Hot Tub Air Lock Symptoms (How To Fix)

In this short guide, we’ll show you how to identify hot tub air lock symptoms and how to fix this issue effectively! If you turn on the hot tub only to find that the jets do not activate, it’s probably due to an air lock build-up inside your hot tub.

When an air pocket develops in the pipes running through your hot tub, it is likely to cause an air lock in the pipes. This can prevent the jets from functioning efficiently, and in some cases, prevent them from working altogether.

When you realize that the jets are perhaps the main elements that make your hot tub function properly – they allow the water to pass through the heater and into the main bowl of the hot tub – it’s easy to see why they play such an important role.

In some cases, you will notice that there is an air lock issue because of a humming sound that starts to emanate from near the pump or the jets.

When you hear this sound, it’s important that you get this fixed as soon as you can. While the issue is not as serious, it can cause a hefty loss.

Hot Tub Air Lock Symptoms (How To Fix)

There are essentially two common ways by which you can deal with an air lock problem. The first one requires you to turn the jets on and off until they start functioning properly.

Essentially, this method forces the air bubbles out from the pipes. It’s going to take around 30 seconds of repetitive activity to get a desirable response.

On the other hand, if this method doesn’t work, you will have to bleed the pumps on your own. This requires you to use a screwdriver to activate the jets again.

If the first method doesn’t work, you may have to prime the whole thing. There is a small checklist that needs to be followed if you are priming the hot tub again. Here are the important steps that you need to take:

• Check to ensure that the ground fault circuit interrupter is turned off.
• If it isn’t off, do it manually.
• Then, check to ensure that the slice valves are locked together, facing upward.
• The diverter valves should be centered to ensure that the water is distributed properly through the pumps and jets.
• The jets must also rotate after their open position, especially when they are flowing outward.
• Finally, you need to check for signs of debris in the filter drain covers. Also, check the suction pipes for any signs of debris.

Once you have checked all of these elements, you need to turn on the ground fault circuit interrupter and then prime the pumps again at maximum speeds.

If this still doesn’t work, then it might be a serious problem that you will not be able to fix. You might want to get in touch with the manufacturer instead of tinkering with the hot tub on your own.

A common mistake that people make is that they contact their plumbers to come and fix the plumbing. You should never call your plumber until you have consulted with your manufacturer on this thing.

Preventing the Air Locks

There are several ways to prevent an air lock in your hot tub. As you can imagine, if you do not take care of this problem quickly, it could result in tremendous damages.

Instead of fixing the problem after it occurs, you could take appropriate steps to prevent the problem from arising in the first place. Remember, the pumps in your hot tub are designed for pumping water; they don’t do well with air.

As a result, you have to make sure that you keep the hot air out as much as you can. To ensure that the air pockets do not appear, you need to always check that the hose drops to the bottom of the empty filter canister.

Do not let it drop in the hot tub’s main bowl. This will prevent water from filling inside the internal plumbing system as well as the pump, thus reducing the chances of an air lock.

Once you are done filling the hot tub, you should also turn the ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, to bleed the pump as quickly as possible.

It’s best to use a screwdriver to bleed the valves until the water starts to bleed out. Once that happens, you should just close the valves. As you do this, it’ll automatically suck air out from the plumbing system.

Ultimately, this is a great way to prevent an air lock from occurring. The process is also great because it will get rid of any additional air that might have gotten sucked in the space.

This is ideal for preventing major build-ups as well. To make sure that you have done everything the right way, it’s best to check whether the jets are functioning properly.

You will have to activate them to see if the jets are running properly or not. Check each one carefully to determine whether they are working properly.

Do Air Locks Clear on Their Own?

If an air pocket managed to enter your internal plumbing system, can’t it escape on its own? Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as you might think.

The entire hot tub plumbing system was created to promote the flow of water, and to ensure that the jets work in an efficient manner. Whenever there is an air lock, the circulation is unable to prime itself in the right manner.

As a result, some of the jets don’t work, or the ones that do are not operating in an efficient manner. Ultimately, this will also prevent the hot tub heater from operating smoothly.

How to Clear an Air Lock

It’s easy to identify an air lock problem. You need to turn off the heater and then bleed the valves in a safe space to get rid of the air lock. If the water is hot, you have to first wait to let it cool before you decide to take the appropriate steps to clear the hot tub.