Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some quick answers to the most common questions about hot tubs and swim spas. For more detailed information, you can download a comprehensive maintenance guide by clicking here.

Once the paperwork has been submitted, our delivery crew will contact you within 2 weeks before the desired delivery date. We strive to make every delivery as seamless as possible. After our delivery dept. has contacted you about delivery, video your property from the road to the place where your new spa will be installed and text the video to customer service (423) 355-8930 along with your name and address. We will contact you again if the video footage is not sufficient enough to properly assess the job. If you do not have a phone with video capabilities please call our customer service line and we will accommodate your needs. If there are any other questions, please call Customer Service at (423) 355-8930.

No, each Master Spas product has been specifically built to house all the aquatic equipment needed to operate.

Most hot tubs require a dedicated 220V/50a system. Each unit will come with a physical copy of the owner’s manual that can help you to determine exactly what you’ll need. If you wish to download a digital copy you can click here.

Ozonators are electric-powered devices for helping to sanitize spa water by introducing a form of oxygen called ozone into the water. It oxidizes micro-organisms eliminating them from the water. For further reading click here.

If you are trying to balance your chemicals, refer to our hot tub chemicals tutorial videos here. An empty spa can easily be cleaned by wiping out dirt and grime with standard house hold cleaners. It is very important that you strive to remove all excess cleaner from your hot tub. Excess cleaner in the spa can cause foaming and alter the pH of your water.

It is generally a good practice to rinse your filter cartridge every other week with fresh water from a garden hose to dislodge hair and other foreign matter. Your specific filter cleaning needs will vary depending on the following factors:

  1. The amount of usage.
  2. Quantity of foreign contaminants such as foliage, plant material, rain water, etc. entering the spa.
  3. Exposure to animals. One dog will introduce on average the equivalent of 50 humans worth of bacteria, hair, and skin oils in to the water.

The Eco-Pur Charge is an orange filter that uses the intrinsic properties of Copper and Zinc to pull out any extra chemicals or naturally occurring heavy metals that might be lingering inside the water. It also helps to prevent any unwanted bacteria and algae from accumulating within the filters. They should be replaced every 6 months to insure proper operation.

A properly functioning GFCI activates when it senses even a very small surge in power or short to ground. Most of the time, it is directly caused by bad wire connections, missing or burnt wire insulation, and loose screws or corrosion on terminals. If your GFCI is tripping immediately, it is highly likely that the neutral wire coming from your spa is not properly placed in the GFCI breaker box.

Open your bluetooth settings on your smart device and select Aquatic AV BC or equivalent. If asked for an activation code, type in 6000.

Master Spas builds each unit to withstand cold temperatures. All Master Spas products are built to the California Energy Commission standards, the most stringent standards in the nation. However, if your spa does not hooked to electricity and properly functioning, it could have devastating impact on the lifespan of your unit.

First, check your filters. Dirty or clogged filters are one of the most common causes of heating problems. Try to operate the spa with no filter in for an hour to see if the circulation starts. Next, make sure your unit didn’t get put in Low Rang or Economy Mode (it is very easy to accidentally activate either of these modes while playing with the controls).

Measure the chlorine, along with any other chemicals you might need, with the 4-way test strips that came with the start up chemical kit. If you need additional test strips, click here. Many spa owners check their unit daily, others find that once a weak is sufficient, especially usage is low for the week.

The National Spa & Pool Institute recommends a range of 7.2-7.8, with 7.4-7.6 being considered ideal.

Maintaining proper pH level is essential for proper operation of a hot tub. A low pH indicates acidic water that can deteriorate essential equipment. A PH indicates water that is too basic, which can cause damaging scale to form and the water to become cloudy.

The pH level can be raised by adding the pH Increaser that was part of the start up chemical kit. For exact dosage please refer to the measurement table in the product instructions found on the back label. If you need more ph increaser, click here.

Maintaining the proper range of total alkalinity will prevent wild fluctuations in pH, while reducing the tendencies toward corrosion of pipes and fixtures, and will reduce the chances of scale forming in the water.

The National Spa & Pool Institute recommends a range of 60 to 180 parts-per-million (PPM) with an ideal range of 80-100 PPM.

The total alkalinity level can be raised by adding the PH or Alkalinity Increaser that was part of the start up chemical kit. For exact dosage please refer to the measurement table in the product instructions found on the back label.

The total alkalinity level can be lowered by adding the PH or Alkalinity Decreaser that was part of the start up chemical kit. For exact dosage please refer to the measurement table in the product instructions found on the back label.

The National Spa & Pool Institute recommends an ideal range of 200 – 400 parts-per-million (PPM) with a minimum level of 150 PPM, and a maximum of 500 – 1000+.

Add a calcium increaser containing calcium chloride to boost calcium levels that are too low. Make sure to use very small amounts of this product. Typically, spas do not need any calcium increaser.

