Buying Questions

The number of jets in a hot tub determines how much water flow is needed from the pump. Jet counts in excess of 55 jets give rise to more horse power, less efficient pumps, which inevitably increases the cost of operating the spa. If a spa with more than thirty jets is not adequately powered the result will be low pressure, leading to inadequate water flow, resulting in weak jet performance.

Be aware of being misled over jet counts, a jet may have one orifice or up to ten orifices. Jet count means actual jets not the number of holes within each jet. For instance a hot tub with one hundred orifices in fact may only be ten jets each with ten orifices. At H2O spas we count numbers of jets, so in our spa line up, a hot tub with thirty jets, will have thirty separate molded jets.The pump size is in ratio to the number of jets not orifices.

This question is difficult to answer unless you have a predetermined requirement like how many people will be using the spa. This will answer the first part of the question and determine the physical size of spa you need.

  • How much space have you allocated for your spa? Is it close the house? If it is too far away from the house it will not be used as much as if it is within 20 feet of the house. Remember location, location, location! Being too far away will deter you from using it particularly in adverse weather conditions.
  • Visit your closest manufacturer’s dealer store and collect as much information as possible including any literature. Make sure you ask for information on the running costs of the spa during normal use.
  • Be aware that some manufacturers call their spas “8 man” when there are clearly only 5 seats with jets. As a simple rule of thumb, count only seats with jets when calculating the number of useable seats in the spa.

Remember each person also needs leg space. The superior size and depth found in the footwell of a H2O spa allows you to put your feet directly down in front of you in a natural seating position.this allows everyone their own foot space. Never buy a spa without sitting in it with or without water to assess the seating comfort.

Jets work to stimulate blood flow to tired muscles.It is not necessarily the case that more jets are better.  Jet positioning is far more important than how many jets you have because it’s the positioning that decides where the water stream lands, preferably, on your muscles and not your skeleton. Look for jets to work in pairs, massaging muscles each side of the spine.
Again as with jet count, air and water jet counts can be confusing. Some manufacturers install small air outlets into the spa and count them as jets. They are in fact not jets but air ports intended to add ‘bubbling’ to the spa water. They have no significant value, in as much as they just release air into the water giving the impression of therapeutic value, where in fact they just cool the water. It is another way for a manufacturer to show an increased  jet count deliberately misleading the customer. The air jets have no mechanical operating controls and therefore are either on or off. When cool air is drawn in through the small ports of the jet and exhaled into the spa it gives the impression of rigorous jet action when, in fact, it is just cooling air being injected into the spa. In particular ,be aware of spas for sale with literally hundreds of jets, they will probably have a large percentage of air only ports.
The answer is based on the number and size of the jets in the spa. Each jet is designed to work with a maximum water flow and H2O engineers calculate the total water flow required for all the jets in the spa and size the jet pump accordingly by using the most efficient combination of pumps.
One pump can be enough to give you the therapeutic experience you want. Remember not all hot tubs are created equal; many manufacturers have very different interpretations on horse power, numbers of jets etc. All of these factors will impact or have some relationship to what experience you will achieve in your spa.

The spa water is sanitized using either Chlorine or Bromine but the clarity of the water relies on the water passing through the built-in filtration system. Depending on the manufacturer this can be achieved in two ways;

Timed Filtration – A system can be designed so that the large jet pump is programmed to run on its low speed setting for a predetermined length of time, pulling water into the filter and removing particles. The limitations to a system such as this is are that the jet pump has to run for a minimum period of 4 hours, twice a day, which can be noisy and not very energy efficient. Also, because the jet pump is filtering and pushing the water through the heater there are a number of restrictions to the water flow that slow the flow of water to the jets when high speed is engaged. This method is used mainly to save money because if you don’t have to install a circulation pump you save money but remember a spa without a circulation pump is a lesser product.

Continuous 24/7 Filtration – H2O spas recommend using a dedicated small circulation pump to perform water filtration. This small pump uses very little energy, is quiet  and ensures your spa water is always crystal clear. A bonus of this system is that the now dedicated 2-speed jet pump is available to be plumbed directly to the jets to give the maximum flow of water.

