seat and the feet work fine when I divert the flow to them. I tried manipulating the airflow knobs and opening the specific jets to full flow but still not getting any resolution for the lower jets on that seat or getting the sequencer to work again. I clean and drain my spa every 4 months with spa purge and I replace my filters at that time as well. For the past 2 years I have been using the easy frog system to keep my water balanced and clean. The only major repair came last year I had to replace pump 1 and the entire circuit board because of a faulty relay got stuck and burned up pump one. But everything had been working good until last week. Any ideas on why my sequencer and lower pumps on that specific seat not working? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks

[KellyFalcone]

So, for problem #5, thanks for sharing suggestions if the display isn’t turning on, however, what might be the issue if the display IS working but the pump is not?

[richardchauvin]

I have constant loud grumbling sound instead of the regular hum. What could be causing this and is there an easy solution ? Jacuzzi hot tub.

[michaelanderson]

Thank you. Still trying to get the time machine part to work. 😅

[dlucic]

I got excited when I heard about problem 5 but it’s not exactly the same issue mine has. My brand new pump doesn’t turn on but I have power to the thermostat.

Backstory. Hot tub started Over Heating, so we got a new computer. That fixed the issue, couple months later pump wasn’t running. We ordered a new one but the new one is not running ither, I have to see if maybe I broke a fuse in the computer and if so that would be a simple fix but I have power running because the thermostat and lights all turn on but the pump doesn’t.

Hoping maybe you could give me some tips! Thanksgiving

[georgehurley]

Hello, I have a new Vita spa Envie Installed last week, and I only have one level set on pump one so it only has low setting, not the high setting like when you press pump two twice. Anything I should look for in general?

[octaviomartinez]

are there Jacuzzis that will not power on the pump, till water is sensed ?

[SimplyChrist]

My pump is doing strange things. The breaker tripped due to a power outage. When I reset it, the pump comes on periodically on its own and pushes water nicely. So I assume it's not a pump issue. However, I can't turn the jets on with the control panel. The circulation pump works as well as everything else on the control panel. Any ideas?

[claudiamarlow]

I have a tropic seas spa two filter set up. Instruction manual says I should be able to push the light button during initial priming to start the circulation pump but it’s not turning on and the heater just keeps getting hot and overheats because of it and I have to reset everything. Any ideas as to why my circulation pump won’t turn on ?

[homeroserrano]

How about relays, how do we test those?

[baroquemanagement]

Hi
Great vide!
We have a problem that you haven’t touched on and you may be able to help?
The jet pump works but has now started running for only 4 mins not 20. It restarts ok but again only for around 4 minutes
Any ideas what it could be?

[cindyrella]

I had a power surge outage and afterwards my hot tub stopped working right. I replaced the motor. It all looks right, I've replaced it before, and everything is attached right. There is a buzzing when I plug it in, and it will everything trip my outlet and even the circuit breaker. I also replaced the circuit breaker. The outlet seems fine when I plugged my blow dryer in to test it. I just don't know what is causing the buzzing in the plug. Could it be the plug? The wiring looks fine it it. It's getting really cold where I live, and I'm afraid if I can't figure this out, my hot tub hoses will start freezing. HELP😢

[stephenmoia]

Do I have to empty out my tub of all the water to replace the circulating pump it’s a Jacuzzi 300 series

[kirchner]

I used fix a leak in my spa, and now my pump isn't working. It's clicking like it wants to, but nothing is happening. I've unplugged, and plugged back in. Still nothing. I'm so upset as I've just replaced the pump 2 1/2 years ago. It's an Aqua-flo pump and I have a freeflow plug and play spa. Please help. 🙏

[glennr]

My tub has an intermit leak. It seems to lose water when the outside temperature drops. It holds water pretty well in warm weather. I think it must have frozen once, but not sure.

[dancapen]

The coupling nut is broke on PVC fitting for pump to tub how do I replace

[swedishkev]

Hi there, mate, I have a balboa control unit, And the flow was not working as strong as it should. I thought it was the pump, The jet button when pressing started to stop working and just become to have a mind of its own. I notice once the pump started without pressing any button and once just stopped also. So because I was not getting much flow, first bought a new impellor, because the other one was destroyed. Did not solve the problem, still low flow. Now I have installed a new pump, And the same problem. So there was nothing wrong with the original pump. Now I installed the new pump today, normally it goes on PR for about 7 minutes then it all starts up normally. So when I put the breakers on, the pump was running on low speed, Straight away, that was strange, never done that before when PR is starting up the on process but is a new pump. The jet button stopped working again with a clicking sound coming from the Balboa control box. Could this just be a fuse problem, possibly. or a relay, what does a relay look like ? I am dumbfounded here. So now it is not the pump or capacitor, all new so, ruled out. The heating element is all fine and working, all checked there.I have a video, if you were interested to look at.

[Natechasse]

My breaker trips from the pump, it will run for 20-30mins then the pump trips the breaker and top side control screen is dead. Then I turn it off then back on and it does the same thing. ??

[LaneyaWiles]

We bought a brand new water pump, installed it and still nothing... what else could it be? Power goes to the lights, and we stopped a buzzing that came from the contactor. Help!

[amandacruse]

Hi what can u do when ur hot tub pump say E5 on the display pump.