1. Make, Model, and Year of Spa or Hot Tub
UNKNOWN

2. Main Power Input
115V

3. Type and/or Brand & Model of Control - Examples:
UNKNOWN, BUT I HAVE PICTURES

4. Topside control
Air Pushbutton

5. Pump Configuration (Examples):
1 Main pump 115V
1 BUBBLE TYPE PUMP WITH VARIABLE SPEED DIAL NEAR AIR PUSHBOTTON CONTROL

6. Thermostat
Knob on side of the house OR knob on side of heater/controller. NOT EXACTLY SURE

7. Heater Type
BLACK Plastic housing


The spa came with our home. The pump was leaking water and the motor stand was corroded/rusting. In addition to this, the spa wouldn't heat. I drained the spa and removed the motor, pump, and heater to have it looked at. The gentlman at the spa parts store said that the seals were bad and something else...I don't remember. He sold us a rebuilt motor for $85. I installed the assembly yesterday, filled the tub, and fired up the heat. Two hours later the spa was 4 degrees warmer and there are no water leaks. Now my problem is that I have too much heat. The temperature went up to 120 degrees and would have kept going if i didn't shut it off.

When I was running the heater, a red light on top of the control box underneath the tub was on. Even though the tub was so hot, the only way for me to get the heater (light) to turn off was to turn the dial counterclockwise until it wouldn't go any further. I figured that the heater (light) would shut off at somepoint between the hotest setting (which it was at) and the off position.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to what might be the problem? I was thinking it may be a bad thermostat. Shouldn't the spa shut off when it reaches a certain temperature?

Here are the pictures...

here are some more pictures

Update:

We turned the heat off following the extremely hot water episode to let the tub cool off. tonight the tub is down to 90, the heater has been off. We wanted to increase the temperature but now it seems as though the heater light will not illuminate. It's been several hours and the spa's temperater is still dropping.

Any suggestions on what to try next are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

press the silver button on the top of the heater box (the black box) and it will click. Based on your pictures, it is kicked out right now. If you were at 120 and then shut the tub off, the heater element will still be hot and heat that non moving water above the thermal cut off point (the silver button is the high temp cutout). As far as the thermostat being good or bad or not, it may just need adjusting. You can do this yourself by turning the setscrew in the thermostat housing, but by the looks of your pictures, you will need to remove it to do so.

Also, looking at your pictures, your tub is for the most part uninsulated. What you should do is go and get that extruded styrofoam insulation, as thick as you can use, and cut it to size and line your cabinet with it. You will at least tripple your energy efficiancy.