Cloudy water can be caused by pH that is too high, but the most common cause is excessive contaminants in the water. Make sure your filters are clean and in good condition. Add a sanitizing agent such as chlorine or shock to help clear up cloudy water. If there is too many dissolved solids in the water, drain and refill your spa.

When balancing spa water, always start with Alkalinity, then pH, and then sanitizer. In your unusual case, try this: Purposely raise your Total Alkalinity 20-30 ppm above the recommended range, then lower the pH by adding pH Decreaser. By starting with a high TA, you’ll find that the two will likely balance out when you adjust the pH. Remember: if you cannot get your water to balance perfectly, it is better to be a little on the high pH and/or TA side, than too low (corrosion).

Most colored water problems result from the presence of metallic impurities such as iron (rusty color), copper (green) or other minerals (black, brown, etc). These discolorations may be present in the source water, or can be the result of low pH. Prevent and correct this condition by using Metal Control and keep spa water in balance.

Hot tubs are not normally recommended for people with heart problems. Please consult your physician for further information.

Every Master Spa will have a drain valve on the bottom right corner of the spa behind the skirting, when facing the control panel. You can connect a regular garden hose to the drain provided. Another option is to use a sump pump, which allows you to drain the spa without having to take off the skirting panels. 

If your spa is equipped with diverter valves, check to make sure your they are turned in the correct position to allow water flow to that seat. This can also be caused by air locks in the hoses. Air locks happen when the hot tub is being filled with water and air is trapped in the lines. It is possible for both ends of a plumbing system to simultaneously fill up with water at both the suction end and the return end which sometimes leaves an air lock in the plumbing. To overcome this issue, repetitively turn the pump on and off quickly until the airlock is pushed out of the line.

As a rule you should change your water every 3 months. This will vary depending on usage and foreign contaminants.

Use the bottle of Foam Free that is part of your chemical kit. If the soap suds get to be too bad, drain and refill your spa.

Filters will over time clog with dirt and grease until they no longer allow water to flow through. When this happens jets can feel weaker and heaters may stop performing optimally. It is important to thoroughly clean your filters on a regular basis. First of all remove the filter or filters from the spa and spray them off with a garden hose. Some spa owners find it easiest to clean the filters when they are dry. This is accomplished by having an extra set of filters on hand and letting them dry while the other filters are in the spa. This makes removing hair and dirt from the filters easier.

First, check your filters and make sure they have been cleaned recently. Take them out and let your unit run without the filters for a few hours. If the error goes away, make sure to thoroughly  clean your filters or buy new ones. If the problem persists, please contact your customer service agent.

EC (Economy Mode) is a setting that is meant to help with electricity costs and only allows the unit to heat to the set temperature during the filter cycles. The setting can be activated by pressing the ‘Temperature’ and ‘Light’ button at the same time.

Press the ‘Temperature’ and ‘Light’ button until you see the code SL (sleep mode). Then, press the ‘Temperature’ and ‘Light’ buttons again and the code ST (standard mode) should appear. Once in the standard mode, all operations will go back to normal.

Overheat – The spa has shut down. One of the sensors has detected 118°F (48°C) at the heater.

Overheat – The spa has shut down. One of the sensors has detected that the spa water is 110°F (43°C). 

First, check the unit’s filter cycle by pressing WARM or Cold then JETS. The, press WARM or COOL to adjust the settings up or down. The default filter time is 2 hours. When the filter cycles are off, it can cause excess friction on the inside of the unit which results in abnormal temperatures.

Ice – Potential freeze condition detected. 

Unless the power has been shut off to the unit, the pump(s) will automatically activate regardless of spa status.

Spa is shut down. The sensor that is plugged into the Sensor “A” jack is not working. If problem persists, contact your dealer or service provider.

Spa is shut down. The sensor that is plugged into the Sensor “B” jack is not working. If problem persists, contact your dealer or service provider.

A significant difference between temperature sensors has been detected. this could indicate a flow problem. Check filters for any possible blockage. Try cleaning or replacing filters. If the water level is okay, make sure the pumps have been primed. Also, check and make sure all jets in spa are in their full open position. If problem persists, contact your dealer or service provider. 

Persistent low flow problems. (Displays on the fifth occurrence of “HL” message within 24 hours.) Heater is shut down, but other spa functions continue to run normally. Check filters for any possible blockage. Try cleaning or replacing filters. If the water level is okay, make sure the pumps have been primed. Also, check and make sure all jets in spa are in their full open position. If problem persists, contact your dealer or service provider.

Possible inadequate water, poor flow, or air bubbles in detected in the heater. Spa is shut down for 15 minutes. Check filters for possible blockage. Try cleaning or replacing filters. Check water level in spa. Refill if necessary. If water level is okay, make sure the pump(s) have been primed. Check and make sure all jets in spa are in their full open position. Press any button to reset, or this message will automatically reset within 15 minutes. If problem persists, contact your dealer or service organization.

Inadequate water detected in heater. (Displays on the third assurance of “dr” message.) Spa is shut down. Follow action required for “” message. Spa will not automatically reset. Press any button to reset.