A filters ability to clean a spa is dependent on the density of the filter material and the amount of water flowing through the filter. To optimize these parameters, filters are made from 20 micron weave to trap the majority of particles without being to dense to restrict water flow. A H2O spa with the 24/7 circ master pump passes 30 gpm constantly through the filter to give optimum cleaning performance.

The overall surface area of a filter is how the filter is measured i.e. 25 sq ft. means that if all the pleats of the filter were flattened out the total material used to make the filter would cover an area of 25sq.ft. Having a larger filter means that there is more surface area to hold particles between filters cleanings.

Several spa manufactures have always insisted that the only way to insulate a spa is with “full urethane foam”. In this method all the glued plumbing within the spa is covered using a sprayed-on foam. This method was fine twenty years ago but like many materials, safer, better alternatives have been developed.  Certainly urethane foam is acceptable as an insulator  but more often than not it is primarily used as a structural backup. Where there is limited structural integrity, urethane foam is used as a substitution because it “holds together all the components of the spa” and compensates for a limited engineered structure. Alternates to full foam spas have been developed to address the issue of gaining access to the plumbing within the spa. H2O spas has developed its own unique Multi Layer Insulation System. (read more in UNIQUE FEATURES)
No. Horse power ratings on motors are not proportional with water flow and are sometimes misleading as they are not the true working horse power but the motors’ break down horse power that if achieved, would cause the motor to fail. The horse power rating of a motor refers more to the energy consumption required to operate the motor. At H2O spas we strive to provide the optimum water flow using the least horse power because we know this to be the most energy efficient and environmentally responsible solution.

The Pros of using urethane foam:

  • It is used primarily to insulate the hot tub against the environment therefore reducing operating costs.
  • Secondly it can be used as a substitute to structural support where there is little or no frame structure. Imagine a large block of foam with everything trapped inside.

The Cons of using urethane foam:

  • Urethane spray foam used for insulating hot tubs is a two part chemical product that when mixed, results in an expanding foam component. It is used under strict safety codes because of the unhealthy ‘off gassing’ fumes.
  • The resulting foam expands into the cavities of the hot tub solidifying as it cures sealing all ventilating apertures. We all have to breathe, so does your hot tub. Preventing air circulation inside the cavity of the hot tub creates the perfect condition for possible future mold growth.
  • Once the hot tub has been foam filled it is extremely difficult to service the tub particularly if you experience a water leak in the complex plumbing underneath the tub. A simple plumbing defect can take hours to trace and repair. Tracing the leak becomes more difficult than the actual repair
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  • The biggest problem occurs after the repair has been completed and you have taken out the wet foam to reach the leak area? What do you use to replace the insulation you have removed? Usually this is done with an expensive canned substitute of the foam which inevitable does not have the same insulation properties of the originally installed foam – in other words it is being replaced with a substitute that may possibly affect the insulation qualities of the hot tub. There is also the problem of discarding the saturated foam which must be packed separately and isolated from normal garbage.

  • Any water contamination from the internal plumbing deteriorates the foam creating a sludge that is prone to mold growth and if the foam has been used as a structural substitute, this can possibly weaken the spa.

Our tests show that the insulation benifits of partially removing some insulation from one side of the hot tub are outweighed by replacing the insulation with electronic equipment and two electric motors, each one generating surplus heat. In fact the two motors generate so much heat that we evacuate the surplus heat and pipe it to the air intakes of the spa jets, thus supplying warm air automatically when the jet pumps are engaged.
  • Practical to use; anyone can handle it safely. Sold in most hardware stores this amazing material is readily available
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  • Can be removed and replaced without instruction, just use a common sense approach when handling this material.

  • Roxul is  fire retardant. Even when held to a naked flame it will not ignite.
  • Environmentally prudent; disposal, if required, can be the same as with any house hold garbage
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  • Water repellent. If a leak occurs in the tub it cannot damage the ROXUL. Being water repellent,  moisture will pass right through the Roxul leaving it completely dry.
  • Deterrent against rodents because it is an inert material made from lava rock that cannot be eaten or affected by animals
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  • Recyclable; there is no need to throw it away. Just store it in a dry enviroment for future use.
  • Roxul has an R Value equal to or better than traditional insulation materials including low density open cell urethane foam.
  • Roxul is used in many commercial and residential buildings costing millions of dollars. Does it make sense to use such an amazing material in a product costing much less, OF COURSE IT DOES, that is why we led the way by using ROXUL as an insulating system in all H2Ospas
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  • How much is your house worth? hundreds of thousands of dollars? Most houses are now built using ROXUL Insulation, it makes sense to use it as an insulator in your hot tub.

