Skip to content
HireLocal

Fix it yourself

Pool & Spa Technician repairs you can do yourself

5 pool & spa technician problems a careful person can handle at home — and the point where each one becomes a job for a pro.

You can do
5
Pro-only
0
Typical time
30 min – 3 h
  1. 01

    Cold Plunge Water Cloudy or Foamy

    Test the water: with free chlorine below 1 ppm (or bromine below 2 ppm) and pH outside 7.2–7.6, the cloudiness is a sanitizer problem before it is a filter problem.

    easy 30–60 min· $15–40 in test strips, shock and cleaner

  2. 02

    Hot Tub Jets Weak or Not Working

    Open the air controls (the knobs on the rim) fully and turn the diverter valve to each side; half the 'weak jets' calls are a diverter sending water to the other seat.

    easy 30–90 min· $0 for cleaning; $10–30 per jet insert

  3. 03

    Hot Tub Water Foaming Excessively

    Test the water: low sanitizer and high pH let oils and lotion build up into foam; adjust and see if the foam fades within a day.

    easy 1–3 h· $20–50 in flush product, cleaner and chemicals

  4. 04

    Pool Liner Tearing

    Mark the water line with tape and wait 24 hours with the pump off; a drop of more than 6 mm (¼ inch) beyond evaporation means a leak, not weather.

    moderate 30–90 min· $10–30 for a patch kit and dye

  5. 05

    Pool salt cell not generating chlorine

    Read the control box first: a 'low salt' or 'check cell' light points at chemistry or scale, a blank or flashing box points at power or the board.

    moderate 45–90 min· $10–25 in acid and test strips; $40–60 for a bag of salt

When you do need a pool & spa technician

Compare listed pros by rating and get free quotes.

Open the directory

What it costs

Typical rates by country, so you can compare DIY parts against a pro's invoice.

Cost guide

Do this for a living

These are the calls a pool & spa technician takes every week. Licensing, training and where the work is short of people.

How to become a pool & spa technician