Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: spa_newb on November 02, 2008, 04:03:08 pm
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One thing I've noticed is that most spas do NOT have an air blower or the option for one, but a few select models or brands do have them.
I like the effect the air blower produces on the water surface when on, is that all they are for, effect or can you really feel them for a massage? They also seem to work in conjunction with Aroma therapy, is this something that can help hide the chemical smell of the sanitizer?
Anyone have an opinion on whether they are worth it or not?
Does anyone here know brands other than Arctic, Sundance 800 series or Emerald that offer air blowers in their tubs?
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My Epic has air also. It allows for a much more intense massage. My husband loves it and uses it often. It does have a drawback in that when you use it, it can cool the water a bit faster. In the summer, that is probably a plus. I would say put the air in the plus column! ;)
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Me too. Love the air.. Adds to the overall experience!
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My spa does not of air injected jets, but my bathtub does. It really does increase the force of the jets a lot.
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Most manufacturer's micx the air in the jets (to produce the power) so "air-only" jets aren't REALLY a necessity. Many of those "air only" style models also have a tendency to inject COLD air into the tub and that's not really something you want in a HOT tub so IMHO, they are not really desirable.
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The air blowers you are describing separate systems from the jets and do not enhance the jet action like the air introduced through the venturi valves. Air blowers are not a must have feature, but they are very nice and very different from the water jets. Cool air into the water is generally not an issue. That being said, it is something you would most likely use more in the summer than in the dead of winter. Everyone in my family loves the air blower. It is also a nice feature if you have guests in the spa on a summer night with a glass of wine and you want a gentle water feature.
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LA Spas offers a heated air injector pump so that might eliminate cooling down the water.
Other brands so far I've found that offer air are:
Caldera
Marquis
Vita
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Yes air blowers are great for cooling down a spa otherwise I see no need for them.
Blowers and air inducted jets are not the same thing.
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OK, so my Epic has air inducted jets, not a designated blower..sorry for the confusion. :(I was actually confused myself). I think if it was just an air blower, it wouldn't be worth much...but the air combination in my jets allows for a stronger massage. ;)
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I know that I am "way" late to this party, but I am now deciding whether or not to get an air blower option with my new spa.
My old Coleman had one, and it was nice to use on occasion.
But, the spa I am now looking at lists it as an option for an additional $1000.
That is a lot of money and frankly more than I think this option is worth.
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$1000?!?
You can get a 2HP blower at Spa Depot for $165. If you're good with tools you can even hook it up yourself.
But yes... they are nice. I have one hooked into my jets as well as powering six bubblers in the seats. It really brings the water to an exciting boil.
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Spa newb, marquis does not offer a air blower
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Any reason why they don't offer one?
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Bob,
Yep, $1000.00
This includes 14 air jets, as well.
1K is a lot of money to me, so I'm just gonna go with a basic package.
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Sounds to me like you have a dealer who wants to try and compete on his pricing by leaving a whole lot of stuff off the list and calling them extras. If you don't mind me asking whats the brand?
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Tman122,
It is Artic Spas.
At this point, it appears that many dealers / manufacturers play this same game. If you can recommend one that doesn't, I'll check them out.
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I do have a air blower on my Emerald and enjoy it. It does help cool the water in the summer time but does not cool it so much in the winter that you can't use it. A nice option that I don't use all the time, nice though when I want to use it. However is it worth a 1000.00 extra? I don't think so and would not get it at that price.
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Any reason why they don't offer one?
I'm not sure of the reason but I haven't ever had anybody in asking about one. The jets have air induction in them which makes the jets feel more powerful but that is completely seperate from an air blower.
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Sounds to me like you have a dealer who wants to try and compete on his pricing by leaving a whole lot of stuff off the list and calling them extras. If you don't mind me asking whats the brand?
I wouldn't really agree with that statement. A air blower would almost always be an option on any tub that offers one.
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I had one on the first tub I got; a Vita. I'll only post what I was told so take it for what it's worth. I was told that it is not a good option for women, due to the way they are built. It stays off much of the time so the water that backs up in the tubes and sits, will harbor bacteria that won't be sanitized. When you turn it on, it pushes that unsafe water out and therefore "could" create a bacterial health risk to the women's body parts. I didn't like the blower for the fact that it "boiled" the water too much, constantly splashing me and my wife in the face. It was on that spa which is the only reason we had it.
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Tman,
It was Artic Spas
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I love the air blower and consider it a "must have" even at the price you are discussing.
It's a game changer in terms of the spa experience as far as I'm concerned.
I've experienced two types of systems, one where the blower injects directly to the main line coming out of the pump and also with dedicated air lines directly into the spa. Both also had venturi for passive air injection.
I was talked out of the blower for the extra money when purchasing the last spa at my father's house and definitely regret the decision.
Venturi only definitely doesn't cut it.
Eventually will add back in an active injection system one of these days.
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I have strong opinions against blowers. If your jets are well designed and properly powered, you don't need to 'supercharge' them. And if your spa does have that option, it makes a mess if you run just the blower without the jet pump on: the bubbles all come up right at the wall of the tub and splash water up, down and all around in a useless and sloppy way.
If the tub has a network of 'air jets,' it is a whole bunch of extra holes in the shell, along with a whole network of extra plumbing. Potential for leaks.
As to daily use: I have had many customers over the years who called me to come fix a spa which was tripping the GFI. I get there and find a drenched blower is causing the issue - when given the choice to simply disconnect the blower and go on without it, or pay a couple hundred bucks to replace the blower (plus find the faulty check valve which allowed water into the blower), just about ALL of my customers say the same thing, "we never use it, take it out."
NOTE - Watkins offers blower only on the Caldera line, but not on any other. I only sold Caldera for a year or two, and the only blowers I ever sold were on models which came equipped with the blower as a piece of standard equipment. Of the thousands of 'Hot Spring' tubs we have sold, not one had a blower.
When sitting in a tub with a blower, you will immediately notice cooling. Then you will begin to breath the chlorine or bromine as the bubbles oxidize the sanitizer and bring it to the surface, were it forms a cloud right at eye level. This is due to the massive volume of air - many times that which comes through a normal jet system.
I used to mention the loud noise blowers make - they sound like a shop vac sitting right next to your tub - but I have noticed that most new tub makers have figured out how to keep them quiet. Now, you just get a huge increase in the noise of the water at the surface, and that's not really a negative for most folks.
Occasionally I will find a customer who is replacing an older tub, and they will report that they or their partner really love the blower, and want one on their new tub. I let them do a wet test, and with a good jet system - which was most likely lacking in their old tub - they are almost always satisfied with no blower.
HTH
8)
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And forget about drinking a glass of wine with the blowers on unless you enjoy a nicely watered down Pinot Noir. ;D