NJneedsSpaHelp Posted March 25, 2020 Report Share Posted March 25, 2020 Hello all -- I recently re-filled my Hot Springs spa after it being unused for a while. Initially, everything seemed fine. I filled it with my hose and there was a little water near the drain, but I frankly thought that was just water that had spilled. But once I turned the jets on, water immediately started leaking out of the drain area. I figured I had not put the drain cover on correctly, so I tried tightening it. No change. I even tried replacing the cover with another valve, and it is still leaking. From what I can tell, the water is coming out from *around* the drain pipe and not actually leaking from the drain pipe. In fact, if I press down a little on the drain, the water either slows a little or goes faster. Any ideas what might be happening and how to fix? And in the meantime, I'm thinking about trying to cover the up the drain from inside the tub to stop the water leaking out. Any concerns with doing that? Any suggestions for how to do it? I am not a particular hand person, but given that we're all locked down, I'd appreciate any thoughts on things I should try! Many thanks! Abe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted March 26, 2020 Report Share Posted March 26, 2020 By drain you do mean the hose connection for draining the spa, right? How many drains are there? If memory serves, and it's getting unreliable, there are 2 in a HS. One goes to the floor "drain" where the ozone bubbles up and the circulation and heater system, and the other goes to the main pump plumbing. Blocking off something in the spa will not stop this leak, you would have to block many things. Were the caps off when it was winterized? If not, those drain pipes may have frozen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJneedsSpaHelp Posted March 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 Yes, exactly! It's right at the base of the spa where you screw/unscrew the drain. If someone could identify which drains I would need to block, along with how to do it, it might be the easiest thing to do until I can have a tech out. And I'm sure it wasn't properly winterized so freezing is a definite possibility. Any ideas on how to fix it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 Yes, I know exactly how to fix it. You will have to lift the spa to get to it. Is that something you are prepared to do? There is no way to block off those drains and still have the spa running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJneedsSpaHelp Posted March 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 No, that's not something I have the capability of doing -- it'll have to wait until everyone is back at work and have someone out. But I'd be interested in exploring blocking the drains as a temporary fix so that we can have a warm-water outside swimming pool for the kids! Better than nothing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 Then you have to let it leak while you use it. You cannot block it from inside the tub or equipment bay. It is tied in to the plumbing, you would have to block everything, literally everything, in the tub. You could not run it, so could not filter it or mix chemicals into it. I do not recommend using a stagnant spa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
castletonia Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 The drain caps have gaskets in them. If the gaskets are missing or bad, it will leak regardless how tight you get it. Also, the primary drain, the one on the left, has an adapter that screws on. It has a built in shut-off valve. If that isn't tight or that gasket is bad, it will leak. I would look at those really closely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 16 minutes ago, castletonia said: The drain caps have gaskets in them. If the gaskets are missing or bad, it will leak regardless how tight you get it. Also, the primary drain, the one on the left, has an adapter that screws on. It has a built in shut-off valve. If that isn't tight or that gasket is bad, it will leak. I would look at those really closely. There's what we needed, a Watkins specialist! I couldn't recall specifics on the drains, I worked on all brands. It is kinda funny though, because I owned a Caldera for almost 3 years. Just never used the drains... Oh well, they say that memory is the second thing to go... Also, if it was not winterized, the caps themselves could be cracked. These issues will make the water leak onto the wood beneath the drain. If the wood is wet between the drain and the floor it is what Castletonia suggested. You should feel water on the drain fitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted March 28, 2020 Report Share Posted March 28, 2020 Photos or youtube video would be a big help if you want answers. Tips: I always tell my customers not to use the factory drains. Weakest spot on most spas IMO especially if you have to turn and push/pull to make them work. There are so many other ways of draining a spa. Pool pumps, 1 1/2 hose Quick Drains (usually $80-$100 CAD) work great and my #1 recommendation for home owners. I sell a lot of them off my truck during service calls. Easy extra money and great value for the customer. They work great at draining spas completely and also as a vacuum to suck up debris in the spa. You can also have one end of the garden hose lower that the spa and place the other end over a let while the spa is still running and once you get water coming out of the lower end you have created a gravity siphon and it will drain the spa as long as you keep the top end under water and placed down in the fool well area. Slower but it works. JMO CST Stay Safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted March 28, 2020 Report Share Posted March 28, 2020 I use a quick drain for above ground, a sump pump for inground. Never had room for many accessories on my truck with all the parts I carried, but customers constantly asked where to get a quick drain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSpaTech Posted March 29, 2020 Report Share Posted March 29, 2020 22 hours ago, RDspaguy said: I use a quick drain for above ground, a sump pump for inground. Never had room for many accessories on my truck with all the parts I carried, but customers constantly asked where to get a quick drain. Easy extra $40-$50 on a call Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovingcup Posted December 10, 2020 Report Share Posted December 10, 2020 Hi i just noticed my hot tub is leakibg from the bottom drain ..I tried opening water flowed and then closing and now it leaks more any ideas on how to fix with out draining it or lifting it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted December 11, 2020 Report Share Posted December 11, 2020 Post a pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris wright Posted February 6, 2021 Report Share Posted February 6, 2021 Can the outside drains not be capped off if they are leaking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted February 6, 2021 Report Share Posted February 6, 2021 18 hours ago, Chris wright said: Can the outside drains not be capped off if they are leaking? Depends on where it's leaking and what type of drain valve. You should have a hose cap with gasket on your drain connection if it is a garden hose type valve. Others come with their own caps. But gaskets and o-rings go bad and could be an issue. Some are designed to stop water flow back inside the cabinet and so avoid freeze damage to the valve, and should not be capped. Those must be replaced, as I have never gotten one apart without breaking it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro7000 Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 On 3/27/2020 at 11:34 AM, RDspaguy said: Yes, I know exactly how to fix it. You will have to lift the spa to get to it. Is that something you are prepared to do? There is no way to block off those drains and still have the spa running. I think I have the same problem. A slight leak that seemingly originates from the screw cap of the right (no valve) drain on my HS 3 seater tub. The leak is very minor, but changes/increases if I push or put lateral pressure on the cap. I am prepared to fix it. I'm somewhat handy, but inexperienced with hot tubs. Would you mind explaining the process? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted April 11, 2021 Report Share Posted April 11, 2021 Drain it, set it up on blocks, being sure to support the footwell base as well as the perimeter, fill it up and crawl underneath to dig out plastic spray covered wet foam. Keep digging until you find where it's dripping from. With any luck, it will be the small hoses in the drain line itself. But because of the materials and process used by hot springs it could be leaking from anywhere in the spa and finding its way out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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