Whirlpool Flow Problem "fl01" Error Code

[wknightm]

Hi,

I own a newer model whirlpool hottub, it's perhaps no more than 2 years old and after a winter of it being on constantly but not maintaining it properly we decided to shut it off and drain it and fill it with new water.

Now, it was working just fine up until the minute I turned it off from the curcuit breaker, I drained it, filled it back up with new water, then turned it back on. Low and behold this FL01 Error Code pops up on the screen and the water does not heat up.

I've read on other websites, including Whirlpools that this particular error code is the most common and it can be attributed to a handful of things. I did as much testing as I could before calling the spa place, and the water is flowing into the pump system, I can feel it with my hand both with the filters installed and uninstalled.

So, there's nothing I can do and called the spa place. Now the spa place, without even looking at the thing instantly are saying it's the heating pump that needs to be replaced, and as I am reading out of the many different things FL01 error code can mean, that is the most expensive. Worst yet, the guy who built our deck built it in such a way that the panel can not be accessed without raising the tub completely out of the ground, or ripping up the deck. Dumb move on our part, granted. So the spa place is quoting us even more, is hiring a crew to come and spend all day to "replace the heater" when I'm not even sure they are sure that's the problem.

So before I spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars trying to fix the hot tub, the guy who built the deck, my father, and I are all going to cut the deck so we can access the panel.

What I'm most concerned about is the fact that the spa place says its the most expensive option without even coming to look at the unit (they even ordered the part already). What I was reading is that there's some sort of flow switch to the heater, or something to that effect that it might simply not be "switched" in the right direction. Could anyone give me some advice before I blow a mortgage payment on paying the spa place for something that doesn't need to be replaced? What can I try?

Thanks a 1,000,000!

[Dr. Spa]

"whirlpool" typically refers to a jetted bath tub. I don't believe there's an actual brand "whirlpool". What brand is this?

[Roger]

You say you didn't maintain it properly? The pump is probably not pumping very good because of gunk build up. That would be my first guess also.