Hot Spring Spas was forced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall about 5,600 of their hot tubs because of ” loose electrical wire sparking, which poses a fire hazard. The recall involves eleven of their spa models sold between March 2011 to March 2012d Limelight Hot Tubs brand spas installed with Therm Products No-Fault Water Heaters: Aria, Envoy, Flair, Glow, Grandee, Jetsetter, Prodigy, Pulse, Sovereign, Vanguard and Vista,”
At least 5 hot tub fires have been caused by the faulty wiring in these heaters already. It goes to show that safety, and not big advertising budgets should be number 1 when it comes to the production of hot tubs. The company is apparantly taking steps to correct the situation.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12211.html
Meanwhile according to the .gov website, “consumers should immediately stop using the recalled spas and shut off power to the spa unit, following instructions provided in the owner’s manual or by the Watkins-Therm Products Response Hotline. Consumers should contact the Watkins-Therm Products Response Hotline or their Watkins Manufacturing spa dealer for a free replacement heater and installation by a service technician. Watkins Manufacturing spa dealers are also contacting ..”. Hot springs spa dealers are also having to get in touch with owners of the affected hot tub models in order to arrange a quick replacement before more spas are damaged by the fault.
The writer of this blog is not sure if the parts in the faulty heater came from China where a number of hot tub manufacturers have attempted to cut corners by buying cheaper components.
Owners of the following 11 models of Hot Spring Spas and Limelight Hot Tubs brand spas: Aria, Envoy, Flair, Glow, Grandee, Jetsetter, Prodigy, Pulse, Sovereign, Vanguard and Vista should contact their dealer. The recalled spas were manufactured from March 2011 to December 2011 and were installed since about October 2011. The date is represented by 2N, 3N, or 4N in the spa’s seven to 10 serial number. The model name and serial code are printed on a label inside the hot tub’s equipment compartment, located behind a removable panel on the side of the spa.
There are plenty of great hot tub parts suppliers in the U.S. with great safety records such as Balboa Water Group used by many quality hot tub manufacturers.
If you own one of these spas then contact the manufacturer or dealer under this voluntary recall.