Hot Tub Technology – How Are Hot Tubs Evolving?

Though people have been using hot water baths for therapy for 1000’s of years, “Modern” hot tubs began in the US in 1949. Inventor Candido Jacuzzi came up with the first hot tub when he placed an aerating pump into a bath as a way to provide relief to his 15-month old son who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis.

Since 1949 there have been many innovations in hot tub technology that have made them more powerful, reliable, energy efficient and easier to maintain. Today, we will explore a few of the latest hot tub innovations that are making hot tubs easier to own and better to use!

Massage

Although hot tub jets haven’t changed much in the last few years, many hot tub manufacturers continue to work to improve their massage experiences though smarter plumbing designs and better designed pumps. Many have greatly improved the power of their massages by reducing the amount of plumbing in the hot tub while also reducing sharp angles in the plumbing whenever possible.

Some manufacturers have also begun consulting with medical professionals to ensure that their hot tubs provide the best possible massage experience. Hydropool Hot Tubs, for example, have worked with physiotherapists and sports therapists to develop their HydroTher Wellness Programs; the worlds first automated massage experience. Each of these automated programs have been designed to treat common ailments such as lower back pain and headaches through a preset series of massages that last anywhere from 15-30 minutes.

Energy Efficiency

Although most hot tubs manufacturers continue to insulate their hot tubs using the industry standard full-foam insulation systems that have been used for decades, some have begun looking for better, more efficient ways of insulating their hot tubs.

With this in mind, more and more hot tub manufacturers have adopted a two layer insulation system. In this system, a 2nd layer of insulation is added around the outer cabinet of the hot tub in addition to the standard insulation around the hot tub shell (which may or may not be spray foam). This 2nd layer of insulation increases energy efficiency in two ways:

• It adds more insulation to the hot tub.
• It traps waste heat generated by the pumps and heaters; using it to further heat the water in the plumbing.

Trapping waste heat in the cabinet of the hot tub not only increases energy efficiency, it also helps to protect the plumbing, pumps and other equipment during the coldest months of the year. This can be especially useful in the case of a power outage, where a small space heater placed in the cabinet can keep the water in the plumbing from freezing more or less indefinitely.

Water Care

Consumers are always looking for ways to use less chemicals and get a more “natural” feel to their water. To meet that demand, hot tub manufacturers continue to develop and test new systems that can help fight back against the spread of bacteria and other contaminants.

In the past, hot tub companies have used either UV, ozone or salt systems to accomplish this, with varying results. While they all did help to reduce the amount of chemicals needed to properly treat the water, they also could cause a variety of other minor issues; most commonly:

• Increased wear and tear on the hot tub’s cover and pillows.
• Water balance issues.
• Increased sanitizer levels which lead to harsher feeling water

Fortunately, hot tub manufacturers have continued to innovate and improve on these systems. Hydropool Hot Tubs, for example, have recently introduced their new Pure Water system. Pure Water is a two step ozone and UV water purification system that helps to reduce the amount of bacteria and other contaminants in the water, without causing other potential issues associated with other similar systems from the past.

Pure Water ensures that your hot tub water will remain clearer with less maintenance and less chemicals; saving you time and giving you more “natural” feeling water.

Filtration

One of the most vital, but least talked about, component of a hot tub is the filtration system. Traditionally, most residential hot tubs are equipped with “suction-side” filtration system where water first passes through the filter, then the pumps and back out of the jets. While this system does work well, it is relatively inefficient. For that reason, some hot tub manufacturers have switched to using “pressure-side” filtration systems in their hot tubs.

In a pressure-side filtration system water first passes through the pumps, then gets forced through the filters at high speed. While they are more costly to produce, hot tubs with pressurized filtration systems are able to filter the water much faster and more effectively than hot tubs equipped with suction-side filtration systems. In fact, a Self-Cleaning Hydropool hot tub equipped utilizing this system is able to filter all of the water in the hot tub every 15 minutes! Filtering the water that efficiently means that Self-Cleaning hot tubs are able to run for less time while also providing better quality water than traditional suction-side hot tubs.

Controls

More so than any other component in a hot tub, control systems continue to become more and more advanced as time passes. In the beginning, hot tub control systems were very basic. They were simply analog knobs or switches that allowed you to turn on the jets and set your water temperature. Over time, digital displays have replaced these knobs and switches and more and more advanced control systems have been developed to allow for greater control over your hot tub.

Nowhere can this be seen more than in the filtration options. Modern hot tubs now let you set the start and run times of their filtration cycles. This allows you to save money (without compromising performance) by having your hot tub run more on off-peak energy times and avoid costly on-peak energy rates. The most advanced systems – like those found in Hydropool Self-Cleaning hot tubs – will even allow you to set different run times for different days. This allows you to take advantage of the different off-peak energy times on the weekend, or to simply run the hot tub less on days when it isn’t typically used.

Some hot tub brands have also developed control systems that can be run from a mobile phone app. Hydropool Hot Tubs, for example, are all able to be fitted with the iCommand system. This system allows you to fully control your hot tub from your phone, including:

• Operating the hot tub jets and lights.
• Setting the water temperature for your hot tub.
• Programming your filtration and enable/disable economy mode.
• Displaying alerts if there is a problem with your hot tub.

Wrapping Up

Hot tub technology continues to advance year by year, producing hot tubs that provide better massage therapy while also reducing energy costs and the amount of time needed to properly maintain them.

Read More: Essential Hot Tub Accessories