Dr. Spa

??? Converted to gas? They're all gas...either natural gas or propane. They also require electricity for the control system to operate, either 110v or 240v, hooked properly to the internal transformer. Look in the owners/installation manual for direction. If you don't have the manual, one can be downloaded from the manufacturers website.

Sounds like the spa froze over the winter. Maybe there's someone that trusts you that you could give it to ;-)

Dig the flex out of the fitting and glue in new.

Possibly NOT. Spas are designed to use a specific amount of combined amps (pump, heater, blower, and anything else electrical in the system). The new pump increases the possible total number of amps used by 4.4. This could be enough to trip breakers, blow fuses, fry circuit boards and potentially start a fire.

More likely, it's 2 hot legs, and a ground (not all 240v spas require a neutral).

When the circulation pump come on it activates the flow switch. If the circulation pump isn't turning on, the flow switch wont activate.

Never heard of such a thing.... But I've only been doing this for 33 years. Fill the spa through the filter, and turn on the pump. Priming generally solved. If no, crack the union on top of the pump till air stops coming out, turn on pump, priming solved.

What is a "jet plug"?

Normally when the system shuts off, the water will drain back into the pool. This prevents them from freezing up in the winter?

More than likely you would also need a new/different control panel...thereby eating up any savings the circuit board saved you.

I would NEVER use flex under ground. It moves every time the pump turns on and off, and if it rubs against a rock, it will develop a hole.

There must be a thermostat in there somewhere. No spa has ever been built without one.

Correct!

Running and maintaining a website costs money. It costs money for the computer to host it, it costs money to connect to the Internet, it costs money for someone to maintain it. This is all advertising that makes this site money. Making MONEY is the basic reason this site (and pretty much every other web site out there) exists...not only to cover the costs of the site, but also to profit from it (a business IS entitled to make a profit). If the site doesn't make a profit from advertising, YOU, and everyone else would need to pay a "membership fee" in order to keep it going. Unfortunately, the last "upgrade" that was done here, has some odd problems. New adds, some stuff being covered up, everything being centered etc. Whom ever did the upgrade, it appears, didn't check it out to well (in different browsers). Oh well, such is life, and it's a small price to pay for having such a great wealth of information....that doesn't require charging a membership fee.

Or, google "lazy spa vegas" ;-) I like your idea #2.

Like that

Somewhere on/near the equipment is a drain.

"selling direct from manufacturer" Every spa dealer in the country does this. They buy it from the manufacturer, and sell it directly to you.

"Uprated has nothing to do with design...it's simply one of the many ways one can indicate a horsepower rating. There's a pretty good explanation here; http://www.hottubsparatings.com/spa-pumps.htm

Bad heater element. The jarring caused by starting it back up probably caused it to finally jiggle lose a short (not uncommon).

Armor All is the absolute worst thing you can use. It pulls out and removes the natural protective propertied of the vinyl, replacing them with it's own. If you don't CONTINUALLY and frequently use it, the vinyl will quickly deteriorate. Do not use anything that is petroleum based (such as Armor All). 303 Protectant is the best, followed by Son-of-a-Gun.

Looks like PVC pipe to me. Might help if you give us some information on the spa...or pool...or, sprinkler system?

Most 2 speed motors are "up-rated", while single speed motors are "full rated". Simple explanations, a 1-1/2hp two speed motors has a high speed equal to a 1hp single speed motors.

Of your list, only Emerson and A.O.Smith actually manufacture motors. Aquaflo manufactures wet ends...and I believe the rest are "private labels" (rebranded).