I recently drained and refilled my spa – 3 days later I went to use it and the water lever was down to the top of one of the jets (about ½ full). In addition, there was no power to the control panel (no lights or pump sound). The GFI at the circuit breaker was on and the spa controls had been in “automatic” setting; the water was warm.

I discovered that the connection of the pressure switch tube to the heater manifold was the location of the leak. The barbed connector has rotted/broken off.

Is it possible to retap the female threads of the welded heater manifold sleeve? I would like to screw in a brass - 1/8" barbed connector so I can reconnect the plastic tube that runs to the pressure switch.


It is an older spa with the following information on it

Advanced Spa Designs
Model A M 103
110/220
20 amp/50 amp

A.H. Equipment Corp.
Mod. “Neptune”
s/n 1/89 68080


Thanks for your help
bill

What's left where the barb broke off? Just corroded brass? If you can't clear it all out, re-tapping shouldn't be any problem.

thanks for your reply

would an alternate plan be to use larger diameter tube with a clamp on the outside of the manifold sleeve -- then transition to the smaller diameter?

bill

Sure, you can saddle a fitting on. A picture of this thing would give me a better idea of your problem.

The sleeve is on the heating tube. The plastic airline attaches to the sleeve fitting that is barbed. The threads on the inside of the sleeve are no good.

As I mentioned, I am thinking of tapping new threads to the inside of the sleeve to accept a new fitting. I am concerned that the walls of the sleeve might be too thin to safely retap. If the pressure is not too great, it might be easier to connect a larger plastic airline and hose clamp it to the outside of the sleeve; then use a double barbed fitting to transition to the smaller diameter airline.
What do you think?

Thanks for your input

Putting tubing around the OD of that stub would definitely be the easiest answer, but since it's not barbed it might have a hard time holding on. I'd probably try it first anyway.

I see what you mean about the tap now. If the tube doesn't work, try the tap. If that cuts through you'll have to take the whole thing off and use a clamped saddle fitting.