I'm having a new pool build starting shortly myself... I only recently found out that the spa was only designed with 3 jets!! I couldn't believe it so had to add an addendum to the contract to make it a total of 8 jets... I also paid a little extra to have the waterway jets instead of plain ones. Ours is a 7' round raised spa and so I had the jets placed at 4 seating positions with two at each position. Two positions have one in the back and one in the calves, two positions have two in the back and none in the calves.

I'm interested in peoples opinions on this also since this is my first pool build and I'm not sure what is best either. I figure with the waterway jets at least I can disable some of the jets if it gets too much.

Despite shauney's stuck CAPS KEY, he's given some pretty good advice. It's not just the number of jets, but the power behind them. A good rule of thumb is 1/4HP of pump power per jet. So an 8 jet spa would require a dedicated 2HP pump.

You're doing the right thing by adding more jets. We had an old inground spa with just 3 jets...and they were never in the right place

Another thing you may want to do it to change the relative heights of the jets and positions at each seat. This will help to make sure you can always get a jet on that sore spot in your back.

For example, you might want to do one one low vertical seat plus calves, one high vertical seat plus calves, one side by side seat at the lumbar area, and one side by side at the mid back. (you can look up some of the portable spa sites like jacuzzi or hotspring and look at the bigger jets on some of the simpler designs to get an idea of how high or wide to place them)

I also really like spinning jets. They have a pulsating effect that is more like a massage. I'm not sure if they make them for inground spas, but I've seen jets that adjust from straight to spinning in the portable spas.

My jet advice: top 5

1.Use Waterway's newer Gunite jets... they are awesome.
2.Have a dedicated jet pump. Dont share your filter pump.
3.Do at least one foot jet on a seperate line from the EQ so you can flow adjust it seperate from the back rest jets.
4.Don't flood your spa with jets... some people dont like them and will want to sit in an area away from a jet(s).
5.Use a Silencer 2hp blower on all jet lines.

And...if the budget allows, go with a Pentair Intelliflo pump for different speeds to allow for higher and lower jet speed settings.

Among many other musts... thats my little list of fun jet reccomendations.

Tyler

Significant difference is TWO.

Tyler,

Thanks for the advice... I'm having an intelliflow 4x160 as my only pump, why do you recommend having a dedicated pump? I figure with the intelliflow I can program whatever speed I want while the spa is running... what advantage would a separate spa pump give me?

Also, why have a foot jet on a separate line? I'm using the waterway gunite jets and I'm under the impression I can adjust the flow at each jet individually to get the desired output.

And also is a blower really necessary? I heard the waterways are really good at pulling air without a blower. I'd like to avoid one if I can.

Thanks!

The booster pump is not a neccessity...it's just easier having one. lol
The way some 1 pump spa systems are set up, the user will be switching a valve (by hand or remote), from heating spa returns over to spa jets when they want the jets on. If your spa is still heating when you want to use your jets, and that jet line is pulling in ambient cold air, you are going to significantly starve the heated water as it mixes with the air pulling in from the venturi of the spa jet line. While jets with outside air never help the heated water, that pump could still be heating normally with the jets on a seperate pump if you had 2 pumps. In my opinion, over the long haul, you save money in heating and save a little headache by not cooling your spa as much when your jets are on.
Also, if you are having a valve switch from returns to jets, it can be a 10-20 second change if its a valve actuator...again, not a pain to wait, but with a booster pump waiting in the ready position, they are on the second you touch that button.
Some people may chime in and say their's works fine as a one pump setup, and to each their own I guess...but in my opinion it is a legitimate luxury to have seperate pumps.

Also, while talking about heating/cooling issues, PLUMB A HIGH RETURN INTO THE SPA AND A LOW RETRN INTO THE SPA. You will experience a significant gain in heat times when you inject hot water high and low, as you also eliminate stagnant cold water in the foot well.

Yes you can adjust the flow of the Waterway jets. I say run a seperate line to the foot jet only because, for some strange hydraulic reason and water weight on top of the foot jet, a foot jet in the spa jet loop not get enough pressure. Running a seperate line to it may be a small expense, but the odds are eliminated that you wont have enough pressure.
A blower is, again, a luxury. Ambient air being pulled in from an openline does not compare to force driven air from a blower...your call. It can be added if you're not happy with the amount of air.

Have fun with it!

Tyler