Hot Tub Jets: Your Ultimate Guide to Hot Tub Jets

While shopping for a hot tub, you will see many hot tub companies brag about their large number of jets. You will see some companies brag about specific jets. You will see companies that will tell you jets don’t matter as much as other elements.

What to do? How to decide? What would work best for you? 

These are all fair questions. And we are asked them regularly at our Hydropool retail outlets. That’s why we wrote this piece, so you could see what matters when it comes to jets and what doesn’t. 

What Does a Hot Tub Jet Do? 

At the simplest level, jets are what makes a hot tub different from a pool. It’s the jets that take a hot tub from something comfortable to something capable of offering massage, or hydrotherapy. Without jets, you’d have “a tub of hot water” which isn’t quite the same thing as a hot tub, although some people prefer them that way.

How Does a Hot Tub Jet Work? 

A hot tub jet works because pressurized water comes through the hot tub’s pipes due to pressure created from its pumps. Think of it working like a garden hose. Once shot through the jets, the water mixes in the hot tub, before being picked up through filters or suctions. From there it is sent through the pump, down the hoses and out the jet again. This cycle continues forever, as long as there is water in the hot tub. 

Are All Hot Tub Jets the Same? 

No, they are not. Jets can spin, twirl, or shoot water straight out in a set direction. Jets can be made without bearings (like Sundance hot tubs) or with (like at Hydropool). A bearingless jet has no moving parts and can seemingly last forever, while a jet with a bearing is easier for manufacturing companies to obtain and costs you less while achieving the same effect. 

Does the Number of Jets Matter? 

Yes and no. You do not have the best hot tub if you have the most jets. A jet pointed at your nose only is helpful if you want a nose massage. So adding more jets without proper placement just costs you money as your pumps will have to work harder to move the water in all those jets. Or you will need more pumps.  

You do need enough jets to have a good massage, but having more doesn’t help you. It does look great in the showroom. When in doubt, try the hot tub out! Have a sit in it or find a dealer who will let you try it before you buy. 

Are There Specialized Jets? 

Yes. Many companies have proprietary jets for their hot tubs. Some are simple and some are specific. 

• Sundance, as mentioned above, has a patent on its bearingless jets. 
• Hot Springs has a Moto-Massage jet, which goes up and down your spine. 
• Marquis has a MicroSilk feature that shoots millions of tiny bubbles into your hot tub. 
• Some companies have mushroom-cap-looking footwells loaded with jets to help your feet (Hydropool doesn’t because we find people just bang their toes: Our foot jets are simply built into the tub and out of your way).

Do these specific jets matter? They do to some people and might to you. We’d encourage you to try anything that stands out to you here to see if you like it. 

How Much Does Placement Matter When It Comes to Jets?

At Hydropool, we believe that once the basic quality of the jet has been met, its placement in the hot tub matters more than the jet itself. You can have the greatest jet in the world, but if it’s pointed in the wrong spot, you’re not getting a good massage. We worked with doctors to come up with our jet placements in our hot tubs. In each of our hot tubs, our jets are placed so that your entire body can get a massage, which you can get from moving seat to seat. Other companies focus on specific areas of the body or just have jets, but without the science behind it.    

What Does Adding Air to Jets Do? 

Adding air cools the water a bit, which can be a nice feeling. Mostly, it makes the water coming out of the jet more bubbly and frothy, as it adds pressure to the water.

So What Matters When It Comes to jets? 

There are a few points to make here:

• Jets in the right place for your body matter most, not number of jets. 
• Having sufficient pumps that can deliver appropriate jets to power the jets matters a great deal. If you have a lot of jets but not enough pumps, you won’t have a great experience. A lot of jets and a lot of power just costs you money you don’t need to spend to have a good massage experience.  
• Two pump systems allow for one pump to provide sufficient energy for all of your jets, while the other focuses on circulating your water. Generally, these systems are better because they are less taxing on each pump. One pump system means the pump has to do both of those jobs at the same time. 

How Much Does Plumbing Matter When It Comes to Hot Tub Jets? 

A lot. There are a few things companies can do to ensure you’re getting a good massage. 

• Have at least 2” plumbing pipes, so the water can be moved quickly.   
• Have a variety of jets, for specific areas on your body. 
• Allow the jets to be moved within the hot tub, so that you can place a jet where you want, if you want a custom experience. 
• Have a manifold so that your water pressure can be spread evenly throughout your hot tub. 
• Have the pumps located close to the plumbing so you’re not creating additional travel for the water, which decreases pressure. 

How Much Do Jets Matter When You Buy a Hot Tub? 

That question can only be answered by you. At Hydropool we believe jets are a key part of achieving a quality massage. But they are far from the only part. Here are our key tips:

• You need sufficient jets to have a good massage, but more than that is just creating frothy water and creating larger power bills for yourself. 
• The placement of the jet matters as much or more as the jet itself in most cases. 

If you’re interested in buying a hot tub for its jets, then chances are a good massage is actually what you’re looking for. And if that’s the case, as we said above, we’d strongly urge you to try before you buy. All jets are not equal and they don’t feel that way – your best bet it to jump in and check for yourself. 

If you’d like to find your local Hydropool dealer to help you book a “wet test” then head here to find the closest one near you. 

If you’d like more information on Hydropool hot tubs, click here to download a brochure.