What is a Swim Spa?

A combination of hot tub and small lap pool.

Swim Spa Overview

Swim spas are a combination of a spa, or hot tub, and an exercise pool. Since the water volume is only one tenth of a typical pool, cleaning, heating and maintenance becomes a nominal task, at a fraction of the cost. When installed outdoors, they take up less yard space and, when placed indoors, they require less construction and vapor control expense than a typical pool. Another key reason for the growing popularity of the Swim Spas is, however, the fact that you can swim to your heart's content without having to stop and turn every few strokes.

Swim Spa Design

Swim spas typically they have strong jets at one end and spa seats with massage jets at the other. Adjustable diverters allow you to chnage the flow by turning the flow diverters from a gentle current to a powerful stream.

It is possible to heat the water temperature from traditional swimming temperature of 78-85°F (26-29°C) up to hot tub temperatures of 100-104°F (38-40°C). However, this process may take several hours. At the same time, the pool is so well insulated it may take a few days to cool back down to swimming/ water-aerobics temperature.

Swim Spa Installation

Many people are actually putting in swim spas in their yards instead of building expensive pools. Unlike a large pool, it is much less expensive to install and requires less humidity control. The Swim Spa requires as little as 8' x14' or 8' x 17' of floor space plus a 3' x 8' area for the equipment.

A swim spa Pool can be installed in-ground, above-ground or half and half. It must sit on a compact level base capable of supporting 200 lbs. per sq. ft (92.5Kg). The equipment can be submerged or above-ground, but not more than 20 ft. of pipe length from the swim jets.

Types of Swim Spas

Swim Spa Molded Shells to Put into a Deck

Just like hot tubs, most Swim Spas are molded from acrylic. You can get the shell separately and then set it into a deck in any way you wish. The pumps, heater, filter and equipment can be located wherever you choose, for example, hidden under the deck.

Self-Contained Portable Swim Spa

Many Swim Spas are available completely pre-built. These are called Self-Contained or Portable. Although large, they do not have to be permanently installed and can be moved in a yard or taken with you when you move. These units are fast becoming the most popular style of Swim Spas because of the ease of installation, and the fact that all the pumps, jets, filters, heater and equipment are completely inside the unit.

Component or Modular Designed Units

Endless Pools is one of the first companies to develop this Swim Spa, or "endless" swimming pool concept a number of years ago. Their primary product is the Original Endless Pool. Because of its modular design, it can be installed indoors in existing spaces. All of the components of an Original Endless Pool fit easily through doorways and down stairs. Custom sidings supplement the standard options offered. Because they use a heavy gauge vinyl liner inside the steel wall panels (just like a standard steel wall in-ground swimming pool), you are not constrained by a hard shell mold. If you want multiple and specific water depths, you can have them because you can make it any size you want.

Self-Contained Fast-Lane Swim Spa Jets

There is a new invention called a Fast Lane Swim Jet unit that can be been retrofitted into existing swimming pools. This is a recent innovation by Endless Pools. You can add a Fast Lane Swim Jet unit to most in-ground or above ground pools and instantly have a water current in your existing pool to allow you to endlessly swim against the current.

Out of the Ordinary

The picture at the top of this page is not an ordinary swim spa because it is circular. Most are rectangular. Learn more about the different types of swim spas at this site.

Definitions

• Endless Pool
• Swim Spa
• Exercise Pool

What's New

11 / 08 / 10

This swim spa website is a new project and a work in progress. Please keep coming back to read the new articles about the latest swim spas, advice, and swim spa health tips. We would love your feedback! Contact us with your comments and ideas.

Testimonials

"The convenience of having the ability to swim at home cannot be over-emphasized. I have swum as early as 4:30 am and as late as 1:00 in the morning — nearly around the clock."

Peter C., Palmyra, VA