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Do Inflatable Hot Tubs Have Jets?

Inflatable hot tubs are becoming increasingly popular, but many people who are considering this as an entry into the realm of hot tubs are asking, “do inflatable hot tubs have jets?”

Inflatable hot tubs do have jets, often over 100 jets. In fact, inflatable hot tubs often have more jets than most regular hot tubs on the market. However, these are small jets located on the bottom of the hot tub around the perimeter as opposed to in the side walls of the hot tub. 

That said, you might also need to know how many jets are available in which size, and I will help you with that. Besides, I will also let you know if you can run the jets and heater simultaneously. And do you know whether inflatable hot tubs have seats? No worries.

Just keep reading to clear all your doubts about these inflatables.

How many jets do inflatable hot tubs have?

On average, most inflatable hot tubs have 110 jets on a 2 to 4 person tub and 130 jets on a 4 to 6 person tub. But some brands have as many as 200.

Although this sounds a lot, especially when you compare it to a regular tub, these jets are relatively small – only 1/8″ diameter in most cases.

Why is this?

Because inflatable tubs are designed to be packed away into small boxes and stored when not in use. They don’t have the solid walls of a regular hot tub where pipes can be built into the shell. Therefore, they have a series of flexible pipes connected to small jets.

These jets are fixed and positioned all around the perimeter, so you get a good spread, but you can’t target specific body areas such as the feet, back, or shoulders.

The staggered jets push the bubbles into the center of the tub, providing a balanced, all-round body massage.

If this has whetted your appetite, but you’re still wondering if inflatable hot tubs are worth the money, take a look at a recent article I posted on my website. As you will see, there is more to it than the number of jets.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

How many jets should an inflatable hot tub have?

Most inflatable hot tubs have between 100-200 jets. But as they are just small 3mm holes on the floor of the hot tub around the perimeter, they are not as enjoyable as jets in a hard-sided hot tub which have a more massage-like effect. 

Inflatable hot tub jets are also louder; so it’s not exactly a spa-like experience.

So personally, I don’t use them a lot in my inflatable hot tub. But they can provide a nice foot massage if that’s what you’re looking for.

Also, most inflatable hot tubs are very similar. Some just hold 2-4 people whereas the larger ones hold up to about 6. So I personally chose mine based on the size and reviews more than the number of jets. But inflatable hot tubs will always have more jets than hard-sided hot tubs.

So if that’s the case, why doesn’t everyone buy inflatables?

Well, there are a lot more factors to consider than the number of jets, so if you want to learn more, read on, and if this is your first hot tub, you should also read my recent article on things to know before buying.

Can you run the jets and heater at the same time on an inflatable hot tub?

Inflatable hot tubs cannot run the jets and the heater at the same time. So the longer the jets run, the more the water temperature will drop. Inflatable hot tubs are 110v compared to 220v for most portable hot tubs. 110v hot tubs simply don’t have the power to run both at the same time.

So, this is really down to the electrical set-up, which for inflatable hot tubs is usually 110v with a 13amp plug. This limits the number of things you can have going on at the same time.

The maximum load on a 13amp plug is 3kW, and the heater will be 1 to 1.2kW, the pump slightly less, say 600W.

On the face of it, this must be sufficient to run both. However, to allow a factor of safety, and to take account of the surge when the pump kicks in fully, the heater will automatically turn off as soon as you switch the pump to high speed.

The pump will operate at low speed while the heater is on, so the jets can still circulate air and water and mix in the sterilizing chemicals, but when you are using the hot tub, it is one or the other, not both.

This is not a problem in warm weather, because the amount of heat loss from the water is minimal with just the pump running at full speed, but in the wintertime, the temperature of the water can drop 10° in one hour.

The smaller heater on an inflatable tub means that it has to run for longer to reach or maintain the optimum temperature of 104°F. This, in turn, means that running costs will be higher.

If you don’t intend to run the jets on full, the heater will continue to operate, but the rate of heat loss will still be greater than the heat gained in colder weather.

Do inflatable hot tubs have seats?

Most inflatable hot tubs do not have seats, though most of them come with cushioned bottoms that are comfortable to sit on. However, you can typically order inflatable seats, headrests, and floating drink holders if your hot tub does not come with them.

If you want to put seating in an inflatable tub, you must use the right kind.

The last thing you want to do is puncture or tear the fabric. Don’t use anything with a metal frame. Not only are these likely to corrode, but the frame may damage the base or walls of your tub.

If your hot tub supplier cannot provide you with the seating you’re looking for, there are plenty of options on eBay and Amazon. Look for one with suction pads – this will help secure it to the base of the hot tub and stop it from sliding around.

My favorite thing on Amazon for inflatable hot tubs is this PureSpa 5 Piece Deluxe Kit Set (click to see the current price on Amazon). With it, you get:

  • 2 spa seats
  • 2 spa headrests
  • 1 spa cup holder

It’s also an Amazon’s Choice product and has almost 100 awesome reviews.

Now that is designed for Intex inflatable hot tubs. However, judging from the comments on Amazon, the seats and cup holder will work for any brand of round inflatable hot tub.

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT ON AMAZON.

Which inflatable hot tub has the most jets?

the Intex PureSpa Plus is a 6-person inflatable hot tub with 170 jets. The largest inflatable hot tubs typically seat six people and have about 150 jets.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE INTEX ON AMAZON.

But jets aren’t the only thing this tub has going for it.

This tub also comes with a built-in water conditioning system that prevents this and provides the user with clear, soft water, which is much better for the skin.

It also can be set up in under 20 minutes.

With its insulated cover and thermal ground cloth, the Intex PureSpa Plus is one of the most thermally efficient inflatable tubs around, and the fiber-reinforced PVC walls make it one of the most durable too.

But then it also comes with a multi-colored LED light, 2 filters, and 2 headrests.

The ground cloth also helps prevent tears and punctures from nail heads if you want to place your hot tub on a timber deck. But you should read my recent article on this topic before doing this.

Just click on the link to read it on my site.

Final thoughts

Well, as you will have read, yes, inflatable hot tubs have jets – lots of them, but it is not all about the number.

For a nice, relaxing soak, the multi massage jets of an inflatable hot tub are more than enough for most people, but if you a looking for a real hydrotherapy session focusing on specific parts of the body such as the neck or lower back, then this is probably not for you.

There are many portable plug-and-play tubs available – check out Essential Hot Tubs on Amazon.

Hopefully, this has given you some guidance on what is best for you. But if there is anything I didn’t cover that you would like to know, drop me a line or just click on the links to see previous posts on my site.


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Jeff Campbell