Leaking switch for whirlpool tub. Advice?

[MAG]

Hi guys-

The American Standard Williamsburg Elite whirlpool tub I installed a couple months back has been working well, but I've noticed a leak at the "air actuator switch" that turns it on and off. Since the tub is in a shower enclosure, the switch gets very wet of course, and water is leaking through the body of the switch and dripping into the area enclosed by the tub. I checked to make sure it wasn't leaking around the switch; no worries there as it is sealed well with silicone. The water is coming THROUGH the switch.

I'm not terribly familiar with these air switches; I'd love to dissassemble it so I can find out why water is getting through. But, it is solidly mounted with silicone to the tub deck and I'm reluctant to mess with it too much in my ignorance.

Anybody have experience with these switches? It's probably just a "dissassemble, make sure gaskets are seated, reassemble" kind of problem.

For reference, see the tub and related documents here:

Any help appreciated!

Marc

[MAG]

So, I decided to investigate further and found I could remove the switch easily. I disassembled it to find that indeed it was just a plastic sleeve with a silicone rubber chamber, mounting on a plastic piece to which the air hose to the pump fits.

The fit between the silicone rubber chamber and the plastic sleeve was not great; any bit of water that gets in there could easily dribble through. PRetty poor design IMHO.

I applied some vaseline to the parts to improve the seal; meanwhile I'll call the manufacturer and see if they can send a new switch. Maybe mine was marginal.

For a switch intended for wet areas, this thing seems awfully non- robust. I'd rather see it designed such that water couldn't get in there in the first place...

Marc

[Jeff Cochran]

Air switches are a membrane connected via a tube to a switch. There's nothing that should leak "through" them. If it truly is, replace it, they're pretty inexpensive.

Jeff