I have a newbie question that is probably so simple I will feel like a total dope once I know the answer.

I've been searching google and countless web sites, message boards and image search engines just to find a picture or instructions to open our Tiger River spa so I can find where a leak is and fix the leak.

The redwood paneling, or whatever the standard construction is, is the same paneling Tiger River is still using today. I can't find any screwholes, staples, or otherwise anywhere on any of the side panels. I partially pried up one of the vertical wood strips that run along the midsection of the side panels, but didn't see screws or anything underneath. Could the panels just be glued on? I'm hesitant to pry on them with anything because I don't want to crack the panels...

And of course, when contacting our local spa repair store, their suggestion was their $90/hour repair techs to come out and repair the spa.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Skuzz

The wood is tongue and groove, if you indeed have real wood. It's glued on, with staples at the very top (under the lip) and very bottom (at a 45 angle) The staples aren't your problem, it's the silicone and glue.

TR have changed exterior "wood" about 3 times in the last 5 years, so if yours is the "same thingf" they're using today, you're probably still under warranty (5 yr no leak)

Take advantage of it if you can.

If not, I've never even looked at a plumbing diagram when trying to find a leak in a HSS or TR. There are simply too many connections.

I'll give you this advice, for what it's worth.... If the spa has "mini-jets" look there first...

Pulling the wood off must be done carefully, though sometimes you must destroy a peice to get it off.

Good luck, it's not much fun mucking through that wood and foam....

Thanks, I just meant on visual appearance the wood seemed to be similar, but it is actually wood and not some synthetic.

As for its age - it looks like the Bengal model, but pre-1999, as it doesn't match up to any of their spa images from 1999 to current. It has just very basic jets - two per seat, a lower and an upper, and seats three people. At any rate I'm pretty sure just past the 5 year warranty you mentioned.

Would a jet leaking cause water to drip out from underneath the tub between the tub lip and wood frame?

Thanks for your response, that helped tons! I figured that was what was necessary but wanted to make sure before I damaged it, heh.

Generally, the water will begin to seep down, and come out in between the wood cabinet, and the base. It won't flow all the way through the 60 lb density foam on the floor and leak out the very bottom, unless the leak is very, very low.

Once you open that sucker up, don't get excited when you come across some wet foam. It's basically a sponge, and it's going to be very, very wet close to the leak. May even want to make a couple of drainage holes once it's open to allow all the excess water to come out. Dyes don't help, but many people who haven't actually done this type of repair seem to reccomed them... I prefer to fill and heat the spa, then begin removing wood and foam. Once I start finding WARM wet foam, I know I'm heading in the right direction.

Also, try and isolate the leak as much as possible before digging in. Run different jet combinations, see if the water leaks quicker out of one particular combination....

Oh yeah, gravity makes water go down! Well, what would you think about the water coming out the TOP of the spa? It only happens when I have all the jets running. Water starts dripping from underneath the fiberglass tub lip at the very top - starting from the backside (front being the control panel and pump housing in this example) and after a few minutes starts leaking out of the top of the left side too...

Is it possible that there could be a break in a pipe causing water to spray UP inside the spa and then drip out between the shell and the shell housing inside the spa? That was my original working theory since it only leaks when water pressure is running through the system at full power.

I never noticed it leaking from the base though...how odd... (I only let it run and leak for about 2 minutes though before shutting it off - maybe I have to run it longer to notice leaks elsewhere?)

I suppose either way I'll be ripping it open - the hot water idea might not work too well unless i preheat the water before running the jets. The leak is so bad that after my 2 minute run the water level's too low and the pump motor shuts off after losing prime/the filter float tells it "hey I'm low!"

Thanks again!

Sounds like that will be fairly easy to find.

Good luck!