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Swim Spa Glossary
Dealers and brochures throw a lot of jargon around. Here is what the important terms actually mean.
- Above-ground installation
- Setting the swim spa on top of a reinforced pad or deck rather than sinking it into the ground. The most common and lowest-cost approach.
- Acrylic shell
- The molded interior surface most swim spas use, backed by reinforcing layers. Quality acrylic resists fading, staining, and blistering.
- Aquatic fitness
- Low-impact exercise performed in water — swimming, jogging, resistance training — that a swim spa is designed to enable at home.
- Combo (dual) swim spa
- A single shell with both a swim area and a separate seated hot-tub area sharing the same water and temperature.
- Current generation
- The system that produces the water flow you swim against. The main types are jet propulsion, propeller, and paddlewheel.
- Dual-temperature (dual-zone) swim spa
- Two separate bodies of water in one unit — a swim zone and a spa zone — each with its own temperature, kept apart by an insulated wall.
- Endless / continuous current
- A smooth, adjustable flow of water that lets you swim in place indefinitely without turning, the defining feature of a swim spa.
- Full-foam insulation
- A method that fills the cabinet cavity with foam around the plumbing. It retains heat well and supports plumbing, but can make repairs harder to access.
- Heat pump
- An efficient heating option that moves ambient heat into the water rather than generating it directly, lowering running costs in milder climates.
- Hydrotherapy
- Using warm water and massage jets to relieve muscle tension and aid recovery — a benefit of the spa side of many swim spas.
- In-ground installation
- Recessing the swim spa partly or fully into the ground for a built-in look, requiring an access plan for the equipment bay.
- Jet propulsion
- A swim current produced by pumping water through jets. Common and affordable, but flow can feel narrow or turbulent if poorly designed.
- Ozone (O₃)
- A supplemental water-care system that oxidizes contaminants, reducing the amount of sanitizer chemicals you need to add.
- Paddlewheel current
- A current created by a rotating paddle drum that moves a large volume of water in a wide, deep column — known for a smooth, pool-like feel.
- Perimeter insulation
- Insulating mainly the cabinet walls (and using equipment heat) rather than filling the whole cavity. Easier to service; performance varies by design and climate.
- Propeller current
- A current generated by a propeller, typically delivering a wide, smooth flow well-suited to serious lap swimming.
- Salt water system
- A chlorine-generating system that produces sanitizer from dissolved salt, for softer-feeling water and less hands-on chemical dosing.
- Swim lane / swim zone
- The open length of a swim spa where you swim against the current, as opposed to the seated therapy area.
- Swim tether
- A belt-and-cord accessory that holds a swimmer in place, useful for shorter shells or for swimmers still dialing in their position.
- Total cost of ownership (TCO)
- The full lifetime cost: purchase price plus delivery, electrical, energy, water care, and maintenance over the years you own it.
- UV-C sanitation
- A water-care system that uses ultraviolet light to neutralize microorganisms as water passes through, reducing chemical demand.