What to do About a Surging Hot Tub Pump

If your hot tub jets are pulsing and surging then you have an issue known as a surging hot tub pump. Luckily this isn’t too hard to fix and with a few simple checks and some basic maintenance the chances are that you will have properly functioning, no surging jets in no time. Read on to find out the solution to this relatively common hot tub problem.

So, What Can You Do About A Surging Hot Tub Pump? Check that the hot tub water level isn’t too low. Clogged and dirty filters can also cause a surging hot tub pump as can a blockage in the water line. It may also be that the surging issue is being caused by a faulty or worn pump.

So, generally speaking, fixing a surging or pulsing hot tub pump is pretty straightforward and can be done yourself. However, if your hot tub is under warranty and the pump is still surging after these few simple checks, then you should contact your hot tub dealer.

What Exactly Is A Surging Pump And What Causes It?

A surging pump describes a hot tub pump that is not functioning as it should. Specifically, the term is usually used to describe a pump that is pulsating. This can be observed by checking the water jets of the hot tub. If the water is being pumped out of the jets at an inconsistent or irregular rate, then you may have a surging pump. This can also be seen if your water jets keep pausing, thus only pushing the water out every few seconds as opposed to the constant stream it should be producing.

A surging pump can lead to several issues with your hot tub if it is not properly diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. For instance, if a surging pump is not treated then it can cause issues with the hot tub’s pH levels as not enough filtered water is being pushed into the rest of the hot tub. Instead, only the old water remains in the hot tub. Occasionally, this issue can lead to a lack of water in the tub overall as your pump may still be taking the old water from the tub and just not pumping more water out.

A pulsating or surging pump can cause the entre pump system to break down over time if it is not treated right away as the damaged components can cause issues to develop in the other areas of the pump. If a surging pump is allowed to continue functioning without treatment, it may require a full replacement in the end as it may become beyond repair.

A surging pump can have several causes.

Filter problems – One of the primary causes of a surging pump revolves around the filter of the hot tub pump. The filter component of a hot tub is an extremely important one. A filter’s basic function is to remove any dirt or scum that is in the hot tub water. In doing this, the filter manages to keep the pH levels of the hot tub where they should be. This is a necessary process for all hot tubs as a tub cannot properly function if the pH levels are not consistently maintained. A surging pump can arise when the filter component of the tub is not properly cleaned and maintained. If dirt is allowed to build up inside the filter over time, then this can cause a pump to pulsate or surge.

Incorrect water level – If you have checked your hot tub’s filter and it is not clogged, then your surging pump issues may be caused by the water level of your hot tub. In basic terms, if the water level of your hot tub is too low then air may be getting in to the tub’s pump system via the jets. This could cause your surging pump issues as air is trying to be pumped out as opposed to water.

Clogged lines – If your problem continues to persist even after cleaning your filter and ensuring that your water level is high enough then it may be the case that your pump is clogged somewhere else along the line. This may take a little more time and effort to diagnose and treat but if you find a clog in the line somewhere (due to a dirt build-up) then this could be causing your surging pump problems.

Worn out pump – If your pump still continues to surge even after all of these issues have been resolved, then it may simply just be the end of the line for your pump. Pumps tend to pulsate when they are nearing the end of their lifespan, therefore the only real solution to your problem would be getting a new one.

How Can You Fix A Surging Pump?

Fortunately, the vast majority of fixes for this issue are extremely straightforward and relatively simple to do. As previously mentioned above, if your hot tub pump is surging due to an issue regarding the filter then all you need to do to fix it is clean the filter.

I have post on how to clean your hot tub filters here.

Once the dirt and grime has been cleaned out of the filter the pump should function as intended. If your filter is too dirty or is still acting up, then you may need to purchase a new filter altogether, but this shouldn’t cost too much and is pretty easy to install.

Amazon have a good selection on this page here.

To remedy a hot tub’s water levels being too low, all you need to do is fill the tub back up with the required amount of water. Things start to become a little more complicated if your water level issues are due to a leak in your tub. If you hot tub is suffering from any form of leakage, then you will need to resolve the leak issue before anything else. Once this has been resolved, or if it was never an issue to begin with, then you can just fill the hot tub with the necessary amount of water and that should resolve the surging pump issue.

A clogged line is resolved in basically the same way as a clogged filter, it can just take a little more time and effort. The hard part is the first step, in which you need to find out exactly where in the line the pump is being blocked. Once this blockage has been found, all you need to do is clean that specific area, thus eliminating the blockage altogether. This should fix your surging pump.

What Is The Difference Between Air Lock And Surging?

A surging pump can often be misdiagnosed as an air lock. This is because, on a basic level, these two issues are very similar in nature. Basically, an air lock issue occurs when there is too much air in the hot tub’s pump systems. This air then becomes stuck somewhere in the system and cannot be removed with external help. An air locked tub can suffer from gradual damage over time that is quite difficult to notice and harder to diagnose that a surging pump.

Related Questions

How Do You Remove Hot Tub Air Lock?

Removing air lock is relatively easy. Start by turning your hot tub on and keeping the heat of the water as low as possible so the heater does not start up. Make sure that all of the hot tub jets are open all the way. Try this process a few times, taking note of any pulsating jets or issues regarding the water stream from the jets. After a few attempts, your air lock should be fixed.

How Often Should You Clean Your Hot Tub Pump?

While you don’t need to constantly clean your hot tub pump, you should try to clean the filter component of the pump at least once every two weeks or so. This should prevent any issues occurring with your hot tub in the near future.