We have an American Standard indoor Jet Tub with the push button for the jets on the inside back corner. We also have a shower head in this tub. We find that when the shower is on some water leaks [/topics-leaks/] through the push button. We have belatedly realized that this type of button switch in a jet tub probably was never intended to also be a shower area. Is there any fix for this situation so we can also use the tub for a shower?

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We have an American Standard indoor Jet Tub with the push button…

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We have an American Standard...

We have an American Standard indoor Jet Tub with the push button for the jets on the inside back corner. We also have a shower head in this tub. We find that when the shower is on some water leaks through the push button. We have belatedly realized that this type of button switch in a jet tub probably was never intended to also be a shower area. Is there any fix for this situation so we can also use the tub for a shower?

Submitted: 11 years ago.Category: Plumbing

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9/7/2011

Plumber: Rick, Master Plumber replied 11 years ago

Rick, Master Plumber

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Rick the plumber :

Welcome to Just Answer, I will do my best to help you solve your problem

Rick the plumber :

Since it's an air switch the water from the shower won't damage the switch. The first thing I would try is to first clean thoroughly around the switch then run a small bead of clear silicone around the outside of the switch. This should stop the leak since it is unlikely that water is getting into the switch itself then onto the floor under the tub.

Customer:

Rick,

Customer:

Rick, we have an electrical switch, not an air switch. The water seems to drip into the small gap between the push button and the outer ring around the push button. We can't put silicone into this gap, as this would interfere with the need to depress the button to turn on the jets.

Customer:

Rick, please answer above reply we have electrical switch, not an air switch.

Rick the plumber :

You can't have an electrical switch on a whirlpool

Rick the plumber :

you would/could get electrocuted when you pushed it

Rick the plumber :

all switch that are mounted on whirlpool tubs are air switches

Rick the plumber :

what happens is when you push the switch it sends a puff of air to a remote diaphragm switch that turns on the pump

Rick the plumber :

I don't see how the water could get into the switch then leak out given how these switches are made. But if that is indeed the case the simplest thing to do would be to just put a cup or a bowl over the switch while you are taking a shower

Customer:

Rick, OK I believe you...and confirmed with label that we have a WOW Pump with Airswitch..CSA Model PUPWAS 1698P, UL Model PUUTSCAS1598PR, Serial(NNN) NNN-NNNN American STandard #752856-300. But is there any other suggestion you can offer?

Rick the plumber :

That's about all I can offer. I don't recall having this problem in the past but most of the whirlpools we have installed with air switches were in bathrooms with a separate shower stall.

Customer:

Rick, How can I get our dialogue on this question in writing?

Rick the plumber :

Just copy the text into a Word doc. You may need to do it in sections since the chat window doesn't want to scroll when highlighting. You can also bookmark this page. The thread won't disappear once you accept

Rick, Master Plumber

Category: Plumbing

Satisfied Customers: 39,067

Experience: Licensed Master plumber with 50+ yrs. experience.

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Plumber: Rick, Master Plumber replied 11 years ago

I would still run a bead of clear silicone around the outside ring (not inside where it moves) of the switch since that's the most likely place for a leak to occur.

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