How To Repair Plastic Flexible Hot Tub Pipes That Leak

Hot Tub Plumbing Fittings and PVC Spa Repair Parts

Hot tub sprung a leak?

The first stride is to power downward the spa and open up the side panel(s) to run into where the leak is coming from.  There are many possible locations including the spa pump(s), unions that connect the pump or heater to the main plumbing, or it could be a leaky jet, suction fitting or manifold.

PVC parts and gum may be needed to set up the leak.  Common hot tub PVC plastic parts include elbows, tees, reducers, hose or pipe and unions.  See our PVC fittings section for these items.

Variety of hot tub plumbing parts explained in this video.

PVC Manifolds - H2o Splitters

Manifolds split the water from the pump line (usually 2" hose or pipe) and send the water to other manifolds or to jets.

A PVC manifold is used to ship water from the larger hose or pipe to several smaller hoses that normally connect to jets.  The ports on the manifold should each be either connected to a hose, or should have a plug in it. In that location are 2 port, 4 port, 8 port and other manifold configurations that become to 1 1/two", 2" or even 2 ane/ii" flex hose, pipe or other connectors.

Well-nigh hot tub manufacturers apply a manifold plumbing system in gild to assure fifty-fifty pressure level at every jet on that pump line.  Basically the water manifold is a water splitter and the air manifold is an air splitter.  If you have a leaky or cracked manifold, such equally 1 that froze over the winter, it will need to be replaced with a new PVC manifold.

A spa that is left empty in the freezing winter may take a cracked manifold or two.  Those can usually be found hands because water comes gushing out of them every bit soon as the hot tub is refilled afterwards the season.  This is why it is of import to properly winterize the spa or just leaving it full over the wintertime, even if the temperature is turned downward. Leaving the hot tub filled over the cold winter months too allows the freeze protect systems in the controls to piece of work.

Create your list of connected PVC and manifold parts including any plugs for either the primary end of the manifold or any unused individual ports on the manifold.   This manifold type has ribbed affront connections where the tubing clamps are used to hold the tubing in place on the iii/4 inch affront ports.  You may also need to extend hose with couplings.

Need the vinyl and hose cutting tool?  Nosotros offering the smaller ones for vinyl hose and flex pipe - encounter -4682 Vinyl and Hose ii inch tool - or the larger 3088 pipage cutter tool every bit  used by repair professionals that tin can easily cut heavy duty 2 inch inner bore flex hose or pipe.

Hot Tub Plumbing Parts

Hot tub plumbing is fabricated up of hose or pipe that connects the pump to the spa jets along with PVC fittings.

To create even pressure at a group of jets, water manifolds are used that accept the main input from the pump and divide the water stream evenly to various jets and jet groups.  This way of manifold plumbing assures even delivery of water pressure to all jets instead of using the sometime-style in-line plumbing method that goes from jet to jet, where the final jet in the line is the weakest.

Plumbing manifolds come up in all different configurations as noted above.

The master ports connect up to the source of the water and the smaller ports deliver the water to the jet lines. Sometimes the plumbing is glued into place and other times it also has hose clamps depending on the spa manufacturer.  For example Clearwater Spas uses hose clamps while QCA Spas uses PVC cement or gum.

Jet bodies receive the water from the manifolds and deliver it through the jet insert into the seating area of the spa.  Jet inserts tin be interchangeable regarding pattern (rotating, non-rotating, multi-nozzle, dual rotation...) and colour (stainless steel, greyness, white, black..). Jet inserts cannot commonly be interchanged between jet body manufacturers, so if replacing a CMP jet, source the right CMP jet. If replacing a Balboa jet or Waterway jet, go the right parts in the item brand department on our website.

See all Spa Jets and jet bodies here and search in the particular brand of jet you need.

Flex Hose and Pipe

Flex hose comes in a variety of sizes.  The hose is referred to by inner diameter measurement. Then the i/2 inch Flex hose or PVC piping means the inner bore of the hose or pipe is 1/2 inch.

Actual width of the hose depends on the thickness of the hose fabric and is normally standardized in hot tub plumbing fittings to fit inside 1/2 inch sideslip connectors or over 1/2 inch affront connectors.

