Hot tub: prime the jets

[Just Primer]

I have an older hot tub, model number 1 I think. It's a small EM 100 jacuzzi tub with a timer that is divided in 15 minute intervals and the heat has a dial on it.

I like to change the water pretty often because I am using 35 percent hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine. I also plan on getting a Ozone generator.I have kids and they like to get in it will me and it's hard to keep them from dragging sand and such into the tub. Anyway it only takes about 2.5 hours from start to 100 degrees.

After I refill it, I am having a hard time pushing the air out of the heater or jets or something and I usually have to hold the hose on the jets full blast for quite a while before it will purge the air and start up. Last time it timed out and tripped the overload switch for the heater.

Does anyone know a better way or any tricks. It has a valve before the heater for some reason and it's wide open. It also has a faucet drain valve on the other side of the heater, but it doesn't seem to bleed the air out. I was considering running water backwards through the drain valve but i am not sure if a back flush will mess anything up.

I have looked for a manual and found nothing. The Jacuzzi company ignored me when I messaged them. They are probably sad that such and old model is still working and takes away any new sales they might make.

Thanks.

 

[tractordude]

The EM100 is just the model # of the heat unit. Try unscrewing the heater element tube just a little, to release the air.
I have a retro fit unit now, about 50% of the time It gets a air lock on refill.

FWIW, I had a EM130? heating unit, If the control panel goes out you will have to buy a retro fit unit. IIRC, that company that made the power unit is no longer in business.

 

[PoolGuy444]

To bleed the air out of the pump you loosen one or both of the unions on the pump. Just loosen it slightly and wait until water leaks out. Do this with the pump off. This should bleed the air out. There is also a drain plug on the front of the pump housing. You could also loosen this but it's usually harder to get to. You should also turn down the thermostat so the heater has no power while trying to prime. Older spas didn't use pressure switches. The switch that popped out is the hi-limit switch. The heater overheated because no water was flowing through it. This could burn the element out.

 

[chicken12]

On my hot spring spa I just take the garden hose I fill it up with and stick it in the hole where the filter goes. This blows all the air out and primes it up quick. I used to mess around with removing the pump to bleed it and figured this out about 10 years ago and have not looked back.

 

[over40pirate]

I'm waiting for the new heating element to arrive for our spa. I've heard you should fill thru the filter area.
I will start it up with the heater disconnected to be sure I have good flow, before heating.
FYI. We got the spa with our new house. It didn't have a gfci breaker.
I found a nice 50 amp gfci spa breaker panel at HD online for less than $60.
Most panels were $100+

 

[PoolGuy444]

You can definitely fill it through the filter area. Some spas this works great on. Others not so much for some reason. Yes the gfci breaker with panel and all from Home Depot is the best deal I've found so far.

 

[911mike]

I have had 4 tubs and they all have had a air lock problem. The best solution is to remove your filter and fill with the hose into the filter base. I wrap a rag around the hose to help create a tight seal to push all the air out. Ever since I started doing this I have had zero problems. All my tubs have been Hot Springs brands and they have a tube that screws into the tub that the filter goes over and the a screw cap secures it. The tube removes and leaves a nice 1.5" dia hole that the garden hose fits nicely into.