A noisy pump, a hum with no water moving, or weak jets often points to the same handful of faults: low water, a blocked filter, trapped air, worn bearings or a tired impeller. We test the pump and tell you what’s failed before we fit anything.
We’re based in Camborne, covering Mid and West Cornwall, from Bodmin and Newquay to Penzance and everywhere in between.
Most of these take a few minutes and need no tools. Switch off at the isolator before you take a filter out. If the pump is humming but no water is moving, switch it off: running a pump dry can damage it.
Still cold? Tell the troubleshooter what the display says. It’ll walk you through the safe checks.
Ask the troubleshooterThese are the faults we find most often on noisy, humming or weak pumps. Some are a clean and a top-up; others need a part. We won’t know which until we’ve tested it.
Low water or an airlock after a refill makes the pump gurgle and the jets surge. Top up first, and use your manual to clear trapped air.
Signs: a gurgling sound, weak or surging jets, especially after a refill or a drop in level.
A dirty filter, or jets and diverters left shut, starves the pump of flow and can trigger a flow code.
Signs: weak jets on every seat, or a flow code with a dirty filter.
A grinding or screeching noise usually means the pump bearings are worn. It can get louder over weeks, then the pump can seize or start to leak.
Signs: a harsh grinding or screeching that wasn’t there before.
The impeller inside the pump can wear or shed flakes, so the motor runs but the jets stay weak. See black bits in hot tub water.
Signs: weak flow even with clean filters, or black specks in the water.
The motor is getting power but the pump isn’t spinning. It may be seized, or a start component has failed. Switch it off and don’t keep trying it.
Signs: a hum or click and no water moving.
The smaller pump that moves water through the heater can slow down, seize or stop. When it does, the tub often stops heating as well. See hot tub not heating.
Signs: a hum or silence from the circulation pump, weak flow, flow codes, or a cold tub.
A worn shaft seal can drip into the cabinet and, later, let water reach the motor. See hot tub leaks.
Signs: a wet pump, a puddle under the cabinet, or rust around the pump housing.
Flow codes are the usual ones when a pump isn’t moving enough water. The names vary between control systems, so check your own in our guides.
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| FLO, FL, LF | A flow problem: the system can’t see enough water moving. A weak, noisy or stalled pump is one cause. | Clean the filters, check the water level and open the jets and valves. If the pump is silent or only humming, switch it off and call us. |
| dr | On Balboa systems: not enough water in the heater, or air in the system. The heater stays off until it clears. | Top up, clean the filters and clear any airlock. See Balboa error codes. |
| ER-3, ER-4 | On SpaNet systems: a failed water prime (ER-3) or a heater thermal trip from poor flow (ER-4). | Check the water level and filters, then see SpaNet error codes. |
| FL--1 | On Jacuzzi systems, a flow error can be a dirty filter, an airlock or a circulation pump that isn’t running. | See Jacuzzi error codes. If the circulation pump is silent, switch off and call us. |
We test the pump and the flow, rather than guessing, so you don’t pay for a part you didn’t need. Not every pump can be repaired: some are replaced as a complete unit, and parts availability varies by make.
If a part has to be ordered, we come back to fit it. Parts availability varies by make and model, and for some older or less common tubs, a part may no longer be made. If that’s the case, we’ll tell you straight away.
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“John is very friendly and knowledgeable.
He sorted out our hot tub which had stopped heating and had a leak, promptly and he is reasonably priced.
I will always call on John for any future problems. I can highly recommend him”
“Called Jon last minute as the hot tub stopped working and Jon messaged straight away to say he was on a job and would get back to us asap and he did, called this evening and was so so helpful!! Explained to my husband about things he can check himself and he was so honest to explain that it might be something we can fix before he comes out. If the problem can't be solved we will 100% call Jon out to help us, thanks Jon! This is what customer service should be like everywhere!”
“Jon an absolute legend, very friendly, came out diagnosed the issue went away ordered the part came back fixed it tested it fixed another problem that came up after testing again and all for a very reasonable price. Will use him again and again 🌟
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You pay for our time and any parts. There are no surprises: we tell you what’s needed before we fit anything.
A light gurgle is often low water or trapped air, especially after a refill. Grinding or screeching usually means worn bearings. Check the water level and filters first. If the harsh noise is still there, the pump needs testing.
No. Switch it off at the isolator. The motor may be seized, or a start component has failed, and running it like that can do more damage.
Clean the filters, open the jet faces, air controls and any diverter valves, and check the water level. If the jets are still weak, the impeller may be worn, or the pump itself is tired. Black flakes in the water can be a clue: see black bits in hot tub water.
Yes. Worn bearings and a worn shaft seal often go together. If you can see water under the cabinet, switch off and see our page on hot tub leaks.
It can be. If the circulation pump isn’t moving water through the heater, most tubs will refuse to heat and may show a flow code. See hot tub not heating.
We work on most makes, including Hot Spring, Hydropool, Canadian Spa, Jacuzzi, Arctic Spa, Caldera, Roto Spa and Beachcomber, and on Balboa, Gecko and SpaNet control systems. Parts availability varies by make and year, and some older pumps are no longer made. Tell us what you’ve got when you ring, and we’ll tell you straight away if we can help.
Tell us the make, what the pump is doing and any code on the panel, and we’ll get back to you with a date.
If your tub is sunk into decking or the ground, or set against a wall, it helps to mention it when you book. If you’re not sure, a photo is fine.
We’re based in Camborne, covering Mid and West Cornwall, from Bodmin and Newquay to Penzance and everywhere in between. Towns we cover include:
Somewhere else in Cornwall? Just ask. Every area we cover
