Bestway hot tub error codes: Lay-Z-Spa E01 to E19 explained

Safety first. Unplug the pump before you open couplings or move it, and never open the pump casing. Stop using the tub if it shows E12 or E19, or if the safety plug fails its test.

Common symptoms

The pump screen shows an E code, such as E02, where the water temperature should be.
The heater or filter stops, and pressing the buttons again brings the code straight back.
The code appears only on cold nights, or only on hot, sunny days.
The safety plug on the power cord trips, or the pump shows an electrical code after other appliances in the house switch on.
Water drips from the pump couplings, or the pump shows a leak code.

Quick checks before anything else

The stopper caps are off the ports inside the tub.
The water is between the MIN and MAX lines on the liner.
The filter cartridges are clean. Rinse them in lukewarm water with no detergent.
The pump plugs straight into a grounded outlet, with no extension cord or adapter and nothing else sharing the outlet.
The safety plug passes its test: press RESET, then TEST, then RESET.
The pump is out of direct sun.
You have written down the model number from the pump label.

How Bestway codes work

Bestway makes the Lay-Z-Spa, its UK and European range, and the SaluSpa and Coleman SaluSpa tubs sold in the US. All of them use one pump unit beside the tub with a small LED screen. When the pump finds a problem, it shows an E code in place of the temperature.

The power cord carries a safety plug that cuts power if current leaks to ground. US models use a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter). UK and European models use a PRCD, which works the same way. Bestway’s Lay-Z-Spa support site has a page for each of these codes: E01 to E13, E15, E18 and E19. Older manuals list fewer, so trust the manual for your pump when the two differ.

Code	What Bestway says it means	Can you fix it?
E01	Flow sensor stuck: the flags inside the pump are out of position	Yes, usually
E02	No water flow, or too little	Yes, usually
E03	Too cold (water below 40 F in the manuals; cold air on the UK page)	Yes
E04	Too hot	Yes, after cooling
E05	Temperature sensor connection problem	Try a thermal reset, then support
E06, E07	Electrical fault	Check the outlet, then reset
E08	High temperature of the water or the air; thermal cut-out tripped	Yes, after cooling
E09	Fuse failure	Reset, then support
E10, E11	High or low salt, on older HydroJet models with a salt system	Yes
E12	Water leaking inside the pump body	Check couplings, then support
E13	Signal fault inside the pump (2017 and newer pumps)	No, contact Bestway
E15	Wi-Fi module connection failed	Yes; the tub still works
E18	Grounding problem: current leaking into the ground line	Check other appliances, then an electrician
E19	Power board overheating from an electrical overload	No, stop using the tub

To look up a code from another brand, try our error code lookup.

What causes Bestway error codes?

Blocked flow Dirty cartridges, stopper caps left in, low water or scaled debris screens. This is behind most E02 codes.
Cold weather A pump left outside unused gets too cold to start, or the fill water was below 42.8 F. You see E03.
Heat and sun Water above the limit or a pump in direct sun trips E04 or E08.
Power supply Extension cords, shared outlets, old sockets or other appliances leaking current. You see E06, E07, E09 or E18.
Worn parts Perished washers, a leaking pump body or a failed sensor. You see E02 that will not clear, E12, E05 or E13.

Step-by-step: clearing a Bestway error code

Turn the pump off and unplug it before you touch the couplings or move the pump. Work through the steps for your code, then do the reset in step 1 to clear it.

