help with jetted tub

[navychop]

I have a jetted tub, not the main brand name, with a button to be pushed that activates the jets when the tub is full. The jets no longer work. Operating the button gets no response at all, except it seems to travel further and "softer" than it used to. The button is connected to a 1/4" tube.

A contractor has been doing some work in my bathroom, taping in to some copper pipes. Next to a minor scorch mark on some PVC, I found the 1/4" clear tube from the button had melted, opened and come loose from a black box marked "high voltage," presumably the pump. So I got some more tubing and joined it together with the current good section (after trimming the melted part) using a plastic junction sold for the purpose. I then plugged the tube end into the black box at what appeared to be the appropriate spot. No dice. No change at all, no function. And yes, the breaker has not tripped and there is power at the GFCI outlet where the black box plugs in.

I wonder if the tube somehow needs to be pressurized, which might make the button feel stiffer, like it used to, and have the rigidity to trip some switch inside the black box. I'd only add that the connection of tube to black box does not seem as snug as I expected, certainly not as snug as the tube was going into the junction/union.

Yes, I know it is the contractor's responsibility. I will be discussing it with him (a friend of mine) today. I don't know if he knows anything about this or not; I'm trying to be prepared ahead of time. I suspect it's a very minor fix, and that what I need is a bit of knowledge.

Anyone know anything about this, or where to look online? TIA

 

[navychop]

Well, right off, just discovered the tubing might not be standard. The OD matches the 1/4" tubing I bought, but the inner diameter is a bit smaller. Off to find a better match. This ain't gonna be at Home Depot.

 

[Van]

It does sound like its a nuematic switch but Im not sure how you would pressurize it. You might want to go by one of the pool / spa / hot tub places or contact the manufacturer about it and see what they can recommend, you may have to replace the whole unit.

Now that Im thinking about it you might be able to pressurize it with a small bit of vinegar and baking soda, another option might be to use a large CC syringe with a needle and inject air into the tube either through the end where the switch goes in or through the wall of the tubing being sure to seal it off with some handymans little helper called duct tape.

 

[Bob Haller]

i have a friend who builds hot tubs if you get really stuck i can get you his number

 

[navychop]

Thank you for your help.

Not being snug enough was the tip off. Once we freed the tubing from some guides that lengthened the trip from switch to motor, we had (barely) enough length left to make the trip. The smaller inside diameter tube then fit more snugly onto the motor port. Once we did that, it worked again. I guess the wide button making a short trip produced more than enough pressure thru the thin tube to click the switch.

It seems this type tubing is used for this purpose extensively in jetted tubs and spas. My contractor will get some from such a source and rerun the tubing so it isn't so taut.

Thanks again to all. Looks like case closed.