How to Find a Leak in a Hot Tub | Hot Tubs | Platinum Spas (2024)

While owning and relaxing in a hot tub can be a huge source of satisfaction and delight, particularly after a long day of work or travel, being a hot tub owner also comes with many important responsibilities – namely making sure your tub is always in tip-top condition for use.

However, even if you do carry out proper hot tub maintenance on a regular basis, sometimes, a hot tub leak is unavoidable. The problem is that you might not initially be aware that your hot tub is leaking, especially if said leak is occurring inside your tub and isn’t immediately visible, making it important to do routine checks for leaks when possible.

So, if you want to update your own hot tub maintenance checklist to spot any potential leaks early, or you’ve suspected for a little while that there may be a leak in your tub, read on to learn more about how to find a leak in a hot tub, as well as our top hot tub leak repair tips for those looking to fix any leaks themselves.

Signs your hot tub is leaking

Whether the leak in your hot tub is big or small, it goes without saying that it needs to be resolved quickly to prevent additional water loss and minimise potential damage to your hot tub’s internal components.

Fortunately, there are several indications you can look out for in order to tell if your hot tub is leaking or not:

1. An unexplained decrease in the water level

First, and perhaps most obvious, if your hot tub is experiencing a consistent drop in water level during use, then it stands to reason that there is a leak somewhere in your tub, as standard hot tub use, and evaporation, should not cause excessive water loss.

Alternatively, if your hot tub has been in storage for any period of time, and you notice that the water level has dropped a substantial amount, then, again, there is likely a leak somewhere in its system.

2. Puddles of water inside or at the base

Alongside a drop in water level, the next big indicator that your hot tub is leaking may be small or large puddles around the base of its frame, specifically before you get in or when your tub is not in use.

On the other hand, there may be no water puddling outside your tub, but upon removing its side panels, you might be confronted with puddles inside or a saturated layer of insulation foam where water has been slowly draining out.

3. Visible fractures and punctures

Finally, one major indication that your tub is leaking could simply be obvious fractures and punctures in the shell of your tub. This may certainly be the case with temporary hot tubs, where punctures in their fabric are more than likely to cause instant leaks.

However, do note that, for permanent hot tub installations, a crack or a hole does not always indicate a leak, and tests should be conducted to ascertain whether or not this is the source of your tub’s water loss before calling someone to make repairs.

How to carry out a hot tub leak test

If any of the above signs are apparent with your hot tub, then the next thing you’ll want to do to confirm your hot tub is leaking is to carry out a hot tub leak test. This is very easy to do and recommend following the steps outlined below:

1. Isolate your tub by turning off its power supply, disconnecting it from the mains electricity, and halting its water supply.
2. Next, to measure the water loss rate, mark where your tub’s current water levels are and then cover it, leaving your tub for at least a day before checking again.
3. After 24 hours, if you remove the cover from your tub and the water level has dropped a reasonable amount, then your hot tub more than likely has a leak.

How to find a hole in a hot tub

If you’ve carried out a hot tub leak test and you’re sure that there is a leak somewhere in your tub, your next step should be to assess the different areas and components of your tub to find out where the problem lies.

Therefore, we’d recommend removing the side panels of your tub and looking at the following hot tub components:

• Pumps – one of the more common hot tub components to leak, your tub’s pumps are under a constant amount of pressure when turned on, which can quickly wear out its seals if you’re not careful. Keep an eye out for water or rust around your pump as these may be signs that your seals have gone and need replacing.
• Heaters – while not under as much strain as your pump, heaters may still leak, often around their sensors or pressure switches. Again, pooling water and patches of rust are sure signs that water is escaping from this component, as well as if your hot tub’s breaker keeps tripping when in use.
• Pipes – if you’ve ever experienced pipe problems, then you probably won’t be surprised to hear that pipes in your hot tub may leak over time, typically due to loose connections. However, plastic pipes may also crack at the joints, causing water to drip out.
• Valves – your shutoff, diverter, and air control valves, while tough, may eventually experience leaks after prolonged use. Again, lingering water around your valves may be sign of a leak.
• Jets – although harder to tell than with other hot tub components, a tub’s jets are actually one of the more common areas of a hot tub to experience leaks. Much like your pump, they’re under constant pressure when in use and may crack. Unlike other components, the best way to see if your jets are leaking is to add a little food colouring to the water by the jet and see if it gets sucked in. If it does, the jet is leaking.
• Shell – finally, and perhaps most obviously, if there are any cracks or fractures on your hot tub’s shell, you can quickly test if they leak by adding water to your tub and seeing if it drips out the hole.

If after examining all of these components, your tub is still leaking from an unknown source, then it’s best to get in touch with a professional for further assistance and testing, rather than run the risk of accidentally damaging your tub with further invasive checks.

DIY hot tub leak repair tips

Having gone through all the tests we’ve suggested and assessed whether or not any of them are responsible for your hot tub’s leak, you may find that you’re able to carry out some hot tub leak repairs by yourself, assuming you’ve caught the leak early.

If this is the case, then take a look at our hot tub leak repair DIY tips below for advice on how to make minor repairs to your tub:

1. Start by disconnecting your hot tub from the mains power and water (assuming it isn’t already) and then drain the tub to prevent any further water damage.
2. If the leak is caused by cracks and holes in its shell, remove any dirt and debris around the gap and then use a waterproof adhesive to fill the hole. Smooth it out once applied, and then let it dry as instructed before testing to see if it’s sealed properly.
3. Alternatively, if loose connections are responsible for your leak, take the time to securely tighten all of them, though be careful not to over-tighten them as this may cause damage to the pie seals.
4. If your leak is caused by a crack in any plastic piping, then you should be able to resolve the issue with a waterproof sealing patch from a pipe repair kit, though you should still test for leaks after its application to ensure a full seal.
5. Finally, you should check your pump, heater, motor, jets, and air seals for wear and tear. If the seals are indeed damaged then you may be able to replace them yourself, though this may also be better left to a professional.

Please note that if you require any electrical repairs to be done, then these should be left to a qualified hot tub repairer. On top of this, if your hot tub is still under warranty, then we recommend having an expert carry out any repairs that need doing rather than risking damaging your hot tub yourself and voiding your warranty.

How to prevent your hot tub from leaking

Last, but not least, let’s look at a few things you can do to minimise the potential for leaks in your hot tub, all of which should ideally be included as part of a regular hot tub maintenance routine:

• Always check for leaks after each change of water, as doing so will let you catch and fix any potential leaks as soon as possible.
• Keep the pH and alkalinity levels of your water balanced to minimise the wear on your seals.
• Always follow the recommended advice around hot tub cleaning chemicals and tub sanitisation to reduce the chance of your hot tub water going green and prevent bacterial growths that could harm the effectiveness of your seals.

Find your ideal hot tub with Platinum Spas

With all of those tips covered, you should now have a much better idea of how to find a hole in your hot tub, and what hot tub leak repairs you may be able to do yourself before needing to call an expert.

Of course, another way to reduce the odds of your hot tub leaking is to purchase one from an expert brand known for making quality products, like Platinum Spas! Our tubs are some of the best on the market and are ideal for new and experienced hot tub users alike.

Get in touch to find out more about our range from our team of experts and don’t forget to visit our owners’ hub for more advice about hot tub ownership and maintenance, such as whether or not you can put bubble bath in your hot tub.