How do you change a hot tub setting from a short pulse of the jet to a constant stream of bubbles?

Question

I have an American Spa hot tub probably from the 80's. It has two buttons on the top near the filter, a button for the light and for the jet. The jet button seems to only have one setting. If I press the button once it causes the jets to send out a short burst of bubbles for 5-10 seconds, then stops for 20 seconds, then another burst. On the electrical box down on the side of the tub there is a timer switch and nothing else. I don't see any way to adjust from short pulse to constant jet. Any advice?

Answer 1

The button you press to engage the high speed on the pump, does exactly that, it increases the water flow. The jets work somewhat like a venturi in a automobile carborator. Water is restricted in the jet and forced to move quickly through it. There's an air hole at the top of the jet, inside, that "feeds" air from the airline into this quickly moving water. Sometimes, if the water level is too high or if the jets themselves are turned down (partially closed), you'll get a short burst of air, then nothing. It's also possible that the airline itself is partially blocked, sometimes with hair or scale. If this is the actual cause, after ruling everything else out, those jets need to be unscrewed out of the return outlet and cleaned. It's also a good idea to run the pump briefly to get anything else in that line out. You may need a special tool, depending on the jet maker ( it's not going to be American Spa) to get the jets out.
Look for what looks like a round cap, near each jet or near your controls. Some models have the air control situated like this. Turning the cap counter clockwise, opens the air line. Failing that, your jets may be of the old variety and require you to open each one, individually, by turning the actual jet nozzle. Again, counter clockwise opens them.

Answer 2

on mine u turn the jets themselves to increase or decrease the amount of air and water to them, the newer ones have a air control on the side of unit