DR
Artisan Spas Dry Heater or Insufficient Water in Heater Tube

Display shows DR or DRY, heater is disabled, spa may run pumps but will not heat.

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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

Air lock after refill, Closed slice valve at heater, Severely clogged filter, Failed circulation pump not moving water through heater

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Turn off power at the GFCI breaker. Running the heater dry can permanently damage it.

  • Confirm water level: Ensure the spa is filled to the proper level, ideally through the filter well to help purge air from the plumbing.
  • Open all valves: Verify that all slice valves around the pump and heater are fully open and locked.
  • Bleed air from pump and heater: Loosen pump and heater unions slightly to release trapped air until water flows steadily, then retighten.
  • Clean or remove filter: Remove the filter and run the spa briefly to see if the DR code clears. Replace the filter if it is old or heavily soiled.

If DR persists and there is no visible water movement from the circulation return, the circulation pump may have failed and should be replaced before attempting to run the heater again.

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Repair Difficulty

Hard 4/5

Required Part

Circulation Pump
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