Getting familiar with your hot tub equipment makes maintenance easier. While features vary by model, most hot tubs include four main components: a filter, pump, heater and jets.
Filter
The filter helps keep your water clean by trapping dirt, oil, hair and other debris. Hot tubs typically use either a skimmer/filter combination near the waterline or a pressure filter connected to the plumbing system.
Pump
The pump circulates water throughout the hot tub. Most portable hot tubs come with the correct pump size already installed. If you’re building a custom hot tub, you’ll need a pump that matches the water volume and number of jets.
Keep in mind:
- More jets require a more powerful pump
- Some hot tubs have multiple pumps
- Some pumps feature multiple speed settings
Heater
The heater warms the water as it passes through the system. Heater options may include electric, natural gas, propane, oil or solar. Good insulation helps maintain water temperature, improves energy efficiency and protects plumbing and equipment from freezing damage during cold weather.
When evaluating or maintaining a heater, consider:
- Your local climate
- Hot tub size
- Heater voltage
- Insulation quality
Jets
Jets return water to the hot tub and create the relaxing massage experience hot tubs are known for.
The pump powers the flow of water through the jets, and many hot tubs also mix air into the water stream using air venturi systems or air blowers. This combination creates a more invigorating massage effect.
Optional Features
- Blower: an electric air blower that produces tiny air bubbles, which flow up through the bottom of the hot tub or are mixed in with the jets
- Covers: Made to fit the top of the hot tub, a good fitting cover is key to keeping your hot tub free of debris, retaining water heat and acting as a safety device to keep children and/or animals out. Look at the cover density, length of the apron that extends off the cover (the longer the better) and a heat seal gasket at the fold crease of the cover to prevent vapor loss.
- Control Systems: Control systems range from basic to advanced and may include automatic shut-off, panel lockout, diagnostic fault displays, remote operation and programmable settings
