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—Design decisions

Adding a spa to a pool

A spa beside the pool adds warm water and jets for relaxing. It also adds its own plumbing, heating and controls.

A spa can be built into the pool, raised beside it so it spills over into the main pool, or set separately on the deck. Spillover spas share the pool’s water and filtration, creating a visual link. Separate spas have their own water and equipment. Spas typically include hydrotherapy jets, an air blower and seating.

Design guides set out the choices that are hard to change once the shell is built.

Spas are usually heated to a higher temperature than the pool, so they need heating capacity sized for a small volume brought up quickly. Valves and controls switch between pool and spa modes. All of this adds pipework, pumps and electrical load, which is planned with the pool design.

01Summary

What matters most here

  • Spillover or separate

    Shared water or its own.

  • Jets and blowers

    Hydrotherapy and bubbles.

  • Separate heating

    Spas run warmer than pools.

02Detail

What a spa needs

  • Jets

    Positioned for seating and comfort.

  • Pumps

    A jet pump and possibly a blower.

  • Heating

    Sized to warm a small volume quickly.

  • Valves and controls

    Switching between pool and spa.

  • Seating

    Benches and footwells designed for comfort.

03Before you start

Before adding a spa

  • Decide on spillover

    Or separate water.

  • Plan equipment space

    Additional pumps and heating.

  • Check power capacity

    For pumps and heaters.

—In practice

How to use this

Decide between a built-in, spillover or separate spa, and consider how often it will be heated and used. Plan its plumbing, heating and controls so it can run independently of the main pool, and position it for views and easy access from the house, with seating and jets suited to the people who will use it.

Mistakes worth avoiding

Heating the pool to heat the spa
Without separate circuits and controls, warming the spa can mean warming the whole pool, which wastes energy.
No plan for seating and jets
Spa seating and jet positions should suit the people using it. A layout chosen from a catalogue may not fit them.

04FAQ

Common questions about this

Can a spa share the pool’s filtration?
A spillover spa often does, with valves to switch modes.
Does a spa need its own heating?
Usually, because it runs warmer than the pool.
Is a spa useful in Dubai summer?
Many are used more in winter; some owners run them cooler in summer.
Can a spa be added later?
A separate spa can; integrated spas are easier at construction.

05Read next

More pool guides on this

Filed under new pool construction. Every pool guide is listed on the pool guides page.

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