It’s a busy time here at The Spa Workshop with plenty of pumps in for end of season servicing.  We often get asked for advice, so much so, that we thought it might be useful to share key points to assist those who would prefer the ‘Do It Yourself’ approach.  Our guidance is geared towards Bestway Lay-Z-Spa products, but the principles will be the same for other brands.
 

As with most of our guides, there is plenty to read but there is also a lot of information to convey! 

 

So let’s start with the liner.  We suggest using a ‘Hot Tub Flush’ chemical additive to give the liner a good clean, this is added to the spa water and helps to break down dirt and oils.  For those with pumped water jets, this process will give all the internal pipes a thorough clean.  The process tends to need at least half and hour and works best with water above 35C.  No matter how clean you think your spa is, you will likely be disgusted by how much scum is freed up by the flush!

 

Once this has run through, empty out the water, jet wash and scrub down the liner to remove the last remnants of dirt.  Rinse down and switch on the air jets, this will help force out any remaining water within the bubble skirt.  A wet vac is great for sucking up the water from the bottom of the liner.  Remove the filter housing and ChemConnect for storage.

 

If you are fortunate enough to have the space to store the spa fully inflated and away from the elements, give everything a thorough dry with towels. If you are moving the spa for storage; we would suggest putting down a tarpaulin or blanket for the liner to rest on as this will help prevent punctures. 

 

In our experience, liners last so much longer if they stay inflated.  The process of drying, folding and storing almost always results in punctures!   Repairs are of course possible, but are often cost prohibitive and more aggravation than they are worth!  If you have no choice but to deflate the spa; do all you can to get the liner as dry as possible, moisture will be a breeding ground for mold and mildew!  Deflate the liner, the deflation adapter for the inflation hose really helps with this process.  There are several schools of thought when it comes to folding the liner, but in general make as few folds as possible and avoid any that could damage pipework.  Once folded, we would recommend wrapping the liner in a tarpaulin.  This will help reduce the risk of punctures and scuffs whilst in storage.

 

Attention can now be turned to the pump. 

 

With the pump disconnected from the spa and electrical supply.  Check the plug for any signs of overheating or water ingress around the fuse.  Check the entire length of the cable, from plug to pump, for signs of physical damage.  If any faults are discovered, these parts should be repaired or replaced by a competent person before further use.

 

Regardless if you live in a hard water area; we would recommend purchasing one of our descalers.  These devices are great for maintaining the pump, not only can they be used for removing limescale, they also provide a manageable amount of liquid for fault diagnosis. 

 

Connect up your pump to the mains supply and attach the descaler, fill and bring up to maximum temperature, add a descaling solution and leave running for at least half an hour.  This will break down any limescale and chemical remnants from within the pump.  Once completed, drain the water away.

 

Whilst the pump is descaling, it is common for life expired seals to fail, keep an eye open for leaks.  It is normal for a low hum to be heard from the circulation pump; however if there is excessive vibration or knocking, this would suggest the impeller is breaking down.  Fitting replacement gaskets or impeller is relatively straightforward for those who are confident with a screwdriver. 

 

Using a hose, run water through the pumps top outlet for a few minutes.  This process is known as backwashing and will help to flush out any debris not broken down by the descaling process. 

 

Connect up the inflation hose, set the blower running and insert the hose into the top water outlet.  After a minute or so, tilt the pump forwards and gently rock to help force out any water trapped in the circulation pump.  When the bottom water outlet runs dry, the blower can be switched off.

Disconnect from the mains supply, coil up the power lead and store the pump somewhere dry and sheltered ready for the next season.
 

We hope that you have found this guide useful.  Our Lay-Z-Spa AirJet compatible descaler, self service kits and parts are available from us in the shop. If we can be of assistance, you are welcome to send us a message or call the office on +44 23 8000 6000 for free support from one of our extremely helpful engineers.