Softub Keeps Turning On and Off? (Here’s What to do)
If your Softub keeps turning on and off, the tub is either adding ozone (which is normal) or there is likely to be an issue with the power supply. Although less common, there could also be issues with the circuit board or relay (or both), the temperature sensor, or the pump. If any of those last three are the culprit, you’ll have to get the Softub serviced.
This article will look into what can cause your Softub to turn on and off repeatedly along with potential solutions.
The Softub Could be Adding Ozone
Softubs naturally cycle on and off when they’re adding ozone. This happens during heat calls and filter cycles. It’s perfectly normal and is nothing to worry about.
A lot of people think their tub is faulty or broken, leading to dealers getting calls they don’t need. If you see the Softub cycling on and off (and it’s not a daily or hourly issue), then you can rest assured it’s nothing to panic about.
The Tub Might not be Getting Adequate Power
If the Softub is turning off sporadically or the pump is turning on for a few seconds and then turning off, you could have a power issue.
Often, owners of a new Softub will presume it works on any socket. However, the tub requires a power supply of 15amp and above. To be safe, you should have an isolated 20-amp outlet installed 10ft away from the tub. Don’t try to use extension cables from inside sockets either as they weaken the voltage and are a potential safety hazard.
To see if this is an issue, you can test the voltage of your socket with a voltmeter.
The Temperature Sensor is Faulty
A common problem that causes the Softub to cycle on and off is a faulty temperature sensor. This is a real head-scratcher as well because it’s such a small issue but requires a bit of technical knowledge to solve. Dealers often miss this too!
If the tub is turning off and on and the temperature readings are fluctuating a lot, the sensor is likely trigging the tub to cycle. Most people report temperature fluctuations of about 6 degrees. However, the tub will sometimes cycle when the target temperature is reached. Annoying, sometimes the temperature can stay consistent even if the sensor is faulty – which makes this an even harder issue to spot.
To solve this, you have to open the circuitry and find the temperature sensor terminals. You then want to add a 25v 10uF capacitor on both temperature sensors. This usually fixes the issue immediately. I’ll add some pictures below of where to place the capacitors.
You can solder them in or just place them in. However, soldering is a more permanent solution if you find this works.
The Circuit Board and/or Relay is Faulty
If you’ve tried both of the techniques above (checked power supply and installed capacitors), then the issue might be with the circuit board. If this is the case, you will have to contact your dealer and get them to send a replacement. This can cost a few hundred dollars as well, especially if you’re not under warranty.
If the Softub is turning on and off repeatedly and you can hear a clicking noise, it might be a fault with the relay. Again, you’ll have to contact your dealer if this is the case.
If you’re feeling technical and want to replace the circuit board yourself, you can also give it a go. Here’s a video on how to manually fix and replace a Softub circuit board:
The Pump is Faulty
If it’s not the power supply, the capacitors, or the circuit board/relays, it could be the pump. If the pump is faulty, you’ll have to get a new one – it isn’t much you can do to fix this unless you’re an engineer!
If you’ve tried everything above, get in touch with your dealer as you’ll likely need them to send a replacement.