Swim jets can turn your pool into a workout zone

If your pool is too small for lap swimming, or you don't have the space or budget to put in a lap pool, don't despair – swim jets can turn even a plunge pool into a functional work-out zone.

Swim jets create a pressured stream in home pools, allowing for a continuous swim without the need for a pool of Olympic proportions. A basic set-up consists of a swim jet and pump, along with some piping and an electricity supply.

"The best time to install a swim jet is during construction," advises Paul Rice of Davey Pool Products, makers of the Monarch range of swim jets. "You get the best performance from the pump when you design it into the pool. It's always feasible to add it on later, but you might be forced to put the pump and pipe further away from the pool, which means there would be more pipework and bends, and this can actually decrease the performance of the pump through flow loss."

Positioning swim jets depends on the particular shape and size of the pool. They are usually installed at the end of a pool and normally sit around 400mm beneath the water's surface. They work well with almost any type of pool, suiting concrete interiors and vinyl linings alike. However, the pool should be at least twice as long as the body to achieve the most effective swim. 

"There should be a comfortable space to allow you to swim outstretched and with plenty of room around you," says Paul.

To get the best fitness results, swimmers need to keep an eye on the current as it comes towards them, making sure they stay in the centre of the flow. While the speed of the water and pressure of the pump don't change, the velocity of the jet is adjustable, as is the size and pressure of the bubble stream.

"If you can imagine when you stick your finger over the end of a hose and make it squirt, the jet adjustment is similar to that," says Paul. "It seems to come out faster, but it's really the same amount of water."

Swimmers can also moderate the intensity of the stream by swimming close to the source or drifting a little further back. When the workout's done, a flick of the switch will turn the pool back into a relaxing space.