Question about adding a Air Blower

[Gupone]

Hello, I have just joined the forum so forgive me if I am not posting in the proper area. I have just gone through a in-ground Pool/Spa remodel. Unfortunately it was not done by a major company but more by a individual that has years of experience building pools. The issue I am having is as a part of the Spa remodel, we had it elevated as it was ground level and also it was made bigger. The contractor kept the original plumbing for the Jets (now located close to the bottom of the spa) in order to supply filtration and heat but did add 8 new Jets that are totally separate and run off their own pump. The issue is that even with a 3.5HP pump, the jets don't put out much pressure / agitation. After thinking about it for a while, I realized that he set it up to only "Push" water to create agitation and did not plumb for any type of air mixture. Since all the New Spa plumbing is encased in concrete now can a Air Blower be added to the return line coming off the Pump? Or is there a better way to get these new jets blowing hard?

Thank you in advance and please ask me if you need more details.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Air and water in a spa come from separate lines and are combined at the spa jet. No way easily to retrofit that to your spa.

Spa Venturi Tee Gunite

• ajw22
• Jun 29, 2019

What size eyeballs are in the jets?

 

[mas985]

if the jets the PB added are venturi jets and there is a separate air line for those jets plumbed near the pad, only then would a blower help some. But blowers dont increase the velocity of the water. The just add a pulsating action to the water which can make them feel stronger.

 

[Gupone]

if the jets the PB added are venturi jets and there is a separate air line for those jets plumbed near the pad, only then would a blower help some. But blowers dont increase the velocity of the water. The just add a pulsating action to the water which can make them feel stronger.

Not sure the name of the Jets but they are about 2" wide. No separate air line was plumbed. Just a water suction line to the pump and a return line from the pump to the Jets.

 

[Gupone]

Welcome to TFP.

Air and water in a spa come from separate lines and are combined at the spa jet. No way easily to retrofit that to your spa.

Spa Venturi Tee Gunite

• ajw22
• Jun 29, 2019

What size eyeballs are in the jets?

Thanks for your reply. They don't have eyeballs, they twist in.

 

[mas985]

Doesnt sound like the PB used venturi's so you are probably SOL.

 

[ajw22]

Not sure the name of the Jets but they are about 2" wide. No separate air line was plumbed. Just a water suction line to the pump and a return line from the pump to the Jets.

if you can put a smaller eyeball inlet on them it will increase the velocity of the water. Bernoull’s law at work.

The 2” outlet is your problem.

 

[Gupone]

if you can put a smaller eyeball inlet on them it will increase the velocity of the water. Bernoull’s law at work.

The 2” outlet is your problem.

Thank you for your comments. The Jets are removable, they just twist into the permanent wall fitting. The jet outlet itself is not 2" wide. The way it's supposed to work is the inside of the jet spins and has just a small opening. So they don't spin and water is coming out of the small opening, that the size of an eyeball but not much pressure at all.

 

[ajw22]

Can you post a pic of a jet or link to the part?

 

[Gupone]

Can you post a pic of a jet or link to the part?

Something like this but only one hole.

 

[Gupone]

I was told by a pool company that they only way to get more pressure / flow out of the jets is with a High pressure pump. Something like this one. Any ideas?

 

[ajw22]

@mas985 thoughts about this jet pressure and a larger pump?

 

[mas985]

What pump model do you have and which model are they suggesting?

Adding a larger pump will increase flow rate some but it still may not yield the results you want.

 

[Gupone]

Thank you everyone for your answers. After doing some research and learning more about this mess, the PB should have plumbed with both water and air piping to allow for a blower to mix with the water from a pump. This didn't happen and to correct the mistake, it would cost a lot of Money. So for now I am stuck trying to make the best out of my situation. I was able to find out the type of Jets / Housing the PB used and they are called TwirlyBirds (See Pic) These are interchangeable jet inserts and twist into the housing that funnels down to like 1" opening. Another PB recommended that I get a High Pressure pump like the Pentair Max E Pro 3HP (see pic) to increase the flow and pressure. Being that these pumps cost close to $1,000 I hate to buy one just to test to see if it will work. I know no matter what, it will not be like a therapeutic spa but if I can get the same type of pressure out of the 8 jets like what comes out of all the pool return jets, I would be good with that. So folks, any more thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ajw22]

Are you talking about replacing the pump dedicated to the new spa jets?

@mas985 thoughts?

 

[mas985]

What is your current pump model#?

What is your current filter make/model#?

How many jets total is this pump running (8 new + ? old)?

Are the old jets different than the new jets?

What size pipe did the installer use?

 

[mguzzy]

Hi.. I'm curious.. Did you get bubbles from the original jets before the remodel? Or were they just water.

 

[Gupone]

Folks, Let me go back over this since my original post has been a while ago. I had my Pool and Spa remodeled with the spa being raised and enlarged (see Pic). It was ground level before and kind of a horseshoe shaped. The PB kept the return jets that were originally there in order to keep the circulation and the ability to heat the spa. They were once at the level of a persons back but since they raised the spa, they are now down at the feet area. What the PB did was to install 8 new jets that go all around the spa and set them up to work on a totally separate pump. The issue is that he did not plump it with venturi jets and did not have a air line. Was going to use a pump to power the jets.

 

[Gupone]

What is your current pump model#?

What is your current filter make/model#?

How many jets total is this pump running (8 new + ? old)?

Are the old jets different than the new jets?

What size pipe did the installer use?

The pump that runs my pool and spa is a Hayward VS 1.5hp pump with 2" plumbing. That pump will run the 4 return jets in the pool, two bubblers. When in spa mode it will just run the 3 original jets. As stated, the NEW jets the PB put in are totally separate. They are NOT tied in to the pool pump or filter. They run off of a single pump only. He did run 2" plumbing for that. Look at the pic I attached to see the configuration.

 

[mguzzy]

Right I understand that... but did the original jets have venturi returns before the remodel? The ones that are now down at your feet? If they did I doubt they bubble now nor would be able to use it for your new jets. It sounds like they old ones run through a different pump. As I understand it bubble systems with a blower still use a second set of pipes to get the air flow to the jets. but don't quote me on that.