Cracks in a Hot Tub That Are Not Leaking

Cracks

• Cracks that occur in the fiberglass or acrylic body of a hot tub can allow water to leak out of the main body of the spa. More commonly, they are not leak points but are instead just unsightly. They occur when an uncovered hot tub is exposed to intense sunlight for long periods of time. A child leaping into or out of the tub can damage it enough to crack the surface. If the hot tub is installed in-ground, the earth settling or shifting can also cause cracks.

Test

• To make sure the cracks are just cosmetic rather than structural issues, test them for leaks. You can hire a professional or attempt to test it yourself. Stop using or running the spa and wait to see if the water level drops. If it does, you have a leak. If the level remains the same, the cracks are not leaking. You can also try dropping dark food coloring into the water near the cracks and watching to see if the coloring is sucked toward the crack by the pressure of a leak. If it is unmoved, there probably isn’t a leak there.

Solutions

• Just because the crack isn’t leaking at this moment does not mean it will never worsen and start. The cracks will never get more attractive to look at, either. Get rid of them by patching them. Spa retail shops and home improvement stores sell kits to patch hot tubs. Most include epoxy, resin and mesh that you can cut down to size. You might also need sandpaper for filing. Because some of these components can give off powerful fumes, work in a well-ventilated area and keep children and pets well away.

Considerations

• If you don’t want to tackle the chore of repairing the cracks on your own, you can try ignoring it. If their appearance doesn’t bother you, then let them be. Just monitor the water level in your spa. Every month or so, stop running it for a few days and take note of any water loss that occurs. You can also hire a professional spa installer or repair person to patch the cracks for you. Because she has more experience, she could do a more aesthetically pleasing job than you can manage on your own.