Whirlpool baths: relaxing procedures without leaving your home

Recommendation points

• About hot tubs
• Types of hydromassage
• What materials are preferable
• What are the additional functions
• Features of installation and operation

A rare person will refuse such a luxury in his home as a whirlpool bath. In this article we will tell you about the variety of Jacuzzi baths, describe the main differences, functionality and purpose of these devices, and also help with installation and operation..

Technologies are developing so rapidly that even at the beginning of the century, the word “jacuzzi”, which excites the ear, has become quite common today. Nowadays, a family of average income can afford a bath with a hydromassage, it is only important to be able to choose the right product for your preferences and determine the technical features.

About hot tubs

Jacuzzi is the name of an American company that produces whirlpool baths and has long maintained a monopoly on its invention. Today, there are a number of other manufacturers with more affordable prices than the exclusive manufacturer from the United States..

Hydromassage implies the impact on the body of pressure flows of water and air, which has a beneficial effect on the skin and overall emotional state. The main function is performed by nozzles of various shapes and designs. A water pump with a high pressure of the pumped liquid is responsible for water supply, air is pumped by a compressor, often two devices are combined in one. For mixing, ejectors or diffusers with a mixing flask are used, the first option is less reliable. In the most advanced models, hydromassage modes can be adjusted by changing:

• pump speed;
• directions and shapes of nozzles;
• the ratio of water and air during aeration.

Thus, a whirlpool bath is a rather complex technological device. It is important not only to be able to choose the right equipment, but also to provide it with proper care during operation..

Types of hydromassage

The basis of any hydromassage is high-pressure jet streams. They act gently on the skin, accelerating metabolism and stimulating small blood vessels. For jet massage, jet underwater nozzles are responsible, they are present in any hydromassage bath.

The second element of hydromassage, which may be absent in the simplest models, is bubble massage. There are baths without aeration nozzles. Small bubbles can also be observed in them, but this is not air, but the result of cavitation. The presence of aeration in the bathroom creates a pleasant bubbling effect, air bubbles gently caress the skin and perfectly relax.

A separate type of air massage is the foaming effect. It is found in more expensive versions of the bath and consists in a very strong atomization of air bubbles. Such aeration has a beneficial effect on the mechanisms of skin nutrition, the water literally turns into a whitish foam..

Massage in a good bath is necessarily divided into zones. At least this is the cervical, lumbar and leg sections, for each zone at least 2 nozzles.

What materials are preferable

A classic material that is still actively used in some Jacuzzi models is cast iron. A bathtub made of it is stable, strong and durable, but only if there is an appropriate coating. In massage baths, cast iron enamel is rarely used, more often it is a special earthenware spraying. Baths with a different coating will quickly lose their attractive appearance, in addition, cast iron is very heavy and not particularly convenient to install.

An alternative to cast iron is a modern acrylic composite. There are many varieties of it, and the best examples give cast iron a head start in all respects. Some cheap bathtubs are made of ABS plastic. Such material is decidedly unacceptable: not only does it turn yellow over time, it also releases styrene when heated, albeit in small quantities.

Good acrylic has an obligatory fiberglass backing and a multi-layer reinforced bottom that will not collapse even under strong dynamic loads. Acrylic has a low heat capacity, and the water in such a bathroom cools more slowly. Even with strong water heating, the acrylic coating does not form microcracks, which cannot be said about the surface of cast iron baths. The advantages should also include the maintainability of acrylic: dirt and small scratches are easily polished, and cracks are filled with liquid acrylic.

When choosing an acrylic bathtub, pay attention to the installation design. It must be strong and adjustable and must be attached to both the floor and the bathroom body. The presence of thin (less than 10 mm) threaded rods is not allowed: they bend over time and the bath warps.

With regard to the material of hydromassage equipment, preference should be given to polyethylene pipes and stainless steel nozzles. If the nozzles are plastic, refrain from chrome-plated elements: the coating will quickly peel off and spoil the appearance.

What are the additional functions

In addition to hydromassage, baths can have a whole range of wonderful functions that increase the comfort and aesthetics of taking water procedures, enhance the healing effect on the body..

One of the standard “bells and whistles” is a cascade mixer. Almost all jacuzzis and their analogues are traditionally equipped with it. Although there is no obvious sense in it, it still makes the bath more aesthetic and convenient to use, mixes the incoming water more efficiently.

Some models have an ultraviolet water disinfector, it will be very useful for a family of 3 or more. Special devices are also possible for adding salts or aromatic components to water, baths with a volume of more than 1 m³ often equipped with a flow-through heating device.

In expensive models, chromotherapy may be present – a special illumination, which, in terms of the combination of spectra, is similar to sunlight. It should not be confused with ordinary backlighting, although such a function may look quite attractive..

Features of installation and operation

When installing the bath to the wall, it is important to have hooks that will hold it overboard. The bathtub should not rest on them, it should be firmly installed by carefully adjusting the installation. The drain should be located no higher than 5 cm from the bottom of the bath, otherwise there may be problems with water stagnation in the siphon hose. Most manufacturers take into account the slope of the bottom, but it will not be superfluous to check during installation how the water drains.

The bathtub can be installed before the wall cladding, in which case the tiles will be laid according to the layout of the bathtub and will fit exactly into the interior. Otherwise, you will need to seal the seam between the side of the bathtub and the wall with transparent silicone, and decorate the joint with a decorative plinth.

It should be noted that installation under a wall (and especially brickwork) is undesirable for baths of dubious quality. In the event of a breakdown, even replacing the nozzle will be very problematic, not to mention more serious repairs. It is imperative to connect the bath to the mains through an RCD.

In operation, whirlpool baths are simple and do not require special care, all according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. It is especially important to flush the equipment after each bath. Any aromatic and detergent can be used, but do not forget about the abundant foam formation during aeration.