10 Reasons Why Your Hot Tub is Not Heating Properly

 Hot tubs are meant to be hot.  If the water temperature in your hot tub is warm and not as hot as you prefer, we are here to help.  A variety of factors could be the cause of the hot tub not heating properly. It's important to discover the source of the problem, whether it's an inefficient or wrong-fitted hot tub cover, a malfunctioning hot tub heater, faulty parts, power issues, or even poor insulation. We will provide a list of the causes and how to prevent it with our ScumRay Hot Tub Scum Preventer.

1.   The hot tub heater is malfunctioning

Most elements of a hot tub heater have a five to ten-year lifespan. Check the wiring and connections to the heater, and make sure they are all tight. Then check for burned wires and make sure the heater is powered on. Replace the heating element if you find any cracks or chips in the coating around the filament.

Another thing to look for is power continuity. Turn off the power and set your meter to the lowest setting. Then, simultaneously connect each lead to each terminal. If the meter does not move, the device is faulty. If the meter moves and indicates constant resistance, the element is probably fine, but there could be a break. Inspect the device for cracks once more.

2.   Inefficient hot tub cover

If your hot tub is not heating properly, the issue could be your cover. A budget hot tub cover will not give the same heat-trapping performance as a thicker and denser cover. The R-value of the top hot tub covers can be much higher than an entry-level economical cover.

Next, when these covers get old, they may begin to absorb water and sag in the center. Covers might also begin to rip at the fold or along the borders. If you notice steam leaking from the sides of your spa cover, this can cause significant heat loss to lower the overall temperature of your hot tub.

3.   Uncalibrated thermostat

The thermostat can be set on older gas-fired hot tubs with manual thermostats (no digital panel display). To sense the temperature of the water, these thermostats employ a copper wire and a capillary bulb. A hex head adjustment screw is located at the switch's end. Turn it clockwise and leave it for a few hours to observe how hot it gets.

Before using, check the water temperature and make sure it is not higher than 104°F. Some hot tubs have safety precautions in place to prevent this from happening, but it is not found in all. Setting the temperature too high can be hazardous to a hot tub users' health. It's also possible that the thermostat is faulty because they don't usually get out of adjustment on their own.

4.   The temperature outside is too low

When the temperature outside is too low, hot tubs cannot heat up effectively. Especially portable ones or those with limited insulation, which simply cannot heat the water quickly enough to compensate for heat loss. This also applies to tubs with small heating elements. In reality, low quality hot tubs will struggle to keep up with low outdoor temperatures.

5.   Air blower usage

Because the air temperature is often significantly colder than the water temperature, using an air blower or opening the air intake knobs will always cool the water. If this is producing problems in cooler weather, you should switch off the blower.

6.   The heater does not work long enough

Hot tubs heat up slowly. If the timer is not set to function for a long period of time each day, the heater may struggle to keep up. Especially when the temperature outside is low.

If timing is a problem, run the heater and circulation pump on high speed continuously. Some heaters will not work if the pump is set to low speed. Reheating your hot tub can take up to 24 hours. This is determined by the temperature of the starting water, the outside temperature, the cover, and, most the size of your heater.

7.   Bad switches or sensors

Digital temperature sensors and high-limit switches are used in modern hot tubs to constantly monitor the water temperature inside and outside the heater. These are wired to a plug-in on the main control panel of the hot tub.

If the sensors are not adjusted and are off by a few degrees, it may turn off the heater, assuming the spa is hotter than it actually is. Tripping the high limit switch on occasion is inconvenient, but not uncommon. However, repeated tripping can indicate limited flow, a faulty heater element, or even a faulty high limit switch.

8.   Dirty filter

You can remove the filter to see if the flow improves as the result of a dirty filter. For instance, you may need to press the reset button on the heater element. Filters in spas and hot tubs should be cleaned every three to four months. Replace them every year or two to maintain the hot tub water flow and filter system. However, to make sure your filters are never dirty use ScumRay to always keep it clean and guarantee the proper functioning of your hot tub.

9.   Just drained and refilled

If you have just drained and refilled your hot tub or spa, you may want to run the heater continually for a day or two until the water warms up again. Once heated, set the timer for 4-8 hours per day, or as long as it takes to keep the majority of the heat.

Also, make sure the circulation pump is properly set. It should not be airtight or pull in air. Both of these circumstances will cause the heater to overheat and shut down. If this occurs, the heating element may need to be reset.

10.              Low water level

Low water levels might cause your tub skimmer to draw in steady air flow inside the skimmer, creating a vortex. It may also consume air due to a clogged thermometer. When this happens, the heater overheats and shuts down. If this occurs, you may need to press the heaters reset button to restart heating in your hot tub.

Add water to your spa on a regular basis to prevent the level from dropping too low and sucking air into the suction intakes.

So if you're experiencing issues such as a cool hot tub, these ten reasons are most likely the cause. However, the key to avoiding problems is using our top product ScumRay. If you use this product in your hot tub we can guarantee it will be worth your buck.