he water jets deliver a stronger blast through fewer, larger openings. Depending on the number of speeds in the motor, the sensations can range from a gentle nudge to the thumping of a jujitsu massage. The much smaller air jets deliver a gentler blast through many more openings; the more generalized sensations can range from the delicate touch of a thousand fingers to the rushing water of a mountain stream, explained kitchen and bathroom designer Carolyn Thomas of Chevy Chase, Md.
Besides the wider range in pulsations from the jets, the motor for an air-jet tub is quieter, and you can add bath oils, bubble bath, sea salt or therapeutic herbs with abandon. If you use any of those things in a conventional water-jet tub, you can damage or clog the system. And because no water is recirculated through the air-jet system, hair and small objects cannot get caught or sucked into the openings.
But the main reason for the increasing popularity of the air-jet tubs, Thomas said, is that after the bath is over, no water residues will remain in the harnesses, the pipes behind the jets. With conventional water jets, a small amount of water can remain in the harnesses after the tub is emptied; mold, bacteria and fungi can flourish there. If you use the spa infrequently, the mold and bacteria buildup may be readily apparent -- more than one unhappy homeowner has been surprised to find yucky black or brown stuff shooting out of the jets when they filled the tub and started the motor after not using the tub for weeks or months.
To avoid this potential health hazard, most manufacturers of the water-jet tubs recommend that owners regularly flush out the system with a cleaner. Many of them sell cleaners that are formulated for this, but others, such as Kohler, recommend flushing the system with a combination of low-foaming dishwasher detergent and household bleach twice a month.
One of the few manufacturers with air jets tubs is Bain Ultra, you can visit their website www.bainultra.com and get more information on this systems. |
