Is a hot tub with 120 jets better than one with 40? It’s a question we’re always asked and it’s very understandable when some manufacturers will sell their spas on the basis of a jet number. After all more of anything is always better right?
Not quite… if more meant better performance then we’d see cars with multiple engines and umpteen wheels. What sets a Ferrari apart from a Ford is the engineering and innovation in every component coming together to give the best possible performance and a good quality spa is no different!
Poor quality imports with appealing price tags will pump their hot tubs full of jets because it’s cheap to do and a high number is much easier to sell. This will be at the neglect of insulation, energy efficiency, filtration, general build quality and many other key features. Going one step further, imagine taking an already thin sheet of acrylic and peppering it with 100s of holes… then add in the effects of hot water and chemical off gassing… you can imagine the result!
But if we’re looking at massage quality alone which is the main reason people purchase a spa, take a careful look at spas on offer with high numbers of jets… is there any variety in type of jet or size? You’ll find there will be very little variation and your massage will be a basic flow of water or will rely on spinning parts to create an oscillation which does feel pleasant… until the parts clog up and wear out a few months down the line. Sophisticated jets will actually work your muscles and recreate varying sensations from shiatsu to Swedish.
So what else is problematic? Think about jet to pump ratio. Most quality spas will have around 20-30 jets per pump so imagine 120 jets being powered by 2 pumps… this will feel significantly weaker than 50 jets powered by 2 pumps as well as not having a great deal of variance. A small nozzle of often used to mimic high pressure but the result is often a needly sensation which has no tangible benefit.
In the case of spas advertising 3-4 pumps alongside 100s of jets and a separate circ pump, remember that your electrical supply is finite. The extra pumps would have to be relatively weak in order to not exceed the maximum supply otherwise the spa will trip (normally 32 amp for most square spas). So even by using additional pumps, you’re still not achieving the desired massage from your jets. Our Sundance Aspen/Maxxus is one of the largest hot tubs available and requires a 40amp supply in order to effectively power its 3 pumps, air blower and circulation pump.
So how many jets is optimum? Tricky to answer. Jet build quality and plumbing is what will give you the most refined massage. Sundance’s Fluidix jets with no moving parts offers one of the most varied and refined experiences available (and cuts down on the old maintenance) whilst Marquis’ high flow system and H.O.T zones provide targeted and powerful hydrotherapy across different muscle groups. Both are very different, feel amazing and are far superior to any spa being advertised solely on the basis of its jet count.
