Hot tubs are meant to provide you with lots of relaxing and fun times. But there comes a time when all of a sudden your hot tub simply refuses to turn on. You lift the hot tub cover, all ready for that nice warm soak and then you realize that there’s no power to a hot tub. Not only did you miss out on your retreat but now you also have to deal with repairs because your hot tub won’t turn on. If you find yourself in this kind of situation, don’t worry because it happens more often than you think. And the best part is that most of these issues can be fixed without too much hassle.
No Power to Hot Tub: 5 Common Issues and Solutions
No power to a hot tub can be attributed to a variety of reasons, and below we outline five of the most common ones and how you can fix them.
A little note before we get started. Electricity and water are extremely dangerous combinations, so unless you’re a certified electrician or have sufficient knowledge about doing electrical repairs, you should probably let a certified electrician or a hot tub technician deal with the problem. If you have a Coleman hot tub or a Bestway hot tub, contact the manufacturer and ask if there are any certified service provider near your area.
That said, let’s take a look at the different reasons why your hot tub won’t turn on and what you can do about them.
1. Tripped Breaker
Resetting the circuit breaker will usually solve this problem. You can do this by first turning it “OFF” and then switching it back to “ON”. If you’re experiencing “nuisance tripping” where the circuit breaker trips often, the problem could either be voltage irregularity or a defective breaker. In either case, you’ll need the help of an electrician to test for irregularity or install a new circuit breaker.
2. Tripped GFCI
A tripping GCFI is a common occurrence and results in shutting off power to the hot tub. Naturally, when this happens the hot tub won’t turn on. Fortunately, this particular issue can be resolved with very little fuss, and resetting the GFCI will usually fix the problem. Your GFCI will have a visible button, usually colored red. To reset the GFCI, simply press the button. Now, if the button pops back up immediately afterward, there is likely some stray voltage grounding out and causing the button to pop. In this case, call an electrician to determine if this is the problem and fix it accordingly.
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3. Blown Fuse
Blown fuses are the result of voltage spikes. When a fuse fails, it can mean that the transformer is letting excessive amounts of voltage to pass through, or that a blower or pump is shorting out. More detailed instruction on how to change blown fuses is outlined in the latter part of this article.
4. Faulty Wiring
Aside from no power to a hot tub, faulty wirings can lead to a host of problems like tripping breakers or blown fuses. There are plenty of things that can damage the wirings in your hot tub, from heat damage to rodents and others. Repairing faulty wiring should be left in the hands of a certified electrician.
5. Tripped High Limit Switch
The high limit switch is designed to protect your hot tub from overheating. When triggered, it can cause a complete power shut down so the hot tub won’t turn on. Fixing this is easy by simply pushing the high limit reset button. Doing so should restore power to your hot tub.
FAQ
Q: Why has my hot tub stopped working?
The most common reason why regular and inflatable hot tubs stop working is the lack of power, which can be brought about by one or two issues mentioned above. However, there are also other reason behind this problem like an air lock, air leaks, a broken pump impeller or even a burned motor.
Q: How do I reset my hot tub control panel?
Resetting a hot tub control panel is pretty easy and can be completed by following the steps below.
- Switch the hot tub control panel off.
- Leave it turned off for at least 10-20 seconds to allow the computer to perform a soft boot and clear the stored data.
- Turn the control panel on and let the system reset itself.
Resetting the control panel will usually solve many of the problems related to it. However, if you’re still getting different hot tub error codes and there’s still no power to hot tub, then you should check the manufacturer’s manual for further instructions or call in a hot tub technician for repairs.
Q: How do you change a fuse in a hot tub?
You can change the fuse in your hot tub through the following steps:
- Turn off the power to your hot tub at the circuit breaker box.
- Remove the hot tub side panel and the control box cover.
- Refer to the circuit diagram to locate the fuse on the control panel. The circuit diagram usually comes with the owner’s manual provided by your manufacturer. At other times, it's glued to the back of the control box cover.
- Once you find the fuse, pull it out of the fuse clips. If it won’t come out, gently pry it out using a small screwdriver. Be sure not to drop the fuse since it can get lost amidst all the wires and panels in the control box.
- Perform a continuity check on the old fuse to see if it’s blown or defective, in which case you’ll need to replace it with a new one. If the fuse appears to be working perfectly, the problem may not be with the fuse and you may need to call in an expert to help you determine the issue.
- Perform a continuity check on the new fuse to ensure that it’s in perfect working condition.
- Insert the new fuse into the fuse clips.
- Turn on power to the hot tub. If the fuse is installed correctly, then all should work properly now.
9. Turn off the power and replace the control box cover and side panel.
Globo Surf Overview
So the next time there’s no power to a hot tub, try any of the following fixes mentioned above. If your hot tub won’t turn on regardless of what you do, then the problem might be bigger than you expected and it’s time to call in the pros for repairs.