Cal Spas F-168, Owner'S Manual, Page: 16 / 74

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2.11 Priming the Pump
New spa owners often have difficulty the first time they start their spa and the pump fails to prime. This can be
frustrating, but these simple instructions can help you.
Sometimes air can become trapped in the pump while filling the spa. You will know this has happened when
after you have filled and started the spa, the pump does not seem to function. You will hear the pump
operating, but no water will be moving.
NOTE: The pump will not work properly while air is trapped in it. Continuing to operate the pump in this
way will cause damage.
Starting up: Priming Mode
Priming Mode M019- Balboa Systems
After the initial start-up sequence, the control will enter Priming Mode and display a Priming Mode screen.
Only pump icons appear on the priming mode screen. During the priming mode, the heater is disabled to allow
the priming process to be completed without the possibility of energizing the heater under low-flow or no-
flow conditions. Nothing comes on automatically, but the pump(s) can be energized by selecting the “Jet”
buttons. If the spa has a Circ pump, it can be turned on and off by pressing the “Cir
c button during priming
mode.
Automatic Exiting of Priming Mode
Balboa Systems
The system will automatically enter the normal heating and filtering at the end of the priming mode, which
lasts 4-5 minutes.