I have a year 2000 Dimension One spa that uses Waterway Jets.
Recently many of the jets have been popping out of the jet bodies due to a failure in the white plastic socket holder that keeps the jet locked into the jet body. Sorry if my terms are not quite right.

Anyway, this white plastic socket holder is just peeling apart like sheding skin. Is it possible that one of the chemicals I am using is causing this? Is there anything I can do to stop it?

It seems rather crazy that after only 3 years the jets are just falling apart due to this one piece of plastic. Of course you can't buy just this part you have to buy the while jet for about $14 each.

What to do?
Thanks in advance.

Have you talked to your D1 dealer about handling this under warranty? D1 had a slew of bad jets sometime ago (not sure if yours falls into the time line). The biggest problem they had was from using a combination of PVC and ABS, and the jets were either sticking or falling out.

IF, your spa has these jets, it really should be a warranty issue even if it's slightly past the warranty time period (in my opinion).

I have a Sundance Cameo with Waterway Jets and am having the exact same problem. I bought it in 2001 and its happening to me in 2004 (3 years, warranty was 2 years). I checked with the Sundance dealer and they have the jets (the entire jet with internal bearing part) for $14. Just like you, only the outer plastic piece is failing. It isn't flaking on mine yet, but it is a little pitted. " title="Crying or Very sad" /> It still has the plastic pieces that are supposed to latch, but they have thinned and won't hold. I told the dealer that they should be covered, but he won't do it (Sundance Spas in Austin). That's alittle ridiculous since I paid top dollar to get a Sundance because they used to be one of the top hot tubs out there. I guess they are making a profit now off their past reputation. My last spa lasted 13 years before things started breaking. If anyone knows of a place to buy just the plastic insert and save some money, let me know. Or if you find a way to rig the old jets to work. Guess for now I'll buy a couple to get me though.

I have the exact same problem with my 3 year old Vita Spa -- again, a top-rated spa from what I had heard.

My jets are from Pentair and cost $20 each from the dealer or online. The dealer told me it was "chemical abuse" and replaced one for free, but I'll have to purchase the rest. I'm not buying it as I maintain my water very carefully. If anything, my pH *may* run a bit on the high side sometimes (7.8 - 8.0), but I never let it get below 7.2 for fear of corrosion, so I really don't feel it was chemical abuse.

Basically, I've come to find out that any wet part in the tub that fails is going to be called "chemical abuse" by the dealer to avoid warranty repairs. The same dealer told my neighbor the exact same thing when one of his jets started leaking around the seal -- must be "chemical abuse".

The main reason I don't feel it's chemical abuse is that the rest of the plastic on the jet (black jet face) is a much harder plastic and has no pitting or wearing at all. But the white-ish (more flexible) plastic barrel on the back of the jet has two "locking tabs" that have worn down and the plastic itself is no longer smooth, but pitted. I can see where it looks like chemical effects, but I've had 2 other tubs in the past 10 years and never saw this problem before and I've always maintained my spa water the same way. And why not make the barrel part in the back out of the same harder, stronger plastic as the front face which has had no ill effects from the water chemistry? Even the other plastic parts in the tub like the flter "door" area are fine and show no damage or pitting even though they are under water at all times. I really think it's substandard materials.

Here are some pictures of the Pentair "Cyclone" jets we have in our tub in case you're interested:



Here's a place that I found that has our jets (and other brands). I haven't purchased from them yet so I can't vouch for them, but they were nice enough to look at photos of my jets to tell me which ones were the correct replacements from their list. http://www.spacare.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=36

From 2001 we see many Pentair jets where the plastic neck of the jet becomes pitted, "chalky", brittle, thin, and flaky. It is obvious that sub-standard materials were used in their manufacture.

The jets in question have a "milky" look to the neck portion of the jet when new. Make sure the jets you buy/receive have a consistent opaque or clear quality to the plastic.

We sent some of these jets directly to technicians at a "Pac-Fab" facility. We never heard back from them.

Luckily, spa manufacturers will often send customers a new set of jets. If your dealers will not replace the jets, try contacting the spa manufacturer directly.

Good Luck

Thanks techmps. I'm glad to hear some confirmation for my suspicions. It's funny you mention the different colors of the barrel plastic used in different versions of the jets. After I wrote to the BBB about the dealer and manufacturer. Then they sent a tech out to replace my jets for free. Although, the tech made a point to test the water again once he got here and got all up in arms over the fact that my pH was 8.0, TA was 120, and the pH was 0.5 ppm. Well, I had to explain to the tech that they (the dealer) had recommended Nature2, which I was using, and Nature2's own instructions said to keep only trace amounts (about 0.5 ppm) of chlorine in the tub. I also have an Ozonator (which this guy recently replaced when it died), which should also reduce the amount of chlorine needed for sanitization. 120 is also an acceptable TA as far as I know, and the manufacturers own web site "care tips" page said that the accpetable range for pH included 8.0. They quoted all these test numbers when responsing to the BBB, and said I was taking terrible care of my tub! They are obviously looking for ways out of their warranty repairs. In any event (long story long), when the tech did come out to replace the jets, he actually left me an extra jet (go figure). And, as you mentioned, a couple of them actually had the more clear-ish or opaque, but still somewhat translucent back (I noticed the difference when they were side by side on a table). I have to go check now to see what kind he actually put in the spa itself! " title="Confused" /> (Just checked -- luckily all the replacement jets appear to be the clearer/somewhat translucent plastic and not the milky white ones.)

I have the exact same problem.

I have a Charisma spa with Waterway Storm jets. About 2 years old and all of the jets are starting to become brittle and break around the barrels. Charisma said this was calcium build up and not covered. But this isnt calcium buildup, this is the plastic itself deteriorating the same as the others have described. As well, there is no sign of calcium anywhere else on my spa. It is obvious that there are a batch of bad jets out there that no one wants to admit to or address. In any case this is a good reason to not buy a Charisma spa or any spa that uses Waterway jets. I am not spending $500 to replace every jet in my spa.

Wow, I was hoping Waterway wouldn't have that problem since they seem to be one of the other major manufacturers of jets and many spas I look at seem to use them. Well, it's been about 6 months since the Pentair jets in my tub were replaced and the new ones are holding up much better (although I'm not sure 6 months is enough time to show damage). I am using Nature2 instead of bromine this time around, but I really don't think bromine should destroy jets if used in responsible dosages, so it's hard to say if it's the new plastic on the new jets or the Nature2 that's saving these jets. Perhaps the manufacturers should just use stainless steel jets and be done with it! " title="Razz" />

Has anyone been able to negotiate new jets due to this defect?

Yes, if under warranty. See my post for some Waterway jet info.

Thanks!

Your post no longer exists. Any idea where I could find that information to forward it to another spa owner?

quote] Your post no longer exists. Any idea where I could find that information to forward it to another spa owner?