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nnaymmap · Apr 10, 2008, 08:14 AM

I do not know what kind of jetted tub I have as they did leave a door to the pump to look at it. I have been told that I need to prime the pump but am not sure how to do it. When I press the button I can hear the pump running but the jets or air flow does not work. I do fill the water 2 inches over the jets. There is a opening with a screw on cover on the top of the tub and when I blow down in it I can see air coming out of the jets, I am thinking I have to do something with this opening like blow air down it or should I pour water down in it? Is this what priming the pump means? I just bought this house and was not left any instructions on how to make it work. Please help. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks
nnaymmap

ballengerb1 · Apr 10, 2008, 05:46 PM

What model and brand is this. Whirlpools do not require priming unless improperly installed. When you look into that door and see the pump are there any valves or gates valves?

nnaymmap · Apr 11, 2008, 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by nnaymmap

I do not know what kind of jetted tub I have as they did leave a door to the pump to look at it. I have been told that I need to prime the pump but am not sure how to do it. When I press the button I can hear the pump running but the jets or air flow does not work. I do fill the water 2 inches over the jets. There is a opening with a screw on cover on the top of the tub and when I blow down in it I can see air coming out of the jets, I am thinking I have to do something with this opening like blow air down it or should I pour water down in it? Is this what priming the pump means? I just bought this house and was not left any instructions on how to make it work. Please help. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks
nnaymmap

I miss spoke when I said there was a door, there is NOT a door. They closed it all up with tile. I can not get to the pump. Therefore I have no idea what make and model it is. I really do not want to have to tear up that tile. What is that hole on the top of the tub for? It has a screw cap that I can take off, is this an air control tube, like I said I can blow down into it and bubbles come out the jets. Should water be poured down into it?

ballengerb1 · Apr 11, 2008, 09:39 AM

OK you are between a rock and a hard place. Is there a closet in the next room at either end of the tub. Maybe you can cut a service trap door in the closet. Otherwise you are stuck. Sorry I can't offer more help.

hkstroud · Apr 13, 2008, 07:36 PM

Whirlpool or jetted tubs do not need to be primed. The thing you are looking at is probably the air intake. The pump will not only circulate the water through the jets it will draw air into the jets to make more bubbles. The cap is probably the way of regulating how much air is mixed in the jets. Just be sure that the tub is filled above the intake valve. Better fill it above the jets unless you want a lot of splash.

There should be some access to the pump, perhaps the front or skirt comes off.

nnaymmap · Apr 18, 2008, 07:24 AM

So no there is no way to the pump, they tiled it all up. If I do rip out the tile, what kind of reasons would there be for it not to pump water through the jets?

ballengerb1 · Apr 18, 2008, 07:32 AM

The pump seals may be shot or there could be an obstruction in the piping but I go with seals first. Whirlppols should never be totally enclosed, inspection doors are pretty much SOP.

Dr_Spa · Apr 19, 2008, 07:04 AM

The screw cover your talking about allows air to be drawn in when the pump is running and mixes with the water coming out of the jets. This increases the pressure of the jets. It has nothing to do with priming the pump.

Possible problems you might have;

Pump motor is froze and not spinning (it would still make noise) or the impeller broke off.

You basically have a car that needs engine work, but the hood is welded shut :-)