  • Helps reduce equipment noise. ROXUL is renowned for its ability to capture noise and is used extensively as a noise barrier.
H2O spas are manufactured with the motors and electronics located inside the front of the spa. This makes it very easy to access all of the equipment during regular maintenance. Some spas have motors housed on more than one side of the spa which makes it very difficult to position the spa against a wall or in a deck. Never purchase blindly, always insist on seeing the area where the equipment is housed it will tell you a lot about the quality of construction. Because we manufacture all H2O spas with a dedicated structural frame, we are able to assemble our product in a modular style. This means that if there any maintenance issues or need for repair, the hot tub is completely accessible from all sides.
It is widely quoted that only full urethane foam insulation can restrict the movement of the plumbing lines in traditional spas therefore preventing any vibration in the plumbing. A H2O spa is not your traditional spa. The development of highly efficient and balanced water delivery systems have eliminated plumbing vibration and movement. As an additional measure, in a H2O spa, the weight of water within the plumbing lines is supported by custom supports built into the fiberglass shell.
NO, not all spa warranties are the same. At H2O spas we go to great lengths to separate ourselves from the competition. We work closely with our dealer network to ensure that we are not associated with exaggerated product claims that can lead to future ambiguity.  Not all warranties are genuine in their intention, read them carefully.
Location, location, location Always make sure that your hot tub is located as close to the house as possible. It has to be convenient in case of adverse weather conditions. If you intend using your hot tub frequently, then close to the house makes sense; protection from the weather while accessing the hot tub is essential.
It is very easy to maintain your hot tub.

  • The first task is to make sure your spa is visually clean. That means that you have cleaned the acrylic surface. This can be achieved by simply wiping the acrylic surface with a clean cloth and no detergents or cleaning liquids other than those designed specifically for the purpose. The acrylic surface will not withstand abuse with harsh chemicals or toxic cleaners.
  • Do not use any chemicals on the cabinet, acrylic surface or on the equipment.
  • All H2O spas are made from acrylic, fiberglass and plastic. These materials have been chosen for their longevity and ability to look new even after years of use.
We have measured the cost of using your hot tub under normal use conditions. How you use your spa can greatly influence the cost of operation and obviously some people will use their tub more or less often, in which case, the average may not apply to them. Our reasearch along with the feedback of our customers’, suggests that an average monthly Hydro cost should run between $15 and $30 depending on your location.
Prior to you emptying your spa,  you should reduce the sanitizer content of the spa. This means that you should refrain from putting any Chlorine or Bromine into the spa . You can then add a product to the water that eliminates sanitizer. To empty your spa simply connect your garden hose to the drain connector in the equipment enclosure and place the other end of the hose into the storm drain. If all sanitizer has been removed from the spa, it is safe to run the water onto your lawn.
Yes, here is the reason why. If the cover is not properly fitted onto the spa when not in use, the heat  will escape and cool the water. When this happens the electronic controller will call for heat from the heater until the required temperature is reached. The call for heat will continue indefinitely until the temperature is maintained. If you lose heat from the cover it will cost you money. So, make sure the cover is always properly fitted.

The simple rule for leak detection is water loss. If you observe a reduction in the water level of your spa you should refill the tub to your desired level and check again at the same time the next day. If the same loss occurs call the dealer and explain the circumstances.


  • Another indicator is that you see evidence of water stain on the pad underneath the hot tub. If it is persistent and maybe worsens, again, call the dealer.

  • Do not attempt to repair the spa even if you locate the leak; the spa is made from specialty parts and is best left to the service technician.  Read the warranty claim document to make sure the repair is covered under warranty. If the warranty has expired get a second opinion and a quotation before the repair is started.