Do a full thermal reset. Lay-Z-Spa gives this for E03, E04, E05, E07 and E08. If your pump has a thermal reset button on its side: switch the plug off for 10 seconds and back on, press Reset, Test, Reset on the safety plug, hold On/Off for 3 seconds, press the thermal reset button with a thin object, then press the heater button. If there is no button: unplug for 10 to 20 minutes, plug back in, do Reset, Test, Reset, hold On/Off for 3 seconds and press the heater button.
E02: fix the water level and cartridges. The flow sensors cannot read properly if the water is below the MIN line. Top it up. Rinse the cartridges in lukewarm water until the water runs clear, with no detergent, and fit new ones if they are still dirty or falling apart.
E02: flush the debris screens. Put the stopper caps on the inside, take the filter housing out, remove the pump and drain the tub. Remove the caps and run a hose against each debris screen for 5 minutes, then scrub with a toothbrush. In hard water areas, calcium builds up here.
E02: backwash the pump. With the pump off the tub, unscrew couplings A, B and C. Run a hose in through the B pipe and out through C for about 2 to 3 minutes, then reverse it for another 2 to 3 minutes. Check the washers in each coupling for wear while they are open.
E02: test the filter housing. If the code still returns, Lay-Z-Spa suggests a full reset and a run with heating and filtering on. If the error stays away for 2 to 3 hours, the membrane in the filter housing is likely perished or twisted and the housing needs replacing.
E01: knock the sensor back. Turn the pump off and unplug it. Strike the pump firmly on the side, never on the top or bottom, then plug in and reset. If it returns, backwash the pump as in step 4.
E03: warm the pump. Bring the pump indoors for 2 to 3 hours. Or lay it on its back and pour hot, not boiling, water into the inlet pipes, wait a few minutes, tip it out and repeat. On cold days, do not leave the pump sitting unused, or the code may come back.
E04 and E08: cool everything down. Unplug and let the water and pump cool for 1 to 2 hours, then do the thermal reset. Check the water with a thermometer; it should not be above 104 F. Move the pump out of the sun and do not run it in air above 104 F.
E06, E07 and E09: check the power. Use a grounded outlet only, with no extension cord and no other appliances on it. For E06, unplug for 5 minutes and try again. For E09, turn everything off, unplug, do Reset, Test, Reset, then hold the On/Off button for 10 seconds. Do not open the pump casing; Bestway says that voids the warranty.
E18: find the leaking appliance. Bestway’s ground detection system can sense as little as 5 mA (milliamps) leaking into the ground line, often from another appliance in the house. Unplug the pump for 5 minutes and plug it back in. If E18 returns, switch off other appliances one at a time until it clears, then have an electrician find the leak.

Stop. If E12 shows, do not reset or use the pump; Bestway says water may be leaking inside it. If E19 shows, turn the tub off and stop using it. If the safety plug fails its test or trips on its own, do not use the spa.

Lay-Z-Spa vs SaluSpa vs Intex codes

Lay-Z-Spa (UK and Europe). These pumps have a PRCD on the cord, and many have a thermal reset button on the side. In the AirJet manual, E04 means the water reads over 122 F and E08 is a manual-reset thermal cut-out.

SaluSpa and Coleman SaluSpa (US). These run on 110 to 120 volts with a GFCI plug. The Coleman SaluSpa 90427E manual lists only E01 to E05 and E08, and its E04 trips at 119 F. Our Coleman SaluSpa error codes guide follows that manual step by step.

Intex PureSpa. Intex numbers its codes in the E80s and E90s, so a Bestway table will not decode them. E90 is Intex’s no-flow code.

If there is no code at all but the water stays cold, start with inflatable hot tub not heating.

When to call a pool or spa pro

E05, E09 or E07 comes back after a full thermal reset.
E12, E13 or E19 shows. Bestway says to contact its support team for these and not to open the pump.
E18 keeps coming back with other appliances off. You need an electrician to trace the ground leak.
The safety plug trips by itself. Our hot tub GFCI tripping guide covers the causes.
E02 survives new cartridges, flushed screens, a backwash and good washers.
A coupling washer or the filter housing is damaged and needs a replacement part.

While the tub is under warranty, contact Bestway first with the model number, the serial number from the pump sticker and a photo of the code.

Common questions

What do the different warning codes mean on a Lazy Spa?

They point to one area each: E01 and E02 are water flow, E03, E04 and E08 are temperature, E05 is the temperature sensor, and E06, E07, E09, E18 and E19 are electrical. E10 and E11 are salt levels on older HydroJet tubs, E12 is a leak inside the pump, E13 is an internal signal fault and E15 is Wi-Fi. Our inflatable hot tub problems page explains how the pump, heater and sensors work together.

Why does my Lazy Spa keep coming up with E02?

Because the pump is not sensing enough water flow. The usual causes are low water, dirty cartridges, stopper caps left in, or calcium on the debris screens. If those are fine, backwash the pump and check the coupling washers and the filter housing.

How do I clear the E02 error on a Lazy Spa?

Fix the flow first, then do a full thermal reset so the pump starts fresh. Top up the water, clean or replace the cartridges, remove the stopper caps, and flush the debris screens. A reset alone will not hold if the flow problem is still there.

Where is the reset button on a Lazy Spa?

On pumps that have one, the thermal reset button is on the side of the pump, and you press it with a small, thin object. Some pumps do not have one. On those, unplug for 10 to 20 minutes, plug back in, do Reset, Test, Reset on the safety plug, and hold On/Off for 3 seconds.

What does E03 mean on my hot tub?

On a Bestway tub, E03 means it is too cold to run. The manuals tie it to water below 40 F, and Lay-Z-Spa’s support page ties it to cold air around the pump. Warm the pump indoors or with hot tap water in the inlet pipes, and fill with water above 42.8 F.