Author Topic: Air pumps and lounges (Read 4748 times)

jnsjr58 · « **on:** February 11, 2006, 05:55:35 pm »

Whats the deal with these two? Today my HS dealer said air jets were just a bunch of fluff that no one really wants, needs or uses. I was also told most, second time buyers opt NOT for the lounger......... Just trying to make a good decision........... thanks.......... Jim

Hot Tub Forum · « **on:** February 11, 2006, 05:55:35 pm »

Brewman · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2006, 06:40:49 pm »

You'll have to decide on for yourselves about the lounger. It didn't appeal to us, so we opted not.
Only way to know is by trying a couple out- with lounger, and without.
Air pumps is the same thing some like them, some don't.
But be sure you understand what is meant.
Our spa is an Optima- but I'm sure others are similar.
We have what is called a blower on the spa. It's function is to just blow air into the water via several dozen little jets placed all over. The affect is like sitting in a large glass of club soda. It's also how our particular spa delivers aroma therapy, from some beads placed in a special dispenser. I could live without the thing, but Mrs. Brewman (who just gave me the green light to buy a boat, btw) loves the thing.
I wouldn't pay to add it as on option, but I wouldn't pass up an otherwise fine spa because it's already there. Nobody'd force you to use it.

Then there is the concept of adding air to the therapy jets. In our spa, that's done via several controls in the different jet groups, and has a tremendous impact on the type of massage the jets deliver. This air injection has nothing to do with the blower setup I described earlier.

I'm thinking it was the blower setup that your sales guy was knocking, not the concept of adding air to the therapy jets.

dpgtech · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2006, 07:06:43 pm »

I agree with Brewman, the lounge is a personal preference some like it and some don't. Try it for yourself, don't let the salesperson tell you it's no good because some of his other customer's may not have liked it. the air blower or air pump is the same way. some companies utilize it, some don't. it's a matter of preference to the individual as well. The one negative I know about it is you are generally sucking in outside air and pumping it into the spa which can have a cooling effect. you also don't have to use it as mentioned above. brewman states what most consumer's think they wouldn't pay extra too add but would not let it be a deal breaker because it is in the tub or not in the tub.

Spatech_tuo · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2006, 07:25:58 pm »

Lounges are fine if you like them but while it's always wise to wet test before you buy it's doubley important if you're considering a lounge as you never know how it'll fit you and your family.

As far as the air blowers go, I find them be fluff as they just blow air into the water to cause turbulance |(plus they do cool it down). It makes the spa look more powerful in the showroom but it's pretty useless when you're in it IMO (kind of like putting a straw in a galss of milk and blowing air into the milk causing it to bubble, "whipdy dooo", but some seem to like them").

Vinny · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2006, 09:57:25 am »

I agree what Brewman said. Althgough my tub doesn't have a blower, the injected air does give the jets a different feeling. The one thing to look at though as you shop is that not all tubs are like Brewman's, some inject the blower air into the therapy jets when the therapy pumps are on.

One thing that I've read is that some air pumps can be noisy so if you do opt for it try it out to see if it's OK for you.

As for loungers, just like everyone said, some like it and some don't. My tub has a quasi lounger, it's not formed like a lounger but has an area for you to put your legs on and it has jets in the seat. I don't use it a lot as the force of the water pushes me up and out.

PaulMc · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2006, 10:50:24 am »

Similar to Brewman's Optima, our Majesta has a seperate blower as well as air injectors for the different seats. I turn them on maybe half the time we're in. When I really like to use the blower is on a really cold night and you can feel the cool air mix with the water.

Guests love the thing as it can blow kids out of seats and create all that turbulence.

Loungers - couldn't find one that fit us. When we retire and move maybe they'll have one that fits us. If not, oh well, I can stretch out nicely now.

I tend to think of our spa as a luxury purchase, so I'm glad we got all the things we did with it - blower, footwell jets, stereo, 60 amp etc. etc. The only thing I can do without is a TV in it. If I was buying for therapeutic reasons only I could have spent less and got what I needed. But in the case of a luxury item I didn't want to ever use it and think 'Gee, I really wish I'd have gotten that feature'. Just my 2 cents. paul

J._McD · « **Reply #6 on:** February 12, 2006, 11:37:05 am »

95% of the time 2 people or less are in the Hot Tub, so keep in mind that you can only sit in one seat at a time. The lounge is just another seat that you may or may not want to sit in all the time, but then it would be your choice. The lounge takes up the spas of 2 seats, so if you expect to have more people in it all the time, probably not, a Hot Tub with a lounge will accomodate 5 persons and without a lounge 7 persons.

Some people hate 'em, some people love 'em. In other wordsw, it is just another way to sit or lounge in the Hot Tub. Either you have it or you don't

Blowers? Well some people enjoy sitting in a cool bubbiling tub in the heat of the summer. Those that have blowers, seem to think they are good, those that don't have blowers seem to think they are worthless and will point out negative issues to detract you from wanting a blower.

Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this forum is intended to challenge your thinking on both side of the coin. Obviously the choice is yours.

jnsjr58 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 12, 2006, 01:46:54 pm »

Thanks to all the helpfull replys. I guess I was looking for an absolutely/ positively must have ......... And I am begining to relize there isn't one and what may be good for one isn't right for the other. None the less you have all been a very big help............ thanks!!.....

Bonibelle · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2006, 03:33:05 pm »

When I was first looking, I got exactly the same info that you did...the water gets cooled off and it was just a fancy bubble machine. And lounges never fit anyone right! To really evaluate if you want either, wet test a Marquis Epic. The Epic has the air injectors and, in my opinion, it gives you a totally different therapy than jets only. It is more intense and invigorating. I haven't really noticed that it cools the water that much. The Epic also has a lounge type seat they call the Adirondack Chair. It offers foot, calf and thigh jets along with back and neck jets. The only drawback being that you can only select a certain "zone" at a time. The Epic is also big enough that you can afford to give some of the space to the lounge type seat. I was surprised because it is my husband who loves the lounge (that was supposed to be my seat!). Good luck!

Brewman · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2006, 08:20:15 am »

To set the record straight about the cooling effect of blower motors- yes our water does feel just a bit cooler for the first few seconds the blower is running, but even in the cold of winter the spa holds it's temperature to within a degree or so of what it's set to.

marks · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2006, 08:45:46 am »

I have an air pump (Turbo) on my Beachcomber. It was only a $300 option, so my thought was why not get it. You can use it when you want. Turns out my boys like it and at a party it makes the spa look good. Would I not buy a tub because it did not have the turbo no, but why not get it on something that cost this much and you will have for years.

Brewman · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2006, 11:41:50 am »

That's what I figured when adding options to the spa.
I was already spending a pile on the base spa, so who's going to notice a few hundred more on a couple upgrades? Once you start soakin, you stop fretting over what you paid.
Amazing how that works.

Hot Tub Forum · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2006, 11:41:50 am »

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