We would be VERY grateful for some help. We have Jacuzzi echoi spa, 2000 and live in CT, where it has been very cold this winter. We alsways run it through the winter, set at 102 degrees. We went to the tub after not having used it for a week and the LCD displays FL and the water is 36 degrees. We assume this means something about flow - but what should we check? We'd love to fix this ourselves, as each time we've had it serviced it has cost a fortune. Guidance???

Thanks - from CT

you are right, FL means flow, and the reason your tub is cold is because your heater didn't get the signal from the flow switch to turn on. This is a safety feature to prevent your heater from burning out or boiling water when there isn't enough water flow. First thing you need to do is make sure your pipes aren't frozen that go to the heater/flow switch. Then if that is all good, make sure your circulation pump is operating correctly. if it is, you will feel water come out the heater jets. If you have no frozen pipes, and your pump is pumping and you feel good pressure, your pressure/flow switch is most likely defective.

If I had to take a guess, I would say due to the cold weather, your pipes froze since the circulation circuit is often toward the outer edge, near the spa skirt, and away from the spa heat. It is also a small hose, usually 1/2 or 3/4 inch ID. This does not take long at all to freeze up. Sometimes, the frozen ice actualy makes small ruptures in the hose, so if it did freeze, you may be looking at a plumbing repair as well.

Let us know how your investigation turns out

Jer