3 MIN READ | 1 MIN VIDEO
Whilst it’s highly unlikely for anything to go wrong with your Jacuzzi®, sometimes, small fixable errors can appear on your hot tub control panel. One of these is a ‘Flow Error’ so we thought we’d guide you through how to correct this easily. Here's our Jacuzzi® Expert, Rachelle, to talk you through the process
A flow error message can often indicate an air lock in the pipework of a hot tub. The error message can appear as either an “FL1”, “FL2” or “FL3” displayed on the Jacuzzi® control panel. If air is trapped in the system and this is detected by the flow switch or pressure switch sensors, the hot tub heaters can be deactivated until the air is cleared.
An air lock can occur for a few reasons; if your hot tub is not refilled correctly via the filter housing, if the water level drops too low or if the filters become blocked. Here are a few tips to help prevent an air lock:
- After a drain down, place the hose pipe in the centre of one of the hot tub filters and allow to water to flow through the pipe work while refilling it. This will make sure no air gets trapped in the pumps.
- We recommend rinsing the filters weekly with a deeper clean every 4 weeks or so, to keep the filters clean and functioning as efficiently as possible.
- We recommend that water levels should sit between the highest jets on the seats and the bottom of the headrests of your Jacuzzi® Hot Tub.
If you do have one of the above flow error messages appear on your control panel, removing the filters and running the jets will usually clear any air lock. Follow the quick and easy steps below:
- Open up all jets by twisting the jet face so that water can flow out fully, this may help clear an air lock over a few hours
- Remove filter(s) from the filter housing on your Jacuzzi® Hot Tub.
- Whilst the filter is out of the hot tub, run the jets and let them continue to run for one cycle. The jets will turn off automatically, usually after 20 minutes.
- Replace hot tub filter and check if error message has cleared on the control panel.
- If the flow error message is still present, or if you can’t get the jets to turn on, remove filter(s) again.
- Turn your hot tub off at the isolator switch and leave for 5 minutes.
- Turn the isolator switch back on. Once on, the start-up cycle on your hot tub will force the jets to start and run. This will expel any air from the pipework and pumps.
- After the start-up cycle is complete, replace filter(s).
- Check the control panel to make sure the flow error message has cleared.
If the error message clears but comes back a short while after the filter has been put back into the hot tub, it could be that the filter is blocked. Try giving the filter a deep clean or replacing the filter to see if the error message clears fully.
We hope this has helped clear your flow error message, however if these steps are not successful in clearing the air lock, contact our Aftercare team on 01276 477461 and we will be happy to give you some more advice!