Ok – here’s how the saga has unfolded thus far:
I inherited a little 2-seater spa, a CalSpa, when I purchased my first house. Due to a tight budget, I let the little guy sit there for about a year. Now that the purse strings have loosened up a little I’ve taken the plunge into spa repair…and what a plunge it’s been.
I started by contacting a local Hot Tub company to come out and give my tub a look and get in running condition. They did…almost. A leak was fixed, a new heating element was installed, as well as a new air flow switch. This was to the tune of around$300. Despite the “tune-up” I found that I had water pouring out of the air control when I opened it up and had the pump running at high speed.
This is where my learning experience begins:
I found that the water pouring out of the air control was due to some blown gaskets in 4 of my 6 jets. When I tried to find replacement gaskets/seals for the jets I only found that Waterway had discontinued the manufacturing of these jets. So, after a ton of phone calls and a few incorrectly ordered parts, I found the replacement parts (internals) I needed. I replaced the 4 malfunctioning jets with 4 new Waterway “Poly Jet Whirlpool Internals – Standard Series” (part number 210-9790 for those interested). The other 2 functioning internals are the Waterway Whirly Poly Jet…I did replace their jet seals. I also ordered the poly jet wrench…made life much easier.
Anyhow, I popped in the new internals, well…screwed them in, fired up the pump, opened the air control, and…tadaaa! No water came out! However, no air was coming out of the jets either. So, I blew into the air control and got air to come out of the top two jets that shoot onto my upper back – they are the first two jets on the line. However, when I close the air control and then re-open it – I again have no air! Also, you can hear a lot of “gurgling” going on down in the air control.
Lastly, I have just about nothing coming out of the other 4 jets. Barely any water is coming out and absolutely no air at all. I thought it might have something to do with the new internals, so I took everything out…wait…let me backtrack for a second…
In the process of all this learning and figuring things out the tub had been drained and re-filled 3-4 times. I did encounter a major air lock and tapped open the union at the dry end of the impeller. I heard air hiss out, then some water flowed and I quickly tapped the union shut. I turned on the jets and that’s actually when I first discovered that I was only getting any water flow out of the top 2 jets.
Ok – back to the present – I took out the jets and still only had flow coming out of the top 2 jets. With the help of a very thin plumbing snake I’ve been able to figure out how the water lines flow out from the pump. They go out into a T and off to the right and left top 2 jets (the first in the line and the only 2 with flow). Then, the left line goes up and comes back down to the 2 lower back jets. The line that goes off to the right goes from the right top jet up and around to the two lower feet jets on the far wall of the tub. It’s hard to tell where all of the lines flow exactly because the entire tub has been insulated with a type of spray foam that has encased the entire underbelly of the tub.
So, to recap:
4 new jet internals – Waterway Polyjets, standard series.
Water and air is only coming out of 2 of the 6 jets.
And yes, the tub has been filled and re-filled within the past 2 months.
The tub is a 110v CalSpa 2-seater that was built in 1995/1996 – I don’t have the exact model number – sorry.
I would greatly appreciate any and all help in this matter. Preferably before my wife takes an axe to the tub.
Much thanks in advance.
