Sundance Spas Optima 880
Sundance warranty material states coverage generally applies to original residential owners purchasing through an authorized dealer, and that commercial or short-term rental use may have reduced terms or be excluded entirely. Owner must verify against their own warranty document. [6]
The manual's start-up sequence states that when power is turned on to the hot tub at the home's circuit breaker, the heater and filter/circulation pump automatically activate. Only look at / switch the breaker itself — do not open the spa equipment bay or any electrical panel. [2]
The 880 Series has an external indicator light on the front cabinet panel: solid white indicates normal operation, solid red indicates a critical error that requires immediate attention to prevent equipment damage. Report the color to the owner. [3]
Dealer troubleshooting guidance lists water level as the first check; an improper water level can cause various operational problems. [4]
Dealer guidance: remove the filter and check for visible debris, clogs or trapped air; run the spa a few minutes without the filter installed — if the problem resolves, the filter is likely the culprit, and it should then be thoroughly cleaned or replaced. [4]
Q&A guidance for a Sundance spa showing FLO/COOL: leave the spa filter out, start the spa, turn up the temperature and see if the heater will engage and start. [5]
Q&A guidance: turning the hot tub breaker off and leaving it off for 10 minutes erases the stored codes completely, then restart. Handle only the breaker switch — no wiring work. [5]
| Code | Documented meaning | Documented action | Who | Why shown | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLO | A flow error. Q&A guidance for Sundance spas attributes it to the filter not letting enough water through to the pump — even a cleaned cartridge whose fabric has failed can restrict flow. | Removing or replacing the filter can restore proper circulation and clear this error; a new cartridge is described as solving the issue where cleaning did not. | Anyone | Surfaced because the reported symptom is 'not heating'; this source ties a FLO flow error directly to the spa not heating. | forum [5] |
| COOL | Per Q&A guidance, COOL notes that the water temperature is more than 15°F below the set temperature; the source states it does not by itself mean the heater is not working, and that it clears once the heater brings water within 15°F of setpoint. The same source notes COOL also comes up alongside a flow issue. | Inspect the temperature probe and heater for damage or loose connections; where it accompanies a flow issue, address the filter/flow restriction. | Technician | COOL is a display message associated with water below setpoint, i.e. the 'not heating' complaint. | forum [5] |
| COOL / ICE at start-up | The owner's manual start-up section notes the control panel LCD may flash water temperature and 'COOL' or 'ICE' after power-on, alongside the automatic activation of heater and filter/circulation pump. | Follow the manual's start-up sequence, including setting the hot tub to heat to warm water to a comfortable temperature. | Anyone | Applies if the spa was recently refilled or repowered and is simply still coming up to temperature. | manufacturer [2] |
| — | Freeze-protection behavior: the manual states that if the hot tub water is more than -7°C cooler than the temperature setpoint, jets pump #1 and the heater will automatically activate to provide freeze protection, and the tub stays in that mode until the water temperature recovers. | Documented manual behavior; the same troubleshooting section directs the reader to a Sundance Spas dealer or qualified service technician for conditions it covers. | Technician | Surfaced because a cold-water / low-temperature display state can be normal protective behavior rather than a heater fault. | manufacturer [1] |
| FLO with circulation pump not running / no voltage at heater relay | Q&A guidance for an 880 Cameo with a persistent FLO error and no circulation pump: verify pressure switch wiring and connections, check circulation pump continuity and impeller for blockages; no voltage at the heater relay is described as normal when the system detects a fault preventing heater operation. | Inspect control board outputs and test relay coil resistance — electrical testing work. | Technician | Surfaced only if the filter/flow steps above do not restore heating and the circulation pump is not running. | forum [7] |
| — | Solid red cabinet indicator light: a critical error is detected and the spa requires immediate attention to prevent equipment damage. These codes typically deactivate the heater or pumps for safety. | Address the displayed error code; the source frames red-light codes as heater/pump-disabling protective states. | Technician | Directly relevant to 'not heating' because red-light critical codes are documented as deactivating the heater. | dealer [3] |
Manufacture date is not readable on the data plate, so no age can be calculated as of 2026-08-18. Age math cannot be stated until the data plate or serial number is legible.