We have an older Dakota Spa that we inherited with our house.We have had it empty for the past 2 years and the hubbie finally agreed to refill it and fire it up. Upon doing so we have discovered that Pump #1 hums for about 5 seconds or so but doesn't start and continues to do so every 10 minutes roughly. Pump #2 runs fine. Along with pump #1 not running there is no heat, I am assuming because this goes along with pump #1. How do we determine whether it is the wet end pump, the motor, or both that ill need to be replaced without calling a serviceman? (My husband IS an electrician so he has electrical knowledge but little to no experience with hot tubs) Also he noticed that the flow regulator was not hooked up so he reattached that.
HELP!!!!!!!!!
Also IF it is the motor to be replaced (and I think that it is) our is a AO Smith 5 HP 2 speed. Does it HSAAVR to be replaced with a 5HP compared to everyone else's post this seems ridiculously large.
THANKS for any input!!

I'm not familiar with that brand but usually if a pump hums and won't run it could be air lock, a starter capacitor or a seized pump. You could bleed it to get it primed and if that doesn't work take it to a pump repair shop.

I would be surprised if it's a 5 hp pump. Did the pump happen to say 5bhp? This would be brake hp which is not continuous hp.

Again, I don't know about those spas but maybe this will help.

Yes the motor/pump is a Waterway Executive 56 5HP. Managed to get the whole thing out but now am having trouble gettting the Wet End off. Impeller is stuck and won't budge-not a good sign.

Pull the pump and check it out, there is no point postulating until you know what the problem is. If its bad you will need to replace it in kind, after all they really are not all that expensive. IIRC a new motor and pump for my D1 is around $300. Anything less and you have a soaking tub, not a jetted tub.

I think we are going to end up parting out the tub. When we're taking out the motor we found the cabinet floor is rotting. I think there must have been a significant water leak at some point and more than likely that's what also shot out the motor. We can't get the impeller to separate from the motor housing.