Hot tubs are a powerful addition to any backyard, providing you with unmatched relaxation while boosting the value of your home.
Every hot tub is different, and some brands have highly advanced, and intuitive hot tub parts and systems built into their spas or offer optional features that can be added to their base models.
Knowing the basic hot tub parts and the various systems available on the market will help you decide which hot tub model is right for you and give you an idea of all the possibilities available.
This will help ensure you are better able to find your dream spa and more prepared to care for it upon its arrival.
In this article, we will break down the most important hot tub parts you can expect your spa to have and explore some of the additional systems that can enhance your hot tub experience.
9 Hot Tub Parts and Systems to Keep Your Spa Running Smoothly
Each hot tub part has a vital role to play in the proper functioning of your spa.
While some are there to create the luxurious hydrotherapy experience many have come to expect when soaking in a hot tub, others have been integrated to simplify your hot tub maintenance and ensure your water is safe to use.
Understanding the role each one plays, along with some basic care tips, will make maintaining your spa easier and provide you with the knowledge needed to catch and diagnose issues early on when they arise.
Hot tub parts can be broken down into two separate categories; basic parts and hot tub systems.
Basic Hot Tub Parts
Basic hot tub parts are the aspects of your spa that are absolutely necessary for your hot tub to function effectively.
These parts are standard on all hot tubs, with some offering more robust or advanced designs to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency.
Circulation Pump
Your circulation pump is one of the most important hot tub parts in your system.
This pump ensures your water can properly move through your system, cycling through each vital section, such as your jets, filters, and heater.
Without your water being able to move through your system, it would go stagnant, quickly becoming the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.
Your circulation system ensures that never happens and makes it easy for your filters to strip out harmful debris, leaving you with crystal clear, clean water to enjoy each time you lift the cover.
Because circulating your water is so vital, it’s recommended you circulate it for at least an hour a day.
This doesn’t all have to be done at once and can be broken up into small 15-minute increments throughout the day if needed.
This ensures your water temperature can be easily maintained without putting extra stress on your heater, and it’s being effectively cleaned each day, even if it’s not being used.
To ensure your pump is always in its best condition, you’ll want to inspect it once a month for any leaks or signs of damage.
Additionally, you’ll want to note any strange sounds it may begin making that would signal issues, such as squealing.
Heating Element
Your heating element is solely responsible for keeping your hot tub water at the optimum temperature, making it another critical hot tub part.
As water circulates through your system, it will be heated by the element before returning to your tub.
While it’s in good condition, your system will be able to efficiently heat your water, ensuring your hot tub is running at peak performance.
If, however, your element becomes damaged, you may see it reflected in your energy bills as they unexpectedly begin rising or even begin feeling it in your water as its temperature drops.
Damage to your heating element generally occurs from unbalanced water.
If your water chemistry is not well maintained throughout the years, it can slowly deteriorate the effectiveness of your heater, whether it’s by hard water depositing scale on the element or acidic water corroding it.
Protecting your heating element all comes down to your water quality.
By testing your water regularly, treating it with the proper chemicals, and including regular water changes in your maintenance routine, you’ll greatly reduce the wear and tear your heater will experience.
Jets
The jets in your hot tub are responsible for providing the powerful benefits of hydromassage while also ensuring your chemicals can be evenly distributed as you treat the water.
These jets come in various sizes and styles, and each one will have different purposes.
For example, the J-495™️ includes PowerPro™️ FX-D and PX jets which aren’t standard in all Jacuzzi®️ Hot Tubs.
These jets provide a unique pressure that pulsates and were designed to target the smaller muscles in your wrists, hands, and feet.
They are advanced hot tub parts that have been designed with precise functionality, making them an important factor to consider during your buying journey.
Many jets are made of stainless steel, not only making them a stunning addition but increasing their durability as they’re submerged in water throughout the years.
Much like your heater, your water quality will have a significant impact on your jets.
Following a well-rounded maintenance routine and keeping your water balanced will go a long way to preserve your jet function long term.
Filters
Another hot tub part that plays a vital role in the health of your water is your filters.
Contaminants entering your water are inevitable, whether it’s oils from your skin as you enjoy a soothing spa session or dust and debris that’s blown in anytime the cover is off.
Your filters work to remove this debris, pulling it out of the water as it circulates through your system, so you’re always enjoying clean water.
Over time, this debris will build up on your filters, reducing their effectiveness if not routinely cleaned.
If your filters become clogged due to an abundance of debris build-up, various other aspects of your hot tub can suffer, resulting in:
- Cloudy, dirty water
- Cold water
- Chemical imbalances
- Poor water pressure
With such a critical, influential role, your filter care is essential.
In general, you should be cleaning your filters multiple times throughout the year, with varying levels of intensity, such as a:
- Weekly rinse
- Monthly chemical rinse
- Quarterly chemical soak
Each one of these will help keep your filters free from heavy buildup, ensuring your hot tub can run efficiently and effectively day to day.
Temperature Sensors
The temperature of your spa matters.
Not only are you expecting to lean back in toasty warm water each time you step into your hot tub, but with the temperature between 100℉ and 102℉, you can experience impressive benefits, including:
- Improved circulation
- Muscle relaxation and tension relief
- Better cardiovascular function
- Improved oxygenation of your muscles and tissues
- Pain relief
- Reduces stress levels
Your temperature sensors help ensure your water is always at the optimum (and recommended) temperature and can signal when it dropped too low.
Control Panel
Your control panel gives you complete control over your hot tub and provides all the essential information you may need from day to day.
Many hot tub models include standard built-in control panels conveniently placed so you can easily access them both inside and outside of the water.
Additionally, your control panel helps ensure your system is running properly and will warn you if something’s not right by displaying error codes when triggered.
This gives you a deeper insight into your hot tub and will help you catch issues early when these codes appear.
To see the codes that may be displayed on your control panel, review your user manual.
Hot Tub Systems
Working alongside your hot tub parts are various systems that aim to make your hot tub even simpler to maintain and use.
Filtration Systems
Your filtration system works alongside your filters to keep your water clean.
As technology has advanced, filtration systems have evolved, providing exceptional support to your hot tub water.
For example, the J-215™️ comes equipped with a 2-Stage Filtration System, filtering out both large and small debris that enters your water.
On the other hand, the J-435™️ was designed with a 5-Stage Filtration System, making water care a breeze by both removing debris through a multistep process and clarifying your water with a ProClear®️ filter.
Water Management Systems
Water management systems work to keep your water clean through advanced technology, reducing the amount of work and the number of chemicals needed to maintain your water’s health.
In many Jacuzzi®️ Hot Tubs, the CLEARRAY®️ Active Oxygen™️ system is built-in, such as in the J-325™️, or offered as an optional feature.
This water management system uses UV-C technology to combat bacteria in your water by combining light and oxygen, resulting in water that stays crystal clear for longer.
Quick Drain Systems
Being able to drain your hot tub is essential, especially considering you’ll need to do a full water change once every three months!
Most hot tubs include a standard drain system that allows you to attach a hose and slowly drain the water out of your tub.
Others, however, have enhanced this and designed quick drain systems to drastically reduce the time it takes to drain your spa.
Traditional systems can take up to an hour or more to drain your spa, but with a quick drain system, that can easily be cut in half.
Shop Hots Tubs in Rochester, NY
If you’ve been searching for the perfect hot tub to add to your backyard, Ace Swim & Leisure in Rochester can help.
With four convenient locations throughout the area, our team of experts can easily help you find the spa with the right hot tub parts and systems you need, ensuring you’re investing in the right model for your lifestyle.
Visit your local showroom today, or contact us, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
