Hot Springs Classic 1996. Just replaced a leaking 1500 heater with a titanium no-fault. Two bad things happened afterward:

1. immediately upon refilling and turning on jets, the blower (Watkins 7000) began spraying water out of the large disc portion. I didn't touch anything near the blower...
2. after a couple of days, something tripped internally and the led began flashing. If I power down (done that for as long as thirty minutes) the led comes on steady, I hear a gurgling sound near the heater or circulation pump, then, after about twenty or thirty seconds, the noises stop (including circulation) and the led begins flashing again.

I had the tub drained and when I disconnected the plumbing to replace the heater, it leaked a lot of additional water. Could it be air in the system? Is there a way to bleed it (I spliced the bleed line from the new heater into the bleed line from the jet pump as described in the instructions). Is it supposed to be filled in some way that bleeds air from the water lines? I just filled it with a hose into the tub itself.

The gurgling sound may be the heater getting really hot and boiling the water inside. This will happen if the circ pump is not working. If it was working fine for a few days, there is probably not an air bubble in the line, the circ pump may have just died.

After resetting the tub, check for flow from the circ pump.

As far as water coming out of the jet pump housing, I have seen that happen when the water is cold, then when the water heats up it may be fine. If not it may be the seal assembly. Is it the type of jet pump with the huge clamp around it? If so you can give the band a few extra turns with a wrench.

Thanks, Dan. The circulation pump was, indeed dead. Good point about the air lock.

I'll wait until the new pump is in to further troubleshoot the jet pump leak.

OK, replaced the circulation pump and now water is nice and warm. Jet pump still gushes water out the bottom when it's on. It comes out from the bottom where there's an indentation in the motor housing. Any idea what might have failed to make that happen?

Sounds like there may be a bleedline that is not attached or a plug that is missing (or the o'ring is bad). Most pumps have a 1/4" plug or bleedline at the bottom.

Actually, after re-thinking, it may be the seal assembly or the o'ring that seals the front plate of the pump with the motor. You really need to look closely at where the water is coming from. Could be a few things.

There's a picture of the pump at http://www.backyardplus.com/pumps-wavem... -parts.php. If you look at where the motor meets the seal plate, there's a long indentation on one edge of the motor. That indentation is facing downward and where the water is gushing from. I hadn't removed anything from the pump or its plumbing at the time it started leaking so I don't think it's a plug or bleed line. Without being terribly mechanical, I'm guessing that it might be the shaft seal? Would that go bad from being dry for a while? Is it hard to replace? Looks like the tub would have to be drained?

It may be the easiest for you to drain. My techs pull the pump away and use #11 rubber plugs, replace the pump seal, then reinstall the pump. Just a few gallons lost.

Thank you. Do you think I'm on the right track with my hunch on the shaft seal? Looks like $40 to get a set here so I'd like to have some confidence.

Definitely.

Nice! Can a normal human being with average mechanical skills figure out how to disassemble and reassemble it? Is there any pipe compound or anything on the plumbing that comes and goes from the pump?

Yes, a normal mechanically inclined person can handle it. Nothing should be needed besides the seal.