Balboa · VS / GS series (M7 heater)Fix soon

dr on a Balboa hot tub: heater may be dry

The system thinks there may not be enough water in the heater, so it shuts the spa down for 15 minutes and then tries again. Stay out until you have checked the water level.

Also shown as: DR, d r

Most likely causes

  1. 1Low water levelmost likely
  2. 2Air lock after refillingmost likely
  3. 3Clogged filtercommon
  4. 4Circulation or jet pump not moving waterless common

What to try, in order

  1. Check the water level and fill to above the highest jets.
  2. If the tub was just refilled, bleed the air lock by pulsing the jet pump between low and high for 10 to 15 seconds at a time.
  3. Turn off power at the breaker, remove the filter, and rinse it.
  4. Restore power and press any button to reset, or wait 15 minutes for the automatic retry.
  5. If dr keeps returning, leave the heater off and get the pump checked.

dr questions

What does dr mean on a Balboa hot tub?

It means the control thinks the heater may not be full of water. It is a warning. The spa pauses for 15 minutes and retests.

Why did dr appear after I refilled the tub?

Air trapped in the pump stops water reaching the heater. Bleed the air and the code should clear.

Related codes

Balboa -- · Temperature not yet knownBalboa CHEK PH · Maintenance reminderBalboa CLN FLTR · Filter reminderBalboa CNFG FAIL · Configuration errorBalboa dry · Heater is dryBalboa Ecn · Economy modeBalboa FLO · Low water flowBalboa GFCI FAIL · GFCI test failed

General guidance. Follow your manufacturer's instructions; anything inside the control box is work for a licensed professional. Updated October 5, 2026.