Laing

Laing spa circulation pumps

Laing is a name that most hot tub owners only discover when something goes quiet. The small cylindrical pump tucked under the cabinet, the one that runs almost all day without anyone noticing it, is very often a Laing. Here we list circulation pumps and related parts carrying this brand, so that a tub fitted with one can be kept running on the same type of unit rather than being rebuilt around something different.

What a circulation pump actually does

A spa normally has two kinds of pump. The jet pump is large, loud and only runs when the jets are on. The circulation pump is small, runs for long periods at low speed and does the quiet background work: moving water through the filter, past the heater and over the sensors so that the control system can read a true water temperature. Because it runs almost continuously, it keeps the water turning over, helps sanitiser distribute evenly and stops the heater from firing into static water.

That duty cycle is why these pumps are built differently from jet pumps. They are compact, use a wet-rotor design with no shaft seal to leak, and are designed to run for long stretches rather than in short bursts. It is also why, when one fails, the symptoms are rarely dramatic. More often the spa simply stops heating properly, throws a flow or temperature error, or the water feels sluggish and the filter stays suspiciously clean.

The E14 and how to identify it

The product on this page is the E14 ultra-compact spa circulation pump with AMP plug, part number 73348. The E-series pumps are among the most widely fitted circulation pumps in portable spas, and the ultra-compact version is used where cabinet space is tight and the pump has to sit close to the pack.

Before ordering a replacement, it is worth confirming a few things on the unit already fitted:

• Model marking – the series designation is printed or moulded on the pump body or label. E10 and E14 pumps look similar at a glance but are not interchangeable in every installation.
• Port orientation and size – measure the inlet and outlet unions and note whether the ports run straight through or at an angle, and which way the outlet faces once the pump is bolted down.
• Electrical connection – this version is supplied with an AMP-style plug, the moulded connector that mates directly with the matching socket on the spa pack. If the existing pump is hard-wired or uses a different connector, check how it terminates before you order.
• Mounting – note the position of the feet or bracket and the clearance around the motor end, since a compact body only helps if it drops into the same footprint.

Fitting and keeping it running

Isolate the spa at the consumer unit before touching anything, and drain or close off the circuit so water does not run back out of the pipework when the unions are opened. Keep the old union nuts and O-rings to hand for comparison, inspect the seals and replace any that are flattened, cracked or deformed rather than reusing them out of habit.

Once the new pump is in, bleed the air out before powering up. A wet-rotor pump relies on the water passing through it for lubrication and cooling, so running one dry, even briefly, is the quickest way to shorten its life. If the pump hums but does not move water, switch off and check for an airlock or a blocked suction first. Most circulation pump failures that are not electrical come down to two things: a clogged filter cartridge starving the pump of flow, or debris reaching the impeller. Rinsing the filter on schedule and keeping the water balanced does more for pump life than anything else.

Laing at PoolParthub.com

Here you will find Laing circulation pumps for spas and hot tubs, listed by model and part number so the unit under the cabinet can be matched exactly rather than approximately. The E14 ultra-compact with AMP plug, part 73348, is stocked because it is one of the configurations fitted across a wide range of portable spas and is frequently the part people are looking for when the heating stops behaving.

Where a spa has an unusual port arrangement or a different connector, it is always worth checking the existing pump’s markings and measuring the unions before buying. Getting the model, the port layout and the electrical termination right the first time saves a second strip-down, which is the part of the job nobody enjoys.