How to Change the Hot Tub Shaft Seal

Turn off the electrical circuit breaker to disconnect the supply of current to the hot tub. Unscrew the unions to disconnect the pump from the tub when the flow of water stops.

Use a socket wrench to loosen and remove the pump housing nuts and bolts. Pull the two halves of the pump apart carefully to avoid damaging the seal in the middle. Set the wet half of the pump aside.

Grasp the pump motor’s shaft with a vise grip or wrench to keep it still. Unscrew the impeller from the shaft with your free hand in the anticlockwise direction. Pull out the impeller section of the seal through the back of the impeller, and slowly slide the other half of the seal off the shaft. The impeller resembles a 3D propeller that draws water toward the pump to keep it moving, while the seal prevents leaks that can damage or destroy the pump's motor.

Insert a replacement seal on the shaft, and slowly slide it onto the shaft. Work carefully to avoid touching the face or front of the seal with your fingers during the replacement process; contact with your fingers may prevent the seal from functioning properly. Ensure the seal is well past the threads of the impeller.

Grasp the motor’s shaft using a vise grip or wrench. Screw the impeller on the shaft using your hand, until it is snug and flush against the pump’s seal. Hold both halves of the pump together and insert the nuts and bolts you had removed to attach them together. Tighten the screws using a socket wrench.

Reconnect the hot tub’s pump to the main plumbing using PVC primer and glue.