After my success in 2004 with FixHotTubLeak, the hot tub worked all winter. Then the hot tub sprang another leak. Perhaps someday I'll put the whole story here, but for now, I have two things to say:
As WikiPerdido is my witness, I shall never attempt to repair another goddamn hot tub ever again!
Dimension One Spas, your hot tub is gonna kill me!
Synopsis:
- noticed big leak in service panel around Jan, Feb.
- wet end of pump was visibly leaking
- hunted around for replacement pump
- bought an aftermarket pump from Spa Depot
- didn't fit--inlet and outlets mismatched by half a centimeter
- no way of adjusting positions of pump unions. stupid hot tub.
- returned pump
- tried to buy a replacement pump from manufacturer, Dimension One Spas
- Dimension One Spas sold their inventory of replacement pumps the same week I ordered a replacement
- gave me a phone number to call, told me "good luck!"
- purchased replacement pump from some people somewhere
- ground wiring had been corroded away by pool chemicals in the water
- went to Orchard Supply, bought copper wire
- rigged new ground wiring
- hook up new pump
- very happy!
- uh oh, leaks
- try to get new o-rings for union seal
- o-rings non-standard
- finally got o-rings. replaced o-rings, lubricated seals. still leaks.
- thought maybe leak occurs because compression ring not tight enough
- very little clearance
- shimmed union gate slightly to give me more clearance
- leaks worse than ever
- various experiments to isolate leak
- figured out that union is not source of leak
- used hacksaw blade to reveal more plumbing
- I got a certain of pleasure from "getting medieval" on the hot tub with hacksaw, drill, and pliers
- foam behind plastic completely waterlogged. bad sign.
My new ground wiring:
Exposing pump union plumbing:
Suspected location of leak:
Like the previous leak, I believe this leak occurs where PVC is bonded incorrectly to flexible hose. Good job, Dimension One Spas! You guys are the best!
