Skip to content

Clover Education Website

Hot Tub Horsepower: the Right Amount for Optimal Performance

Are you looking for a new hot tub but not a tub? Don’t know how much horsepower your next hot tub should have or how many pumps you need?  Why do the numbers not make sense?  In this article, We will help you demystify hot tub horsepower.

Breakdown vs Continuous

One of the most significant specifications of a hot tub is horsepower, typically shown as “hp.” Many customers we have dealt with over the years when shopping become fixated over this number and why it’s better than another hot tub they just looked at. 

In the real world of Hot Tub Pumps, the numbers tell the story if you know how to read them.  Every pump has two hp numbers: continuous and breakdown. One is a high number, and the other is relatively low.  

This is important because Many manufacturers only print one of these numbers in their literature, and it’s always the more favorable number.

 

Example #1 From Viking Spas. 

Viking Heritage Pump Specifications

Hot Tub Horsepower is Confusing​

 

Example #2 From Hotspring Spas

Hotpsring Grandee Pump Specifications

SNS
 

The Grandee also has two pumps. Both pumps are 2.5hp continuous, for a total of 5hp. Notice that hotspring also gives us breakdown torque: 5.2hp, same as Viking for 10.4hp.

 

Confusing?

Here is what we are looking at. Breakdown torque HP is how much HP the motor puts out in the first 1/10th of a second when the pump starts. Hotspring gave us both breakdown HP and Continuous Duty HP. As the name implies, it is the continuous HP while the jet pump is running.

If you don’t know what the continuous duty HP is on the brand of hot tub you own or are looking at, then you don’t have an accurate way to compare it to another hot tub. I would not say these manufacturers are misleading you by only printing one number; they use the higher numbers so you take an interest in their product and hopefully buy it.

 

So, does the pump with the more significant horsepower win, and should I have more than one pump? The answer is yes and no. A Hot Tub has many complex plumbing lines and fittings, which impacts water flow.

The first factor in a hot tub is the number of jets. The more jets, the more you divide up the water flow, which in turn results in less pressure. Next is the size of the jet lines themselves. The larger the diameter of the plumbing line, the more horsepower you need to maintain good pressure.

Other factors, like the number of manifolds and 90-degree connections in the hot tub, also reduce flow. These factors determine how much HP you need and how many pumps you should have. As a manufacturer, you have to balance all of these in the design of your product and at the price point you want to sell it for.

The number of jet pumps and horsepower you need is all relevant to what we just covered. My best answer is to go to a showroom, have a salesperson turn on the tub, and put your hand in front of the different jets.

Better yet, schedule a wet test and take a soak in the hot tubs you are interested in. Without even looking at those numbers, you will quickly discover which hot tubs are weak and which are more powerful.

You may find that the hot tub you like the best doesn’t have more than one pump or a lot of horsepower. It may not even have a lot of jets. I have a hotspring spa with one low-hp pump that puts out amazing pressure. So, it’s not always about the numbers.

 

In Conclusion

Navigating the realm of hot tub horsepower can be a perplexing journey for many buyers. The allure of higher numbers can often overshadow the considerations necessary for optimal performance.

Their brochures and specifications present impressive numbers but could be selectively chosen to showcase the best aspects of their products. The truth lies in understanding what these numbers represent and how they translate into real-world experiences.

Factors like the number of jets and the size of plumbing lines, manifolds, and connections influence a hot tub's effectiveness. Together, these variables determine a hot tub’s ideal horsepower and pump configuration.

Ultimately, the best approach to demystifying hot tub horsepower is hands-on. A visit to a showroom, where you can feel the water pressure from different jets, or scheduling a wet test to experience the tubs firsthand can provide insights that numbers alone cannot convey. The perfect hot tub for you might not boast the highest horsepower or multiple pumps.

So, as you embark on your hot tub journey, remember that the ideal choice may not always be the one with the most impressive horsepower—it’s about finding the perfect blend of design, functionality, and personal satisfaction.