How do I clean my LA Spas Flter Bag?
The following are step-by-step instructions on caring for your Aqua Klean™ filter bag(s):
- 1. TURN OFF POWER TO THE SPA – OR – SET THE SPA TO ECONOMY MODE
- 2. REMOVE LARGE O-RIN
- 3. PULL FILTER BAG OUT OF THE PLASTIC FILTER HOUSING USING THE BUILT-IN HANDLE
- 4. PLACE FILTER BAGS IN CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE ON GENTLE CYCLE
- 5. ADD ¼ CUP BLEACH TO CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE
- 6. ADD ½ “CAPFUL” OF LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENT. IMPORTANT: LIQUID LAUNDRY DETERGENTS ARE CONCENTRATED AND THEREFORE HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ACTIVE INGREDIENTS. SINCE THE “CAP” ON THE BOTTLE IS THE MOST COMMONLY USED MEASUREMENT DEVICE, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ONLY ADD ½ “CAPFUL”
- 7. UPON COMPLETION OF THE LAUNDRY CYCLE, REMOVE FILTER BAGS (DO NOT DRY) AND REPLACE THEM ONTO THE PLASTIC FILTER HOUSING
- 8. ENSURE TO REPLACE THE LARGE O-RING ONTO THE FILTER BASKET AND OVER THE FILTER BAG
- 9. TURN ON POWER TO THE SPA – OR – SET THE SPA TO OPERATE IN NORMAL MODE
The frequency of cleaning is dependent on the amount of spa usage, type and amount of spa chemicals used and other factors such as your body chemistry, etc.
I'm getting a 3-dot error message, what does it mean?
A 3-dot error message on the topside control panel represents one of the following conditions:
When a spa displays a 3-dot problem the spa must be analyzed for the correct failure cause as the action required to correct the condition varies depending upon the failure type. When approaching a spa with a 3-dot error on the display the technician should perform the following:
- 1. Check pump #1 for low speed operation. If low speed is not engaging a hi-limit condition more than likely occurred. Remove the center spa equipment door and control box cover. Check to see if the red LED on the circuit board next to the microprocessor is lighted. If so you can rule out items #1 and #2 above because the spa is in a hi-limit condition. If not lighted you can rule out item #3 and move on to checking for a stuck pressure switch or flow problem.
- 2. If the spa is not experiencing a hi-limit problem the next step would be to power off the spa. If the spa has a flow switch installed you can see if it is closing in most cases. Even so you would want to remove the flow switch wires from the spa pack and test the flow switch using a meter with continuity capability. If the flow switch test closed or the meter reads and/or beeps it is stuck in the closed position. The same can be done on a pressure switch by removing the pressure switch wires and checking for continuity across the connectors with the spa disabled. These conditions would require a flow switch or pressure switch replacement.
- 3. For a flow problem please note that you may correct this condition temporarily by powering off the spa or by engaging a jet button. When powering back up, the spas may create a small flow path for water within an obstructed dirty filter bag. Walking away from this problem without additional follow up will surely lead to another service call.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Flow problems Flow problems are created because the pressure switch or flow switch is not closing leaving the heating circuit open while a heat call by the spa is initiated. This is designed safety logic within the spa to assure positive water flow is present within the spa heater. The causes of flow related problems can range from dirty filters to closed slice valves. Dirty filters can be verified by removing the filter bags from the spa and performing a flow check. A clean filter will drain itself in 10 seconds. If the filter bag requires an excessive drain time it could be the cause of the flow problem. In working with you in the field filter bags with drain times in excess of one minute have been found. By removing the bag and depressing the jet button you can determine if the flow problem corrects itself. Please note that a jet button must be depressed or the spa powered down in order to reset the capability to run the pumps as the spa pack also has built in pump dry run protection, which engages after 10 minutes of a 3-dot flow problem in order to stop the pump from running dry and damaging the pump seals. Another prime cause of flow problems is air lock. Air lock within pumps inhibits the water flow required to close a flow or pressure switch.
Common causes of flow problems Dirty filter bags / Air lock / Closed slice valves / Jets turned to the closed position / Low water level / Obstructed pumps / Bad pressure or flow switch.
Stuck closed pressure / flow switch Cause by a faulty component requiring replacement.
Common causes of stuck closed pressure switch / flow switch Debris I.E. a hair wrapping around a flow switch paddle sensor or a failing diaphragm on a pressure switch.
Hi-limit problem Let’s first understand what causes a hi-limit to occur. A hi-limit condition occurs when the sensor on the heater reads a condition of 119F. This disables the heater and low speed function of pump #1 until the spa is reset. Most cases of hi-limit occur because water flow through the heater has been obstructed for an extended period of time allowing the water to warm in the heater to the 119F mark. An example of this is a circ pump system. The Laing heater holds only a small amount of water. If a customer selects a low temp spa setting during the summer in an area experiencing elevated temperatures, the circ pump disables. This is due to logic of the circ pump. It is designed to cut off at 3F above the set point temperature of the spa. If the water temperature stays at 99F due to a summer condition and the spa owner turns the control panel to 95F the circ pump is being disabled by the owner. This means that the water in the heater would not flow until the spa reaches a temperature of at least 97F. At 97F the circ pump would operate for 3 hours every 12 hours and at 1F it operates for 6 hours every 12 hours. If the owner ran filter cycles during the heat of the day the outside elevated ambient temperature combined with the equipment heat of running a filter cycle could over time heat the water in the heater driving a hi-limit condition. In order to address this problem the spa owner should select filter cycles at cooler times of the day and leave the spa in Economy mode to allow the objective of cooler water to be achieved. In Economy mode the spa will only heat during a filter cycle. The spa owner “must” also select a temperature-setting equal to that of the control panel display rather than turn down their spas temperature setting. This will allow the circ pump to operate 24 hours a day and eliminate a hi-limit condition on a circ pump system. We must understand that a spa does not possess the capability to cool itself. It can only operate at Mother Nature’s lowest average ambient. The use of Economy mode will let the spa owner take advantage of the cooler temperatures in the evening and allow the spa to operate at an overall cooler temperature.
Common causes of hi-limit problems Elevated temperatures / Circ pump disabled / Spa equipment facing direct afternoon sun / Poorly insulated temperature probe reading equipment temperature and disabling the circ pump / Lack of equipment airflow.
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