How to Repair a Digital Heat Thermometer in a Hot Tub

Wiring

• Faulty wiring is one common source of hot tub thermometer problems. It is often possible to repair. If your hot tub thermometer is a floating digital model, remove it from the water and examine its sensor cable, which is the long cable that sits in the water and gauges temperature. Cracks or breaks in the cable mean the cable needs replacing. For a thermometer that's installed directly in your hot tub, turn off the power before attempting repairs. Open the control panel and look for loose wires or corrosion. Soldering broken contacts and cleaning off rust can revive an old digital thermometer.

Batteries

• Several types of digital hot tub thermometers use batteries for remote function. These include both floating digital and remote thermometers, which consist of sensors in the water and separate displays that you can consult from another location. The batteries must be fresh and correctly inserted. If water enters the battery compartment, dry it out before inserting new batteries and testing the thermometer.

Display Problems

• A hot tub's digital thermometer relies on a liquid crystal display. The LCD display doesn't include the temperature sensors, but it does offer the read-out, making it an essential part of the thermometer mechanism. If your digital hot tub thermometer has a cracked LCD display, you might replace only the display and leave the rest of the components. Inspect the display and see if the cracks are large or deep enough allowing water into the electronics behind the display. If so, you may need to replace additional components.

Repair vs. Replacement

• In some cases, replacing a faulty hot tub thermometer is more cost effective than attempting repairs. Floating hot tub thermometers can cost less than $40, as of December 2011. While this price speaks to their susceptibility to failure, it also means that replacing a thermometer is less expensive than many other hot tub repairs. If you have limited knowledge of electrical repairs and don't want to pay for a professional repair job, consider a replacement thermometer instead.