I'm building a fairly large oasis pool with a 12' outside diameter and 9' inside spa (18" sitting ledge). 3' spillover to pool. Seperate 2HP jet pump for spa. 400,000BTU heater. PB planning on doing venturi jets, but a PB I ended up not using was saying I would appreciate a blower. PB said blower not really necessary...can be loud...something else to maintain. PB has venturi jets in contract. Thoughts?
Venturi Jets or Blower for spa?
- Thread starter k alton
- Start date
There are pros and cons to both. With the venturi knobs you get spa controls for air without taking up an extra relay in your control box. With a blower you will have to use one of the relays in the control box and turn it on or off with your remote. (assuming your putting in a decent control system). For my system I have 7 jets. Each jet takes a venturi knob. I did not want the look of seven different knobs on top of the spa coping. I thought that might look tacky. I think this looks okay if it is only 4 or 5 knobs for 4 or 5 jets. Thus, I went with the air blower for that sole reason, and the blower option was slightly less expensive. They make some very quiet blowers, thus I wouldn't worry to much about noise. I guess at the end of the day it is personal preference. However, it is correct that the blower is one additional piece of mechanical equipment to run electrical to and maintain. Just my 2 cents. I can't comment on performance on one vs the other as mine is still in the construction phase. I will say I have sat in one with venturi's and I thought the air pressure felt just fine.
- May 3, 2007
- 16,833
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I was under the impression that all IG spa jets have a venturi of some sort. It would be short of impossible to mix air with pressurized water otherwise.
In most cases, a blower is used when the air line is too long for just a natural venturi so the air intake is insufficient for the jet. Also, the force of the jet is caused by the water pressure and not by the blower or air. A blower simply makes more bubbles.
WARNING: Don't let the PB use less than 2.5" pipe for the spa or you might end up with weak jets. With a 2 HP I would even go with 3" pipe.
In most cases, a blower is used when the air line is too long for just a natural venturi so the air intake is insufficient for the jet. Also, the force of the jet is caused by the water pressure and not by the blower or air. A blower simply makes more bubbles.
WARNING: Don't let the PB use less than 2.5" pipe for the spa or you might end up with weak jets. With a 2 HP I would even go with 3" pipe.
Mark, you are correct. They all have venturi's, which are plumbed into the main plumbing of the spa. I think the difference in options are a blower that forces air to the venturi under positive pressure, or a small suction port that includes an adjustable knob that is normally installed on top of the coping. In this option water running across the venturi creates a vacuum, thus pulling air in. You adjust the knob to increase or decrease the amount of air going to the jet. I guess in option one you get that same vacuum effect, but it is pulling the air from the blower rather than the small suction knobs/ports. One advantage to the suction knobs is you can actually adjust the amount of air going to the jet, wheras with the blower I think it is either fully on or off with no adjustment.
Thanks for info guys. The plumbing conduit IN the spa is 2", but it is fed with a 2-1/2".
- May 3, 2007
- 16,833
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
You should be able to design the spa the same way with or without a blower. The difference is the length of the air line. If you want to bring the air intake line back to the pad, then a blower will probably be necessary. If you don't mind having the air intake line close to the spa, then a blower is probably not necessary.
This may be unusual, but our spa has a venturi that aerates the water coming through the jets, and a blower that feeds air through small ports in the spa floor.
The PB set mine up with venturi to the jets and a blower that sent air to holes just under the seat. The spa jet performance was miserable with just the venturi. I have a 3HP pump and was expecting so much more.
After months of going back and forth with the PB, he finally agreed to run the blower to the venturi feed. The jets are now more powerful. I would recommend the blower unless you are fine with having weak jets.
After months of going back and forth with the PB, he finally agreed to run the blower to the venturi feed. The jets are now more powerful. I would recommend the blower unless you are fine with having weak jets.
- May 3, 2007
- 16,833
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
JeffJeff, How far is it from the spa to the air vent? How many jets do you have and how large is the plumbing?
I have a 1 HP pump with 6 jets and no blower and both the force of the jets and the air bubbles are quite extreme. It all depends on how your PB designed the plumbing. With large water and air pipes, you should be able to get away without a blower and using a small pump.
I have a 1 HP pump with 6 jets and no blower and both the force of the jets and the air bubbles are quite extreme. It all depends on how your PB designed the plumbing. With large water and air pipes, you should be able to get away without a blower and using a small pump.