Does Flex Seal Work on Hot Tubs?

Hot tubs do sometimes start to leak and, as with any leaking water, you will want to seal the leak as quickly as possible. You may well have some Flex Seal already in the house but, is it the best thing to seal up a leaking hot tub or do you need to use something more specialized? I decided to look into the possibility of using Flex Seal to seal up a leaking hot tub and this is what I found out:

So, Does Flex Seal Work On Hot Tubs? Flex Seal does work as a hot tub sealant! But it should be mentioned right away that this not usually a complete or entirely effective solution. Unfortunately, it is not just a case of filling the leaking area with the Flex Seal liquid and letting it do its thing. The type of leak that your tub has, the effectiveness of your application and your preventative measures for future leakages are all determining factors in how well Flex Seal with treat your hot tub.

What Is Flex Seal?

Flex Seal is defined as a “Sealant”. Simply put, a sealant is a concentrated paste or liquid that can be used to effectively plug a leak or hole in any number of things. Boats, pools, and hot tubs are all common beneficiaries of the Flex Seal sealant product. Flex Seal works on many types of materials including metals, PVC, and other plastics as well as ceramic and vinyl.

Essentially, Flex Seal works by first being spread over the leaking area. When the water from this leakage area begins to seep out it begins to react with the Flex Seal sealant paste. This combination of water and sealant paste leads to a reaction which causes the sealant too to harden then it eventually dries. Once dry, the sealant will now cover the area of the leak, therefore causing the hole to be blocked and the leak to stop.

Flex Seal is the perfect affordable solution to those who do not want to, or physically cannot, pay those extortionate prices that some hot tub repairmen charge. Flex Seal is often used to repair hot tubs as the sealant paste does not damage any of the hot tub’s components, including the pump, filters, or heaters.

One of the primary advantages of Flex Seal is its titular flexibility. When compared to other sealants currently on the market, Flex Seal has an inherently higher level of flexibility when it dries. This is exceptionally important when it comes to sealing hot tubs as due to the constant high level of water in the tub it is easy for a lesser sealant to lose its grip on the side of the tub and begin to leak again. This is not the case with Flex Seal as it retains a high level of flexibility whilst also maintaining a high level of rigidity, even when it comes into contact with water.

What Type Of Leaks Can Flex Seal Be Used For?

Despite Flex Seal’s apparent effectiveness on hot tubs of all shapes and sizes, its overall success depends largely on what type of leak your tub has. Generally speaking, Flex Seal is best used on smaller leaks as it is able to stay rigid for longer in smaller areas due to the smaller surface area of the sealant paste.

Flex Seal can be used for several types of leakages in hot tubs. This sealant can be used effectively to plug holes in the sides, top or bottom of the hot tub as it can be used on practically any material including the PVC of the sides of the tub and the vinyl of the top. All types of hot tub can benefit from Flex Seal no matter the shape, size, or material.

Flex Seal is most effective at treating water loss of less than around 3mm of water a day. If you are losing more water than 3mm per day, then you may wish to purchase a higher strength sealant or hire a repairman. Flex Seal should also be used on hot tubs that have a salt level of 3000ppm or lower as a higher salt level may cause the sealant paste to become loose.

Regardless of your type of leak you should still try using Flex Seal on your hot tub before any other solution as it is very affordable and time-efficient, especially when compared to either hiring a repairman or buying a new hot tub.

How To Apply Flex Seal On Your Hot Tub

If you intend to use Flex Seal on your hot tub, then you should know how to apply it effectively on your tub to ensure that it works just as intended. The first step is to identify the water loss in your tub. To do this just fill the hot tub, mark the water level, and leave it for 24 hours.

In the morning you will be able to accurately measure how much water you have lost in a 24-hour period. You then need to work out how much sealant to use. These figures will be general as each hot tub has a different capacity, size, and varying specifications. Generally, a 200-gallon hot tub would require 3.2oz of sealant, a 300-gallon hot tub requires 4.8oz and a 350-gallon tub requires 5.6oz.

After this, all you need to do is apply the Flex Seal sealant paste to the area where the leak is coming from. You can use a whole range of utensils to do this such as a brush, putty knife, or trowel.

Once the sealant has been added to the hot tub, you must then monitor the water levels closely over the next 24 hours. If your tub shows no sign of water loss, then your leak is most likely fixed. The tub should then be cleaned, especially if you added the sealant directly to the water. Make sure that your filter, pump, and the tub itself is cleaned thoroughly before you use the tub again after using Flex Seal.

Preventing Future Leaks

While Flex Seal can be used to treat further leaks in your hot tub (and it has a shelf life of 24 months, meaning that it will stay effective for quite some time), it may not be enough to stop further leaks occurring outright. Instead, you may have to resort to the following to prevent future hot tub leaks.

You should pay close attention to any previous leakage areas as these may begin to leak again. You may need to reapply some Flex Seal paste around the old leak area. You should also pay close attention to the hot tub pump. Any rusting or external damage to the pump can cause a leakage in the near future.

To prevent this, make sure that the pump is cleaned regularly. Keeping the water thoroughly clean and at a balanced pH level will help prevent future leaks. You can do this by using a digital meter or a pH strip. One final, and very simple, preventative measure is to ensure that your tub’s vibrations are kept to a minimum.

If the tub is kept on a hard surface, then it may be prone to violent vibrations which can cause damage to the tub. Keeping your hot tub on a rubber mat will minimise the amount of vibrations that are produced when the hot tub is switched on.

Related Questions

Do I Need To Drain The Water From The Tub Before Using Flex Seal?

Simply put, no, you do not need to drain any water from the tub. The Flex Seal sealant will not affect the pH levels of the water at all and will be filtered out effectively when the hot tub returns to regular use.

How Long After Using Flex Seal Can I Use The Tub?

After you have applied Flex Seal to the hot tub you should leave the sealant to work for around 2-3 days. This will allow the sealant to fully dry and gain rigidity, therefore creating a strong seal around the area of leakage. Once these 2-3 days have passed the tub must then be cleaned, including the individual components. You must then give the tub some time to filter out the excess sealant and return the water to its regular state.