Helping You Understand Spa Pools, Jacuzzis/Hot Tubs, Pool Pumps and Spa Pumps

Many people confuse spa pools with Jacuzzis or hot tubs. That is why it is important to distinguish them first before diving into the specifics:

• A spa pool is like a mini pool. It offers a warm area to relax as you enjoy a massage-like experience. The feeling comes from spa jets and air blowers located on the interior walls of the spa pools. They create a mixture of water and air that forms a bubbling effect that feels like a massage. The spa pool can either be portable or fixed, but most of them are fixed and usually connected to a swimming pool.
• A hot tub/Jacuzzi is similar to a spa pool in terms of how it works, but it is mostly potable and cannot be connected to a pool.  

Spa Pumps and Pool Pumps

A spa pump or hot tub pump may differ from a pool pump, mostly because they need to change between high speeds (to shoot water out through the spa jets) and low speeds (which cater to the circulation of water during heating). This kind of pump is referred to as a variable pump.

You can also have two single-speed pumps. These are pumps that can only handle one speed; they cannot alternate between high and low speeds like the variable pump. The first pump is responsible for water circulation, while the second pump is responsible for shooting water out through the spa jets.

For a standard swimming pool, you only need the pool pump to help with water circulation; this is a single-speed pump.

A Simple Explanation of How Your Spa Works

Your spa may first be filled with water, after which the spa pump and spa heater will be turned on. The spa pump suctions water and sends it to the spa heater for heating through filters. It is then sent back into the spa pump. The pump, through different suction pipes, also suctions warm water from the spa pool and sends it to the spa jets at high pressure.

The water mixes with air from air blowers located at the mouth of the spa jets to form a bubbling effect that creates a massage-like feeling on your back. The cycle continues until you turn everything off.

Purchase and Installation

After understanding the above, you can hire the right contractor to help you purchase and install the correct spa pump. Note that things like voltage, horsepower and size are also considered. You may not be in an experienced position to make the right choice alone; that is why you need a spa pump contractor at every step.