Hot Tubs Then and Now Part 3

Welcome to Part Three of my examination of how hot tubs have evolved over the past forty-years or so. I got my first one in 1986 and have upgraded three times since then and I’ve witnessed a lot of changes. Perhaps no change has been more eye-catching and attention grabbing than numbers. That’s the exploding numbers of jets in hot tubs. In most cases this has been good, but in some cases, simply gimmickry. Let’s see why.

Hands Across America.

In May of 1986, five-million Americans staged Hands Across America. People joined hands and formed a human chain from New York City to Long Beach California. It was a cool, if ceremonial effort, to draw attention to poverty in the United States. After my brief participation, I hurried home and jumped into my new hot tub. Feeling a little guilty for my extravagant new purchase, I quickly got over it and soaked away my guilt. Hot tub life for me was just beginning.

Of 8-tracks and cassette players.

That’s how hot tub technology was back in 1986. In Part One of this series, I discussed control systems and how primitive they were. Hot tub jetting was no different. Sure, they provided moving water which equaled fun and relaxation. As for therapy? See what you think.

Hot tub #1 was approximately five feet wide and seven feet long. It had a total of six jets, located throughout four seats. One seat had two jets for the lower back, while the seat next to it had two jets higher up. There was nothing in the small footwell. I could stretch my legs out all the way and have a single jet for the bottom of my feet. Unless my wife was there, which was seldom because it was a lousy seat. The novelty wore off quickly and I wanted something better and after a few years, got it.

Hot tub #2 had twenty-six jets! I justified the upgrade stating I had gotten older and needed more therapy. Really, I just wanted something better—more fun. Yes, the new unit had massively more jets, but some were so small they didn’t really do much. If anything, the minuscule stream of water was too strong and stung a little. The idea was good, but the technology wasn’t quite perfected yet.

Onwards and upwards.

By the time I got to #3, I actually did need that therapeutic assist. But by then, I knew hot tubs backwards and forwards, both selling and using. I knew exactly what I wanted, and it was all about massaging muscle mass with zonal therapy. I had seats with a myriad of jets. Oddly, some of the best massages came from seats with less jets but more water flow. How can this be?

Getting just a little technical…

Numbers sell. Often, the first thing some salesperson will say is something to the effect of “Look at all those jets!” It’s a little like a used car salesperson pitching a shopper with “She’s a real beauty, isn’t she!” Thankfully, you won’t find that kind of salesperson at Eastgate Pools & Spas. They are professionals that provide facts and educational information, not trite pitches.

Moving ahead, a seat with thirty jets in it looks great. A tub with seventy or eighty looks amazing to a wide-eyed potential buyer. But if the water is not delivered at the right volume and pressure, the user will be disappointed. Once again, industry leaders like Sundance and Mira understand hydrodynamics. They plumb their units to maximize motor and pump efficiency by reducing head loss. Simplified, that’s the restriction of flow by having too many hard 45° and 90° elbows in the line. Furthermore, the water volume in delivery is only as good as the manifold used to direct water to the intended location. Undersized manifold orifices supply little water per jet clusters.

To make the seat more impactful, air can be added via venturis. It’s quite simple: Turn a topside knob to add air to the water which increases the mixture’s delivery pressure. But a narrow stream of water and too much added air can sting the skin. Still, these units look great on the showroom floor, whether dry or as a running demo.

Speaking of air venturis, the more, the better, when used in conjunction with high-flow jets. Quality hot tubs provide personalized therapy either to quadrants or even individual seats. Better manufacturers provide more controls so that it is no longer a King (or Queen) of the Jungle scenario. That’s where one person dictates the pressure everyone gets.

Wrapping up Part 3.

With hot tub #4, I have fine-tuned what I need and want. There are no poorly jetted seats. I have high flow and amazing air control wherever I am seated without infringing on other users’ preferences. It’s…perfect! I see no way of ever getting something better, so I guess my days of looking for #5 are over.

Nah.

Check back soon for the final part of this series, What’s Out of Sight Shouldn’t Be Out of Mind.