Hi Guys,
I was trying to reach in and reset my heater when my arm brushed against this fitting that is between what I believe is the circ pump and the heater. It is a 3/4" 90° ell with a 1/4"(?) nipple connected to small flexible tubing going up.

My question is can this part be bought? I cannot find it anywhere online.

Also, what is the little tube going to?

thanks

If it broke off pretty flush you can drill it out with a 19/64 drill bit and glue a new nipple in.

Or you can replace the whole elbow and 3/4" flexible tubing. I just make a new one up myself when they brake. (drill a 19/64 hole and glue a 1/4" nipple into a 3/4" elbow)

If you can't find the pieces I could send them to you.

Hi Dan,
I am OK with drilling out the old nipple but my only experience is joining pvc to pvc. This nipple and the flexible tubing is held in with some blue stuff. Will standard pvc cement do the trick or do I need to get something else?

Thanks

Yes, just pvc primer and cement. I've replaced hundreds just like yours and it will work fine. Any HotSpring dealer down there should have the appropriate nipple.

***Also, if the heater is a NoFault 6000 and the black part is really shiny, be careful taking that fitting off...those heaters can snap just looking at them!!!

Is this close by:


Recreational Factory Warehouse
Address:
6901 Lee Highway
Chattanooga, TN 37421

Phone:
423-899-6700

Fax:
423-510-0639

Map:
click here for directions

Thanks Dan,
Everything here in Chattanooga is close by, but it is always on the other side of town

I have already taken the heater out since it is what started all this anyway. Fortunately, blind luck has prevailed and it is still whole. It may not work, but it is whole. Nothing obviously wrong with the heater. no connection between the hot legs and the ground and good continuity between the hot wires. Nothing on the surface seems broken or warped. I am hoping that flushing it out will make a difference. (I let the tub get a little gunky)

I appreciate your help

No problem, anything else just ask.

Good luck putting it back together.

Well Dan, the sage is not over.
I went by the Hot Springs Dealership ( Recreational Factory Warehouse ) to get the little nipple. I talked with the hot tub tech and he said and I quote, " yeah, I accidentally break a lot of those off. I just screw a big screw into the hole and forget about it. It is not needed after the tub is used once."

Does it this tube from the circ pump to the filter chamber really not serve a purpose?

If it does, can i mail you a check and get you to send me a nipple? they would not sell me one.

thanks

Just be glad you're fixing it and not him.

It's a drain line, likely the one to drain all the water out of the wet-end of the pump.

Send me your info through private message, I'll send you one for nothing.

I'm not 100% sure were the line goes without looking at the plumbing diagrams, it may not be necessary. However, the fix only requires a nipple that costs a few cents and a couple of minutes, so I don't see why they don't just fix them. I'm more confident with a glue joint then a screw.

I believe the line allows the circulating pump to send water to the extremities of the plumbing lines to prevent freezing if the heater dies in cold weather climates. Just a guess though.