Brands & error codes
Balboa hot tub error codes
Balboa Water Group makes the controls in many spa brands. These meanings come from Balboa's TP500S/TP600 and Spa Touch 3 user guides. Older panels may show slightly different text, so check your manual.
Heater and flow messages
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| HFL (M016) | Heater flow is reduced. There may not be enough flow through the heater; heater start-up tries again after about 1 minute. |
| LF (M017) | Not enough flow through the heater; the heater has been disabled. Fix the flow problem, then press any button to reset. |
| dr (M028) | Heater may be dry, or not enough water in it to start. The spa shuts down for 15 minutes; press any button to reset. |
| Heater dry (M027) | Not enough water in the heater to start it. The spa is shut down until the problem is fixed and you press a button. |
| OHH (M030) | Heater too hot: a sensor detected 118°F in the heater and the spa shut down. Reset when water is below 108°F. |
| OHS (M029) | Water too hot: spa water reached 110°F; functions are disabled until it's below 108°F. Check for long pump run times or hot weather. |
Balboa's flow-related checks: low water level, suction flow restrictions, closed valves, trapped air, too many closed jets and pump prime.
Sensor, system and safety messages
| Message | What it means |
|---|---|
| Sensor balance is poor (M015) | Temperature sensors may be out of sync by 3°F. Call for service if it doesn't clear within a few minutes. |
| Sensors out of sync, call for service (M026) | The sensors are out of sync and have been for at least an hour. Call for service. |
| Sensor A / B fault (M031 / M032) | A temperature sensor or its circuit has failed. Call for service. |
| Pump may be stuck on (M034) / Hot fault (M035) | Water may be overheated. Balboa says power down the spa, do not enter the water, and contact service. |
| GFCI test failed (M036) | North America only. The system couldn't test the GFCI; may indicate an unsafe installation. Contact service. |
| Too cold / freeze protection | A possible freeze condition was detected; pumps and blower run. An operational message, not an error. |
| Priming mode (M019) | Runs after every power-up for about 4 to 5 minutes; the heater is off during priming. |
What you can safely do
- For flow codes: top up the water, clean or remove the filter (power off), open all jets and valves, and prime the pumps (see airlock after a refill).
- For overheat codes: stay out of the water, let it cool, and check flow.
- For sensor, stuck-pump, memory and GFCI-test messages: Balboa says call for service.
A tech on video can read the message with you, check the System Information screen if your panel has one, and tell you which part (sensor, pressure switch, heater or control pack) is actually at fault before you buy anything.
Common questions
What does HFL mean on a Balboa hot tub?
HFL means heater flow is reduced: there may not be enough water flow through the heater to carry heat away. The heater retries after about a minute. Check water level, the filter, closed valves or jets, and trapped air.
What does dr mean on my hot tub?
On Balboa controls, dr means the heater may be dry or doesn't have enough water to start. The spa shuts down for 15 minutes. Fix the flow problem (water level, filter, airlock), then press any button to reset.
What does OHH mean on a Balboa hot tub?
OHH means the heater is too hot: a sensor detected 118°F in the heater and the spa shut down. Let the water cool below 108°F, press a button to reset, and check for flow problems. Stay out of the water until it's resolved.
Related guides
Hot tub not heating
Jets run but the water stays cold. Usually it's flow, not the heater.
Read the guideHot tub overheating
Water too hot or an OH-type code. Stay out of the water and check it.
Read the guideAirlock after a refill
Just drained and refilled, and now no jets or no heat? Prime the pumps.
Read the guideGecko error codes
FLO, HL, OH, Prr, AOH and UPL, from Gecko's troubleshooting guide.
Read the guideSources
- Balboa Water Group, TP500S / TP600 system user guide (42339 rev A1): priming mode, freeze protection, GFCI trip test and message codes
- Balboa Water Group, Spa Touch 3 user guide: panel messages, flow-related checks and reminders
Brand names belong to their owners. Hot Tub Helpline isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any manufacturer. Steps and codes vary by model and year, so always check your own owner's manual.