My 10-year-old Emerald hot tub is leaking from the suction line where it exits the tub to return to the pump. I've removed all the insulation from around the suction fitting, and I can see the exterior gasket is bad. But I can't get the thing apart! It's a simple setup - a wall flange on the inside of the tub screws into a fitting nut on the outside. However the flange is tight against the tub (and won't move) and the nut has been coated with leak preventing sealant and won't move either. I'm thinking either a) get a friend to push on the pipe/nut to push the flange away from the tub so I can muscle it (and hope I don't break it) or b) try to caulk/seal the thing as is without getting it apart (not likely to last). Here's a link that shows exactly what the setup looks like:

http://www.emeraldspa.com/information_a ... umbing.pdf

See page 14, at the bottom, PL362.

Thanks!

Jon

Sorry but those things are permanently installed. You have to cut them out with a sawzall....

Thanks. Strange that they put threads on the wall flange if you can't unthread it! (What's the point?) Should I replumb the entire suction line or can I use a straight coupling to connect my rebuilt suction fitting to the existing flex PVC piping?

Well you have to put the two together somehow.

Threaded connectors do the job fine.

Jets are the same way.

Just cut out the old, install a new one and use the existing line if it's long enough.

Just in case anyone searches this forum and finds this thread with the same problem... the suction fitting on an Emerald Spa DOES screw out, but you'd have to be lucky or very good to get it out in one piece. I ended up breaking it and then carefully cutting it away so I could get it loose. The good news is that all the plumbing remained intact (a pleasant surprise). So as soon as I get the replacement parts - the suction fitting and gaskets - I can basically just screw the new fitting into the existing nut. (Easy, I hope.)

Now a question... I've seen conflicting advice on using 100% silicone caulk on these connections. I use it as an "extra" support but don't depend on it - that's why I'm replacing all my gaskets also. Any thoughts?