Flex hose is available in 1/ii", 3/4", i", ane.v", 2", two 1/two" and even iii" inner diameter sizes.

See our flex hose and pipe department for whatever of these flex hose types and more.

Slice Valves

The plumbing system in Emerald Spas and other spas uses the push button/pull type valves or piece valves.  These valves are used when needing to perform service such every bit replacing a pump, without having to drain the spa.   Most of the time when doing a major repair though, it is best to simply drain the spa and start out with fresh water.

Each pump in the spa would accept a valve on either side of the pump.  On unmarried pump systems there are ii of these T-Valves or piece valves on either side of the spa pack and heater. On ii pump systems, at that place is some other set of service valves on either side of Pump 2.

The T-Valves are also called slice valves and can be locked into place (either in unlocked/upwards position or locked/downwards position) with a security prune.  These valves should ever be in the fully open position when the spa is in employ to avoid flow problems.

Exist certain the valves are fully open when the spa is in utilise.

See our selection of slice valves or gate valves.

PVC Plumbing Demystified -
How to Identify PVC parts in a long train of glued together PVC sections and hose

One little leak or a croaky manifold tin spoil the party for all the neighboring PVC parts that may be glued together to form a long section or train.   To reassembly a complete PVC section, take a stride back, get out a pen or pencil and paper and first by identifying each slice that makes up the section until y'all build a complete list.

one) Getting the principal line plumbing size right - Everything starts with knowing the right nominal PVC Plumbing Size
In a PVC associates where manifolds are mixed with other PVC parts and pipe/hose, offset identify the chief line HOSE SIZE.
The hose size is the INNER DIAMETER of the flex hose or pipe. Typically for water plumbing sections, that is either 1",1 1/2" or 2" on main plumbing lines and 1/two" or 3/4" on secondary flex hose plumbing lines that lead to jets.
Sometimes there may be a postage on the large flex hose or pipe that actually reveals what the plumbing size is, and other times at that place may be a gate valve or other PVC plumbing part that has the plumbing size or at to the lowest degree a function number stamped on it for easy identification.   If yous simply have the outer diameter to measure, then typically PVC flex hose is:

• 2.875 OD relates to a 2 1/two inch ID hose or pipe
• 2.375" OD relates to a 2 inch ID flex hose or pipe - most popular main line plumbing size for pumps
• ane.900" OD relates to a i one/2 inch ID flex hose or pipage - most pop primary line plumbing size for pumps
• 1.315" OD relates to a 1 inch ID flex hose or pipe - popular on 24 hr circ pump lines
• 1.050" OD relates to a 3/iv" ID flex hose or pipe - virtually popular secondary plumbing size for jets
• 0.840" OD relates to a ane/2" ID flex hose or pipe - most popular secondary plumbing size for jets
• 0.674" OD relates to a iii/8" ID flex hose or pipe
• 0.540  OD relates to a 1/4" ID flex hose or piping

These outer diameter measurements may vary depending on wall thickness of the flex hose or pipe, just if all yous have is an outer bore measurement, this table should get yous into the right "PVC Speak" terminology to then easily source the PVC parts needed.

Once y'all accept determined your main line plumbing size, then identify the secondary, smaller plumbing lines that get to the jets or other manifolds. These are normally either i/2 inch or three/4 inch for water hoses that become to the jets in a hot tub.

2) Identify the secondary nominal PVC Plumbing Size
Look for whatsoever stamping on the hose or PVC parts in the secondary line or measure out inner diameter of hose (usually either 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch inner diameter flex hose) or utilize chart above if you simply know the outer bore of the hose.

Manifold Train glued together in hot tub plumbing - looks similar a lot of slip/spigot manifolds

3) Identify the Manifolds
Count the number or ports for each manifold needed.  As well count whatever unused ports as you will need plugs for those when buying a new manifold only as they are plugged upwardly on the existing manifold that does not use all of the available ports.  Of course if you lot find a role number on the manifold, that is the fast track to finding a replacement manifold. Just enter the part number into search box at Hot Tub Outpost (in quotes) to notice the office.

