Hot Tub Air Locks
Hot Tub Air Locks
A Clear, Step‑by‑Step Guide
You just filled your hot tub, and you’re ready for a relaxing soak, but your jets refuse to fire up; it’s almost always a mood‑killer. One of the most common culprits? A hot tub air lock.
The good news is that you don’t need a technician—or a trip to the store—to fix it. With a few simple steps, you can clear the air from your plumbing and get your spa running smoothly again.
This guide walks you through how to fix an air lock, how to prevent it, and how to identify which pump is affected so you can get back to enjoying your hot tub.
✅ What You’ll Learn
- How to remove an airlock from your hot tub
- How to prevent airlocks during refills
- How to identify which pump is affected
- The best way to fill your hot tub is to avoid future issues
🧪 What’s Going On? (Understanding Air Locks)
An air lock happens when air becomes trapped inside your hot tub’s pump. Because pumps are designed to move water, not air, the trapped pocket prevents priming and stops the jets from operating.
Common signs of an airlock:
- Jets are not running or running weakly
- The pump is humming but not moving water
- No flow or low flow messages on the control panel
- Gurgling or bubbling noises from the plumbing
🛠️ Step-by-Step Fix: Clearing a Hot Tub Air Lock
Step 1: Prevent Air Locks Before They Start
The best defense is a proper fill. Always fill your hot tub through the filter compartment. This forces water through the plumbing first, pushing air out before it becomes trapped.
Step 2: Prepare the Filter Area
Depending on your model:
- Your filter may unthread
- Or it may sit over a standpipe with a cap
- Some standpipes can be removed for better access—do so carefully
- Insert your garden hose as far into the filter well as comfortably possible.
- If it won’t go in, simply placing the hose in the compartment is still effective.
Pro Tip:
Make sure the hose stays put as the tub fills. Leaving the hose unattended may result in a small pond in your backyard.
Step 3: Identifing Which Pump Has the Air Lock
If your hot tub has multiple pumps:
- Place your hand on Pump 1
- Press the jet button
- Feel for vibration
Repeat for Pump 2 (and Pump 3 if applicable)
The pump that hums but doesn’t move water is your problem pump.
Step 4: Clear the Air Lock
You’ll need:
- Large plumber’s channel locks (preferred)
- OR a strap wrench
- Screwdriver
How to release the trapped air:
Turn off the power to the hot tub
- For a hot tub without a bleeder line. Locate the large union nut at the end of the problem pump
- Loosen the union counterclockwise with a wrench
- If your hot tub has a bleeder line, simply remove the cap
- Listen for escaping air
- A small amount of water may leak—this is normal
- Re‑tighten the nut or replace the cap
- Restore power and test the jets
You may need to repeat this process a couple of times to fully purge the air.
Important: Do not remove the small bleeder hose attached to the pump.
These are fragile, especially in cold weather, and breaking one can lead to an expensive repair that isn’t covered under warranty.
Air Locks are Easy to Avoid if you Know How!
Watch the Steps in Action
🧼 Prevention Tips
- Always fill through the filter compartment
- Keep diverter valves fully open during filling
- Avoid draining and refilling in freezing temperatures
🧠 Final Thoughts
Air locks are frustrating, but they’re also one of the easiest hot tub issues to fix. With the right technique—and a little patience—you can clear the air, restore jet performance, and avoid a service call altogether.
Remember: prevention is the best cure. Filling through the filter compartment dramatically reduces the chance of air getting trapped in your plumbing.
👉 Fix it right, prevent it permanently.
- Refill your hot tub using the correct method
- Bookmark this guide for future water changes
- Watch the accompanying video walk through
- Explore more troubleshooting guides on The Hot Tub Report
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