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Air Jets Work but the Hydro Jets Will Not Turn On: What to Check

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. Step-By-Step Checks
  2. If the Pump Starts and Then Stops After a Few Seconds
  3. Replacement Parts and Who Does the Work
  4. Related Guides
  5. Related Videos
  6. Common Questions
  7. Still Need Help?

When the air massage runs normally but the hydro jets will not start, the fault is on the hydro side of the system: power to the pump circuit, the push control that starts the pump, or the pump itself. The air blower and the hydro pump are separate systems, so one can run while the other sits silent. Work through the checks below before anything is replaced. A second GFCI or a loose line has solved this more than once, and when a part does need replacing it ships under the lifetime limited parts warranty.

Step-By-Step Checks

  1. Confirm the control response. Press the hydro push control once and listen. If you hear nothing at all, keep going. If the pump runs for several seconds and then stops, skip to the section below.
  2. Check the power and every GFCI. Reset the GFCI outlet or breaker that feeds the tub. Some installations have more than one GFCI-protected circuit, and technical support's first request after the wall GFCI checks out is to find and check the second GFCI. A tripped second GFCI can leave the air system running while the hydro side is dead.
  3. Check the push-control hardware. The hydro push control has a small set of hardware behind it: a tube, a button and a switch. Technical support keeps this hardware on hand and can ship a set along with a repair video so your installer can check and replace it.
  4. Look for a loose line. In one installation the hydro jets did not work after setup, and the tech team helped the installer locate a line that needed to be reconnected. Shut off power at the breaker first, then have your installer or a licensed electrician check the connections at the pump.
  5. Ask about an air lock. In some no-start cases the tech team has guided owners through purging an air lock from the air tube connected to the seat-jet pump, on the far left side of the tub as you face it. Call before attempting this so the team can confirm it applies to your tub.
  6. Call technical support with your model and serial number. If none of the above helps, the team will ask where the tub was purchased, where you are located and a phone number, then talk you or your installer through the next step.

The air and hydro component diagram shows how the blower, hydro pump and other components are wired, which helps your electrician follow the circuit. If nothing at all works on the tub, check the power or GFCI first, then contact your tub installer or Ella's technical support. For that general first-checks list, see Why Did the Jets on My Walk-In Tub Stop Working?.

If the Pump Starts and Then Stops After a Few Seconds

A hydro pump that runs for 5 to 10 seconds and cuts out is not a GFCI problem and needs a diagnosis from the tech team. Contact support with your model and serial number, where the tub was purchased, and your location and phone number. The team will ask exactly what the pump does when you press the control, and a short video of the behavior helps.

Replacement Parts and Who Does the Work

If the diagnosis points to the push-control hardware or the hydro pump, the part ships under the lifetime limited parts warranty once support has verified the claim. Ella does not send technicians. Your installer or a local licensed electrician does the swap, and Ella's technical support is available by phone, email and video to guide them. Dealer-installed tubs can have the dealer request the parts and the repair video on the owner's behalf.

Once the jets are running again, the intensity dial sets the strength of the hydro jets, so adjust it to your preference before judging pressure.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Understanding Air Signal Connections The technician explains how the push control sends an air signal to the control box via an air tube.
  2. 0:51 Securing Control Box Connections The technician demonstrates how to firmly plug the air tube onto the nipple of the control box.
  3. 1:03 Checking The Button Connection The technician shows how to retrieve the button from its housing using a flat screwdriver.
  4. 1:21 Securing The Pump Connection The technician pulls out the black pump part and secures the connection with the lock nut and hose.
  5. 1:40 Reassembling The Button The technician puts the pump and button back in place, securing it with the chrome ring.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Pneumatic Push Button Controls The video introduces how push button controls work using pneumatic pressure and a red connection tube.
  2. 0:32 Activating the Relay Switch Pushing the button creates pneumatic pressure, which activates the relay switch inside the control box.
  3. 1:05 Relieving an Air Lock The video demonstrates how to relieve an air lock by disconnecting the red tube from the control box.
  4. 1:20 Reconnecting the Tube After reconnecting the tube, pushing the button should produce an audible clicking sound from the control box.

Common Questions

Why do the air jets work when the hydro jets do not?
The air blower and the hydro pump are separate systems with their own power and controls. A tripped GFCI on the pump circuit, a loose line, a fault in the push-control hardware, or a failed pump stops the hydro side while the air side keeps running.
Is there a second GFCI I should reset?
Possibly. Many installations protect the tub with more than one GFCI, either at outlets or breakers, and a tripped second GFCI is easy to miss. Check every GFCI tied to the tub before assuming a part has failed.
What parts make up the hydro push control?
The push control uses a small tube, a button and a switch. Technical support can ship this hardware with a repair video so your installer can check and replace it. Turn off power at the breaker before any work begins.
Does Ella send someone to fix the pump?
No. Ella provides the replacement part under the lifetime limited parts warranty and gives technical support by phone, email and video. Your installer or a local licensed electrician performs the swap.
What information should I have ready when I call?
Have your model and serial number, where the tub was purchased, your location and phone number, and a clear description of what the pump does when you press the control. A short video of the behavior helps the tech team narrow down the cause.

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.

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