Nobody likes walking out to use their hot tub, only to see that it isn't working properly. Unfortunately, there comes a time in the life of every hot tub where something breaks. Fortunately, modern hot tubs will display an error code letting you know the cause of the problem.

Hot tub error codes are a fantastic troubleshooting tool, if you know what they mean. With that in mind, here's a list of the most common hot tub error codes, and what those codes mean.

Flow Errors

Common Error Codes: FLO, Flo, FL1, LF

The most common hot tub error codes are flow errors. These are caused when the hot tub detects a lack of water flow through the heater element. The cause of this lack of perceived flow can be anything from a dirty filter to a faulty spa pack. To learn more about flow errors and how to troubleshoot them, consult our guide to hot tub flow errors.

Low Water Errors

Common Error Codes: dr, dy, dry, H20

These errors are caused by a lack of water in the hot tub pump. While usually a sign that there is not enough water in the hot tub, these codes will also display if there is air trapped in the pump, commonly after refilling the hot tub.

To get rid of the air in the pump, simply loosen one of the pump connections. You should hear air escaping. When there is no more air being released, tighten up the connection and restart the hot tub. If the error code is still displaying, consult a professional.

High Limit Errors

Common Error Codes: ***, ---, HiLi, HL, HOT, OH, SP-OT, Sn1, SN

These hot tub error codes are caused when the water in the hot tub gets too hot, usually over 110 degrees Fahrenheit. If you notice a high limit error on your hot tub get a thermometer out and check the water temperature. If the hot tub is above 110 degrees you may have a problem with your heater or spa pack. If the hot tub temperature is normal, you're likely dealing with a faulty temperature sensor.

Cold Water Errors

Common Error Codes: COL, CoLd, Cool, FP, Fr, FrE, LO

These error codes are triggered when the hot tub detects the water is too cold. This is almost caused by a faulty heater but can also be a sign of a faulty temperature sensor.

Panel Errors

Common Error Codes: PnL, OP, EO, SA, SnA, SH, SnH

These hot tub error codes are an indication of a broken electronic component. Depending on the exact code, this could be anything from a broken sensor to a blown fuse to a malfunctioning spa pack. If your hot tub is showing a panel error, consult a professional to help you properly diagnose the issue.

Codes That Aren't Errors

Fortunately, not all hot tub panel codes are error codes. Some are simply used to provide you with information on how your hot tub is set to run (known as system status codes). Here's a list of a few of the more common hot tub system status codes.

ScLN - Used by Self-Cleaning Hydropool Hot Tubs to tell you when the hot tub is in Self-Cleaning mode.

Pr - Displayed when the pumps are priming, usually when the hot tub has just been turned on or reset.

Econ, Ecn, SE - Displayed when some hot tubs are running in economy mode (only heating the water when the hot tub is already running a filtration cycle).

Std, Flon - Displayed when some hot tubs are running in standard mode (heating the water anytime the hot tub dips 2 degrees below the set temperature).

F2, F4, F6 - Displayed by some hot tubs to show how long they are set to filter. F2 = 4 hours, F4 = 8 hours and F6 = 12 hours.

Hold - Displayed when panels buttons have been hit too many times, or too quickly.

LOC, L1, L2 - The panel has been locked. Enter the code used to lock the panel to unlock it and resume normal operation.