4)  Narrow down the Manifolds - Slip or Spigot
Now that you know the master plumbing size and secondary plumbing size and have a port count for each manifold needed, the last slice of the puzzle is to await at each end of the manifold to see if you need a SLIP (s) or SPIGOT (spg) connexion on either stop. This depends on the neighboring part. Does the neighboring part need to fit within a skid port of the manifold yous are identifying or over the spigot port of the manifold?  If a neighboring role is a main line flex hose, yous will need a SLIP port on that end. If the neighboring part is a SPIGOT office from another manifold or PVC function (like elbow, service valve...), and then you volition also need a Skid port to accommodate the spigot of another PVC part.  If the neighboring part is a SLIP connection on some other PVC part similar the back of a slip pump union, slip heater tailpiece, skid port on a service valve, sideslip port of an elbow or skid port of another manifold, and then y'all will want a SPIGOT port on the manifold you are identifying.
Above seems like a long and thorough way of proverb:  HOSE fits into SLIP , SPIGOT fits into SLIP.
Slip does not fit with another Slip (unless you put a section of piping in between them where the pipe acts every bit a spigot).

v)  Identify Remaining Parts in the PVC section
You may need to go back in an existing section to detect something to cut - such as a visible hose equally a place to begin the repair. Then place all the parts going forward until either another hose or a union or heater tailpiece, or other location that tin can exist spliced into.
Slip couplers tin can be used to extend PVC lines - specially to lengthen 1/two inch and 3/4 inch lines that go from a manifold to jets.
(The 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch flex hose fits into either stop of a 1/two inch or 3/iv inch slip coupling to extend the line)

Other parts in the railroad train may include:

• Heater Tailpiece to connect to a heater
• Pump Union to connect to a pump (if a slip connection on back of union, then hose fits inside)
• Plug or Cap (spigot plug fits inside a slip connection, cap fits over an terminate part)
• Reducer or Adapter (adapter changes plumbing size from ane size to another nominal size related to inner diameter of connecting hose or the nominal size of the PVC part being connected)
• Elbows (slip or spigot on either end - notation if information technology is slip/spg it is also called a "Street Elbow")
• Gate Valve or Service Valve (has skid or spigot ports on either end)
• Valves - see port size of valve ex. 1 inch slip port on an air command accepts a i inch ID hose or a 1 inch spigot adapter
• Suction Plumbing equipment (accepts the hose within the back slip of the suction)
• Tee Cross or Wye
• Couplings (extend lines or connect parts)
• Manifolds - see above
• Flex Hose or clear tubing
• Specialty Adapters MagicMend Fittings

Barb are ports where hose fits over them and slip  are ports that accept the flex hose inside of them.

Detect everything you lot need for PVC plumbing repairs in the Plumbing Shoppe.

Fixing PVC Plumbing in a Hot Tub

When gluing PVC fittings and parts together, it is starting time important to dry-fit them to assure they will all fit in the right place. And then utilize gum in a round motion around and around both joints to be connected. This also builds up heat and allows the 2 parts to bond better.  Use a fast drying PVC glue ideal for hot tub use.

Some hot tub techs like using a primer first to assure a amend bond. This is a practiced do, but many times merely gluing 2 make new, dry joints is also acceptable when using a good PVC glue such every bit Christy's Blue Mucilage. Never hurts to prime and information technology does pre-care for the connection for a sure fit.

Once the PVC glue has cured (usually all-time to get out it for 24 hours or so even if dry in 5-10 minutes as is the case with the fast drying  type of glue - run into glue directions on the characterization of the tin), and then refill the spa and check the connection as well as for any other leaks.

As long as the spa is not of the fully foamed type, getting at and repairing leaks is a straightforward process well-nigh of the time.

Become your hot tub plumbing parts online at the Hot Tub Outpost.

Air and h2o valves help route the water flow or slow information technology downwardly.

Email usa or consummate the form below for further assist.

Source: https://www.hottuboutpost.com/hot-tub-plumbing-fittings-and-pvc-spa-repair-parts/

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