Do Inflatable Hot Tubs Have Jets?

I’ve been trying to decide whether to buy a regular hot tub or an inflatable model, but one question came to mind – do inflatable hot tubs have jets? After all, isn’t that what the spa experience is all about? So I decided to do a little research to find out more.

So, do inflatable hot tubs have jets? The answer is yes. They do have jets, although not quite in the same way as standard permanent hot tubs do. An inflatable spa will have air jets but may not have water jets. Permanent acrylic hot tubs have both.

So, what are the differences between air jets and water jets, and how will that affect the user experience? Read on to learn more about the types of jets you can find in an inflatable hot tub and how to choose the right one to suit your preferences.

What Should I Know About Inflatable Hot Tub Jets?

The first thing you need to know about inflatable hot tubs and their jets is that they aren’t the same as those you’d find in a regular permanently installed hot tub.

In a regular hot tub, the jets have three connections – water in, air in and air mixture outlets. The pump creates pressure that pushes water into the jet and through it. Meanwhile, air gets mixed with the high-pressure water stream. This creates the bubbling experience that we all know and love.

In an inflatable hot tub, there are usually only air jets, not water jets. This means that you will still enjoy bubbling hot water, but the pressure will not be the same.

Inflatable hot tubs are designed to be portable and to be stored away when not in use. To make these spas simple to move and set up, sacrifices must be made, and one of those sacrifices comes in the form of power consumption. The amount of power required to run an inflatable tub is drawn from your standard household supply and this reduces the efficiency, speed and strength of the jet system in your inflatable hot tub.

However, when you use a standard hot tub, you can expect to feel very powerful bubbles as the water is forced against your body. You can’t expect the same level of power when you’re using a blow-up tub.

Most inflatable tubs make bubbles by pushing air through tiny holes in its walls rather than through the standard jets that you would find in a regular spa. Of course, the experience that you will have when using your inflatable spa will depend on how many jets have been built into the design. Some have many more jets than others, so this is something that you should research before you make your purchase.

The point is, to get a true hydrotherapy experience you will need to purchase a traditional rather than an inflatable hot tub. That’s not to say that the air bubbles on an inflatable hot tub aren’t effective though. They create a very pleasant experience and can be very soothing.

How Many Jets Are In The Average Inflatable Hot Tub?

The average inflatable hot tub will have around 100 – 200 air jets built into its design. Some will have more and some will have less. A spa with less than 100 air jets will probably produce a considerably less satisfying user experience than one that has over 200 jets, so it’s important to pay close attention to this feature before you make your purchase.

Rest assured, though, the average inflatable tub will still provide a pleasant and relaxing experience. When enough holes are placed close to each other, the feeling of the air being pushed through into the water creates a light, massaging effect.

With between 100 and 200 bubble jets, you’ll find that this amount of air can create enough energy to make you feel comfortable and relaxed. The water will fill with air and will seem to increase in volume when the bubbles move toward the surface. Many people who have invested in inflatable hot tubs have expressed their surprise at just how strong the bubbles can feel.

However, if you’re expecting a deep massage like you would get from a standard hot tub you may need to rethink your purchase.

Do Any Inflatable Hot Tubs Have Water Jets?

Although most inflatable tubs will only have air jets, there are a few models on the market that feature water jets too. These are few and far between, so if you think that water jets are a deal-breaker for you, this is something you need to research carefully before making your purchasing decision.

Even when you find a brand of inflatable hot tub that boasts water jets, you’ll find that there are far fewer than you would find in a regular hot tub. Although the power difference will still be noticeable, you will find that having both air and water jets in an inflatable tub will give you a different user experience when compared to air-only jets.

Having said that though, if having water jets is really important to you then a regular acrylic hot tub will still most probably be a better purchase.

Can An Inflatable Hot Tub Give Me A Hydrotherapy Experience?

The average inflatable spa won’t be able to give you a true hydrotherapy experience because the jets simply aren’t powerful enough. An inflatable tub with only air jets will allow you to feel relaxed but it won’t give you an intense massage. There are, however, some portable hot tubs that have been designed to give you more power and an experience that is closer to hydrotherapy.

For example, some tubs have a small number of high-performance massage jets. These jets are capable of producing a water stream which is more powerful than that which comes from the regular bubble jets and which is useful in soothing areas of pain on your body.

These jets are usually located partway up the tub’s inner wall and are generally positioned in the correct spot to massage your back. Of course, it’s important to modify your expectations. You certainly can’t expect the same quality of experience from a portable hot tub as that you’d enjoy in a much more expensive permanently installed one.

However, as long as you are realistic, you are sure to enjoy the additional massage that these jets can provide, especially if you’re keen to have a hydrotherapy experience when using your hot tub.

Can I Change The Position Of An Inflatable Hot Tub’s Jets?

When you choose a regular permanent hot tub, you can often adjust the position of the jets so that you can enjoy the most soothing and relaxing experience, with targeted massage on the parts of your body that are aching and that require hydrotherapy.

Unfortunately, inflatable hot tubs don’t have this feature. The jets are fixed in position due to the nature of the inflatable design, so you cannot change the direction of the air flow or target specific areas of your body to reduce your aches and pains. If you want the bubbles to soothe a specific area, you will need to move your body into the correct position to benefit from the air flow.

Related Questions

How are the jets controlled in an inflatable hot tub? Inflatable hot tubs feature a control panel just in the same way as standard hot tubs do. This control panel allows you to control the function of the jets, whether your tub only has air jets or whether it has water jets too.

Depending on the brand of the tub you’ve chosen and how sophisticated its control panel, you may be able to adjust the strength of the jets or you may only be able to switch them on and off, so make sure to research this in advance before you buy.

Where are the jets located in an inflatable hot tub? The precise placement of the bubble jets in an inflatable hot tub will depend on the brand and model that you’ve selected. However, you can expect to find jets located 360 degrees around the sides of the tub so that every user can enjoy an equally relaxing and pleasurable experience.

Usually, the jets will be located at intervals along the walls and maybe at several different heights so that the bubbles can be experienced on the back and shoulders rather than only being concentrated in one area of the body.

Do I need to take extra care when cleaning the jets of my portable hot tub? Cleaning any hot tub is extremely important, whether it’s a portable inflatable model or not. Without regular cleaning, your hot tub will be unhygienic and could end up harbouring bacteria that could make you and other bathers unwell.

When you’re cleaning a standard permanent hot tub, you will need to pay close attention to cleaning the jets, however since a portable hot tub doesn’t have the same type of jets as a regular spa there are no specific cleaning methods to use. The only thing you need to be aware of is not to use soap or detergent when cleaning the inside of your inflatable tub.

This is because the suds that these products produce can get trapped inside the jets and causing excess bubbling in the water the next time you fill the tub and switch it on. Foaming is something that you definitely want to avoid when using any type of spa including inflatable models.