My Hot Tub Was LEAKING for MONTHS! 😳 Wet End Pump Repair, by PunkysWorld on YouTube. 16 min 36 s.
- Video length
- 16 min 36 s
- Time to do it
- 2 to 3 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Turn off the power to the hot tub at the breaker before you touch the pump. Confirm the spa is fully dead, then open the cabinet panel to reach the equipment bay.
Find the leak. Look for water stains, rust and corrosion around the wet end of the pump, where the motor meets the plastic housing.
Drain the spa. Push a garden hose into a jet and feed the other end to a drain below the water line to start a siphon. Let it run until the water drops below the pump.
Close the valves on the pump intake and return lines if your spa has them. Disconnect the unions on both sides of the wet end and catch the leftover water in a bucket.
Unbolt the pump motor from its mounting bracket and lift the pump assembly out of the cabinet. Keep the bolts in a bag so you do not lose them.
Separate the old wet end from the motor. Inspect the motor shaft and seal area for corrosion and clean off any debris.
Fit the new wet end with its new seals onto the motor and tighten the bolts evenly in a cross pattern. Do not overtighten the plastic housing.
Clean the wood under the pump bracket and apply a waterproof sealant. Let it cure before you put the pump back.
Set the pump back on the bracket, bolt it down, and reconnect the unions with fresh sealant or O-rings. Hand tighten, then a quarter turn with a wrench.
Refill the spa above the jets, open the valves, and restore power. Run the pump and check every joint for drips over the next few minutes.
Tips and common mistakes
Replace the whole wet end when it is badly corroded instead of chasing individual seals that may not seat on pitted plastic.
Keep the pump intake valve closed while you work so water does not keep draining into the cabinet.
Do not run the pump dry after refilling. Bleed the air out first or the seal can burn up.
Photograph the hose and union layout before you disconnect anything so reassembly is quick.
Questions
How do I know if the wet end or the motor is leaking?
Water around the front plastic housing and corrosion at the motor joint point to the wet end seals. A leak from the motor body itself usually means the shaft seal has failed.
Can I rebuild the old wet end instead of replacing it?
Yes, if the housing is clean and uncracked. On a heavily corroded unit, a complete new assembly with seals is often cheaper in time and more reliable.
Do I have to drain the whole hot tub?
You only need to drain below the pump level. A hose siphon through a jet is a simple way to do it without a drain pump.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
