dr
Aquaterra Spas Dry Fire Protection / Inadequate Water in Heater

Control panel shows dr or DR, spa may shut down heating cycle, jets may still operate but heater is disabled.

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Insufficient water level in spa, Air lock in heater or circulation pump, Blocked filter or suction, Failed circulation pump

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Turn off power at the GFCI breaker before working on the spa.

  • Verify water level: Ensure the spa is filled to the recommended level (above all jets and skimmer openings). Refill if needed.
  • Remove and clean filter: Take out the Aquaterra Spas filter cartridge and rinse thoroughly. For testing, run the spa without the filter installed to see if the dr code clears.
  • Bleed air from heater and pump: With power OFF, open the equipment bay. Locate the heater tube and circulation pump. Loosen the pump union slightly until water flows steadily (no air spurts), then retighten. Repeat on the heater unions if needed.
  • Reset power: Turn the GFCI breaker back on and allow the spa to run through its priming mode. Watch for steady water flow from the heater return and check if the dr code clears.
  • Check for circulation: If there is no visible water movement at the heater return or filter area, the circulation pump may have failed and will need replacement.

If the dr error returns repeatedly, do not continue to run the spa, as this can damage the heater. Contact a spa technician to test the circulation pump and heater assembly.

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Repair Difficulty

Medium 3/5

Required Part

Circulation Pump
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