My 6+ year old Saratoga is leaking big time. I drained it for the winter. Filled it last week, and the breaker kept tripping immediately. Determined the heater was not working. Drained tub, removed old heater. The tub did not leak for the three days or so it was filled. Bought and installed new heater. Filled tub. While we were testing the pumps and heater, I noticed some pretty good amounts of water coming out of the seam where the tub meets the wood base it sits on. I removed one side panel and found that a squirrel had been living in the foam, but I don't think that's it, since the tub did not leak the first time I filled it, last week. So this was last evening. I opened the cover this morning and there was only about 10-12 inches of water in the tub.

There is no water in the electrical compartment (ie, from the newly installed heater.)

My assumption is that one of the tubes was stressed from the winter and popped a leak when the system pressurized. Am I right that the level to which the tub drains will help determine which hose is leaking. As expected, there is zero accessibility without cutting foam.

Any idea where to find a plumbing diagram for a Saratoga Spa?

Any help would be appreciated.

Joshua

I have found out that the Tub is a Model 1000 Putnam manufactured in 4/00. I called Saratoga and they claim to not have a plumbing diagram.

I have removed all 4 side panels and see no obvious signs of leakage in the foam on the sides. The tub drained from full to about 9" overnight. I am filling it until I see the leaks start. Maybe with the panels off I'll see where it's coming from better.

Any help would be appreciated.

Kinda talking to myself here, but jump in if you think you can help.

Dug into the foam where I thought the water was coming from. It appeared that there had been a caulk seal between the shell and the filter basket in side the tub. With some foam out, it seemed to be leaking from that seam. So I used some AquaMend putty and there is no longer water coming from that area.

I did notice more water to the left, and went after it, digging out more foam. What I found sucked. There was a cavity in the foam that was full of water. My guess is that at this point the lower 1/3 of the foam has water where there was once air. Digging more foam isn;t going to find the leak, I don't think.

So I decided to get the tub full so I could run the jets and blower and see if perhaps one jet was not working, under the assumption that a hose had come loose behind it. No luck. The jets and blow holes (not the correct term) appear to work. However, when the jets are on, water GUSHES out of the area where I have carved out foam. Blower only, regular drip. Jets on high, Niagara falls. I don't know a whole lot about how these things work.

Does anyone have a suggestion based on what I've done so far?

Joshua

I don't know anything about that brand, but it seems to me there is a plumbing fitting glue joint that may be bad. Unfortunately digging foam is the only way to find it. I would turn on the jets and see where it gushes. Start digging in that direction. Hopefully someone else knows these spas.

Good Luck
Pete