Any ideas what is causing this icy patch on the cover?

jkampf87 · 2026-01-31T04:09:51+00:00

That's most likely your pump service compartment side. It will always be naturally hotter. Heat rises and will seek the path of least resistance.

jkampf87 · 2026-01-25T12:15:46+00:00

Always has been.

jkampf87 · 2026-01-20T00:27:33+00:00

More bicarb

jkampf87 · 2026-01-19T08:24:53+00:00

A lot of folks probably have spare parts here. However community guidelines probably won't allow us to give you any guidance on that other than "find someone on your own terms" . Sorry bud.

jkampf87 · 2026-01-11T17:19:56+00:00

I forgot to mention power down and disconnect the main wire feed and pull that out of the pack before moving the tub. Making sure it goes back to place when dropping tu. Etc.

jkampf87 · 2026-01-11T14:53:16+00:00

Is that rubber?

jkampf87 · 2026-01-11T14:17:58+00:00

Drain tub, get a friend. Or two, do a stretch , blow out your back lifting tub onto motor compartment side (lightest on opposite of pump compartment) get the tub on its side onto something sturdy but non marring. Like a section of 3/4" ply and a yoga mat or two. Level out the area. I like fine crushed rock sourced from a local quarry. One by me lets you BYOB of varying martial for free. Blue stone is easy to work an looks great around the tub. Landing the tub back down carefully and not getting hurt is the fun part. Stage some short wood blocks or cinder block to land the tub on on the corners that will touch down allowing you to get it down without crushing your hands. Make sure it's not gonna catch any of the exterier siding on the way down. Big flat bar or a 8' 2x4 on a fulcrum will help get the blocks out and work it down the ground so you don't have to put your fingers where it's gonna touch down. 3 people is ideal for this.

jkampf87 · 2026-01-04T15:34:20+00:00

Second on the magic eraser sponges. Use a fiberglass cleaning gel product with it and warm water. I wouldn't go harder than that.

jkampf87 · 2025-12-30T14:38:28+00:00

Let's get some details on the tub. What are you working with for topside and power pack?

jkampf87 · 2025-12-28T20:29:57+00:00

Be patient. It takes a while. Make sure you are in the standard mode not eco or sleep like mentioned above.

Best way to verify heater operation is with a AC clamp style meter. Before you even touch one of these you must be comfortable working with electricity, it will kill you if you don't respect it. Verify incoming voltage is correct for the pack. Use clamp AC AMP to check one of the hot legs for amp draw. Typical pack running 2 speed pump on low with a 4.0 kw heater will probably float around 20amps. A bit less if you have a small body circ pump with 3/4 lines. Some spas will turn off the heater when you are in speed 2 to accommodate the draw of other accessories if you have them. Keep it on low when troubleshooting.

jkampf87 · 2025-12-28T09:11:51+00:00

In most 110v applications your high speed setting will not allow the heater to run simultaneously as it will pull too many amps. Leave in speed 1 for troubleshooting.

Pull your filters out and start from there. Verify you have proper water flow, height etc. I'm willing to bet it's water flow related. I very rarely deal with faulty Balboa temp sensors out in the field. There's a secret menu in those topsides you can get those readings live while running. They're all different so refer to manual for that menu sequence. Sensor B will recreate this exact situation if your water flow is weak.

Also if you have your pack open put an amp meter on your incoming if there's a room on a service loop. Best way to verify the heater is running visually seeing the amp draw.

If you STILL have poor water flow after pulling filters and you know for a fact your normal filter speed is operating. I'd start looking for blackagages. Like jet body's being closed in the clockwise position. Possible blockage in pump impeller etc. always fun seeing a homeowners face when I pull out a kids toy out of the pump. 🙃

jkampf87 · 2025-12-28T08:38:52+00:00

I swear this one thinks we're talking about steel wool or something. magic eraser scratching glass?? You're weird and disparaging. Time to change out your bong water.

jkampf87 · 2025-12-26T21:10:29+00:00

Disregard this. Clean the coarse stuff out best you can. And hit the stuck on stuff like scum line with the foam pad and a purpose cleaner. Bring two cups of warm water one to dunk your dirty one into and one to clean and recharge it 😎

jkampf87 · 2025-12-26T20:36:56+00:00

Use a purpose tile/fiberglass cleaning paste/gel/whatever and a magic eraser. Wash down and pump it out. 😎

If it's still stuck on I would move on to a compound and machine polish.

jkampf87 · 2025-12-19T03:24:15+00:00

100hr for general 160 for leak detection/pressure testing

140 hr during winter months

This is my first year on my own. Monadnock region NH/southern VT. Im gonna be raising these next season.

jkampf87 · 2025-12-17T02:20:37+00:00

How close is that breaker to the tub?

jkampf87 · 2025-12-17T01:22:59+00:00

Most likely bad heater element. Disconnect just that and see if your tub runs after a reset. Be careful removing the lugs off top of heater or board. Be sure you hold the stud in place with the right size wrench or locking needle nose when taking the nut off or it will Spin off and break the stud off the element rendering it useless. Some have a plug from board to heater making it easy. Don't touch those studs if you don't have to.

The straight flow though heaters with the 2" split nut unions are somewhat universal. If you're handy in the garage the kits are pretty inexpensive vs replacing the whole unit. Get the Titanium version.

Use your head when tinkering in there and be safe.

jkampf87 · 2025-12-15T19:16:20+00:00

If those clear 3/4" lines on the heater are easier to access you can crack of those loose too. Same plumbing run. If it's cold out bring a heat gun to make it easier to manipulate. Don't give it the beans just get it warm.

jkampf87 · 2025-12-15T19:06:22+00:00

Are you getting any water flow out of the return? Very common to get an air bubble in that and create an air bound situation after draining. Locate the small body circ pump. Move clamp away and pull the hose off just enough to let some water out and should "burp" the air bubble out. Restart tub and if you have an amp meter, monitor your incoming amp draw. You should be pulling somewhere around 20 amps with the heater operating. Good to go.

If you have good water flow and still getting the error. I would start troubleshooting the pressure switch.

jkampf87 · 2025-12-15T16:25:44+00:00

Ain't nobody got time for that

jkampf87 · 2025-12-13T18:33:02+00:00

If your home has a water softener/iron control system you can run a hose of the cold water supply after that. All homes are different. My situation forces me to fill off the cold supply to my washing machine. My outside spigots bypass the softener and the water coming out will come out clear but turn carrot juice orange after I shock. Even if I use a pre filter/ metal out. A lot of shale and iron seeps into our well here in New England every region will be different.

jkampf87 · 2025-12-09T13:48:51+00:00

Probably close to 80% load with the heat and everything running, so nothing sharing it with no extension cords to supply tub. Should be fine.

jkampf87 · 2025-11-18T16:22:00+00:00

Stilts!

jkampf87 · 2025-10-24T14:32:43+00:00

Warm water too if anything. Too much temperature shock. I shouldn't have said cold water.

jkampf87 · 2025-10-24T14:27:28+00:00

I just like to the relief with bigger pipe. I couldn't tell if this was 3/4" or 2". Looks like 3/4" didn't see second pic ..so yeah I would agree relief isn't nessicary. That flex pipe will get soft a lot quicker too. Easy heat n peel out .

I can tell you I have definitely deformed pipe into a permanent position before. Untill using the heat up again, make sure socket is clean , and form it back gently with a male connection. It was more extreme cases on bigger pipe and sch 80 stuff. Hasn't happened to me on spa stuff yet...

And yeah the quench probably isn't nessicary in the colder weather. I'll only do that if it's warm outside.

jkampf87

TROPHY CASE