Maintaining the jets, pump, pipework and LED of your jacuzzi

Short answer: the jet circuit of a jacuzzi is the part you do not see, and it deserves the most attention: metres of pipework where biofilm and dirt readily settle. Three habits keep it clean and the jets strong: run the pump and jets briefly at full power with every weekly dose, flush the pipework with every water change before the tub drains, and periodically unscrew and rinse the jet heads. Below is the complete instruction for jets, pump, pipework, lighting and winter.

How the jet circuit works

The massage pump draws water from the tub, pushes it through the pipework to the jets and mixes it there with air via the air controls: this creates the firm, bubbling massage stream. The more air, the stronger the sensation and the faster the water cools. The filter system is a separate circuit with its own pump; see backwashing the sand filter.

The jets

• Adjusting power: open the air controls for more power, close them for a gentler feel; individual jets can usually be rotated to aim or close them.
• Cleaning: unscrew the jet heads every 2 to 3 months (at the water change), rinse under the tap and remove scale with a diluted vinegar solution; rinse thoroughly and refit.
• Blocked jet: unscrew the head, clean it with a soft brush, flush the opening in the wall with water; never use sharp objects in the jet.
• Sputtering jets: air in the system; see below.

The pump

• Never run it dry: switch on only when the tub is full; a pump that draws in air overheats.
• Bleeding after filling or winter: switch the pump on and off briefly until all jets deliver water evenly; if air remains, bleed it via the bleed screw or drain point according to the manual.
• Noise: a humming or rattling pump usually means air, a blocked intake or a worn bearing; switch the pump off and check the intake first.
• Accessibility: keep the technical space dry and accessible, and check the couplings for leaks each season.

Flushing the pipework

1. Weekly: with the AquaFinesse dose, open all air controls and jets, run the pump at full power for a few minutes. This carries the product through the entire circuit.
2. With every water change: let the jets run while the tub drains via the ball valve, so loose dirt is carried out of the pipework; see how often to change the water.
3. When switching from chlorine to AquaFinesse: fresh fill, clean the jet heads, and filter extra often for the first weeks; loosened biofilm makes the water temporarily cloudy.
4. For persistent odour or foam from the jets: a spa pipe cleaner according to dosage, then change the water and clean the shell.

LED lighting

• Works independently of the pump and heating; controlled via the panel or the switch for your version.
• Clean lenses with a soft cloth at the water change; use diluted vinegar for scale film.
• If the lighting does not come on: check the fuse and residual current device first, then the connection; replacing LED units is service work, never with the power on.

Technical maintenance calendar

Winter

If you keep using the tub, the filter circuit simply keeps running and nothing freezes as long as the water stays warm. If you close the tub down, the pump, jet pipework and filter must be fully emptied: blow out the pipework with a wet vacuum or a compressor at low pressure, open the drain plugs of the pump and filter, open the air controls. The complete protocol is in winterising a hot tub.

When to call in the service team

• A pump that keeps humming or fails after bleeding.
• Water in the technical space or near the control unit.
• Jets that remain uneven even after cleaning and bleeding.
• LED units or wiring that need replacing.

Note the model, year of manufacture and what you have already checked; see requesting service.