Our recent house purchase came with a hot tub (Coast Spa - Coast Luxury Series I think).
I know the house was vacant for most, if not all of last year (2011) so I'm not hugely surprised the first test has not run smoothly today.
To cut a long story short we have a hosepipe ban starting tomorrow, so I did some frantic research, spent hours acquiring an owners manual last night, cleaned it all out (including giving both filters a very thorough soak and scrub -and ordered an new set as well) and filling it up today.
I have a friend bringing water treatment tomorrow, but thought I'd have a quick check to see if it even powers up this evening.
I'd already made sure both gate valves were open but was a bit worried because there was some kind of white powdery substance covering what appears to be rust on a shaft that runs between the main pump motor thingy and what I assume is an impeller.
I turned the mains power on very briefly and there is a loudish humming noise and then it stops. So I'm guessing it is seized. I get the temp reading and three dots flashing which indicate "a problem has been detected" according to the manual.
It could be an air lock as I've only just read that filling via the skimmer / filter opening is recommended (whoops).
I can't see any bleeder valve, but then I'm also a major noob at this! I could take pictures but It is almost dark so perhaps tommorrow.
My real question was IF the impeller thingy is stuck as per this thread.. http://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=24622
.. do I really need to empty my hot tub? As per midnight tonight I will get a £1000 fine for each offence (hosepipe ban in Buckinghamshire - Veola say no filling of Spa) to re-fill it. *gulp* Can I not just close the gate valves and work very quickly?
Advice would be much appreciated to my first thread.
Thanks
Jonathan