How Hot Tubs Work

We all know about the wonderful benefits of hot tubs and how they can help us relax and heal, but many of us do not know hot tubs work. From heating the water, jetting the water and filtering the water, a hot tub has many important components that all work together to provide that wonderful soaking experience that we all love.

How does a hot tub work, exactly? Water gets pumped down from a filter via a pipework system attached to the pump and motor. Water is pumped into a heating element and pushed into the hot tub.

Let’s take a look at some of these individual components and the role that they play.

Filtration

Hydropool outdoor hot tubs are self-contained units that do not need a dedicated water connection and can filter the unit’s water automatically. Depending on the model, a filtration cycle will run every few hours to circulate the water as well as force water through the filters to remove any debris. Finally, the water is treated with spa chemicals to eliminate bacteria and impurities.  Some key items to know about filtration are:

Filtration Cycle - This refers to the amount of water that passes through the filter. In general, the more water that your hot tub model can pump through the filtration system in the shortest amount of time, the cleaner your water will be.

Circulation Pumps - This is a secondary pump which continuously pumps smaller amounts of water through the filtration system, even when the main system is not running. While they are not able to handle entirely cleaning the water in a hot tub, they do play an important role in keeping the water clean by preventing standing water.

Control System - The control system will usually allow bathers to control the water flow of their hot tub as well as control the filtration system and how much water is regularly filtered. This can usually be programmed with various presets, including bather load.

It is important to be aware that your hot tub filter does need to be removed and soaked in a specialized cleaning solution every few months to keep it performing optimally. If you do not want to have any downtime with your hot tub, purchase a second filter which can be installed during your maintenance cleanings. Not cleaning your filters can cause contaminant build up, restrict water flow and cause strain to other essential components such as the water pump.

Heating

After a hot tubs water has been filtered, it is passed through a heating element where it is heated to the desired temperature. Heaters are usually fitted with either an overheat, high limit sensor or flow switch to prevent overheating and recognize insufficient water flow.

Jets

Air is mixed with water to create the pressurized hot tub massage we all love. Hydropool hot tub models feature innovative bearingless spa jets to maximize their lifespan and are easily adjustable and have a mixture of pulsating and rotating options. Our models are designed to produce the most efficient water flow in the industry, delivering a perfect massage every time you soak. Below are some of Hydropool’s non-bearing jet hydroflow jets:

• Resonator Jet - Provides a steady waving dual water stream
• Twin Roto Jet - Provides a steady, pulsating dual water stream
• Single Roto Jet - Provides a steady, pulsating single water stream
• Acupressure Jet - Is a pressure ball activated water stream
• Rifle Jet - Delivers an enhanced, steady water stream
• Massage Jet - Delivers a steady, pulsating water stream
• Multi-Massage Jet - Provides a multi-streamed water shower
• Volcano Jet - Delivers a high volume, large water stream

Draining

Finally, a draining system is required to remove water from your hot tub when cleaning or shutting down for a season. The electrical circuit breaker needs to first be turned off, then a hose is connected to the drain and the drain valve opened to allow the water to flow out of the hot tub. Once the water has been removed, the floor can be vacuumed and used on the jets to suck out any remaining water. Most hot tub models recommended being drained and thoroughly cleaned every three months.

To find out more about how our hot tubs work, download a hot tub buyer’s guide here.