Spa jet pressure question

[JohnASmith]

My spa has a 2HP pump and an air blower. The air blower does add quite a bit of action but the water pressure seems far too low for a 2HP pump. I have tried to shut down some jets but that doesn't help much. I am wondering if I should install a valve to bypass the filter to see if that might help, or maybe I need a better pump.

[PoolDoc]

Hi John;

I don't have any real experience with spas, and they are not really the focus of this forum. However I'm going to move this post to a location where it has a somewhat better chance of being answered.

Ben

[waterbear]

Is this a recent problem or has it been since the build of the pool? How new is the build? Is the pump and filter shared with the pool or does the spa have it's own pump and filter? How may returns (jets) are in the spa and are any of them more than just basic jets?
I assume this is not an acrylic free standing spa but one that is build in. Built in spas never have the same water action that a stand alone spa does. Usually they have just enough jets to provide a "whirlpool" action when the jets are are pointed in the same direction. The bubblers and aerators provide most of the water action. (Also, built ins, if they are plaster, will not have the loungers and 'chairs' that are often found in freestanding spas and some of the acrylic and fiberglass spa shells made for building in.) It is the nature of the beast. Having owned both types of spas myself I can tell you that the built in spas are not 'worse'. Both types can provide a satisfying spa experience but you cannot directly compare the two. It's comparing apples to oranges.

[JohnASmith]

It is an oversized built in plastered spa and is about 4 years old. I just bought the property so I don't know the history. The filter is big enough for a good sized pool and there is about 16 jets 1/2 of which are spinning ones. There isn't enough pressure to spin them unless I run the air blower.

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OOPS, sorry I didn't mention there is no pool just the oversized spa which is almost a small pool.

(posts combined - PoolDoc)

[mas985]

there is about 16 jets 1/2 of which are spinning ones

You would probably need two 2 HP pumps for that many jets. The average jet requires about 15 GPM each with some jets requiring upwards of 25 GPM. Either way, a 2 HP could not produce that much flow.

[waterbear]

You would probably need two 2 HP pumps for that many jets. The average jet requires about 15 GPM each with some jets requiring upwards of 25 GPM. Either way, a 2 HP could not produce that much flow.

And there you have it!