Pools have come a long way since their inception, with many of them implementing eye-catching bells and whistles.
Of the more popular pool water features are pool deck jets.
These jets add some fun and flair to your pool, and will keep the kids entertained at the same time.
What Are Pool Deck Jets?
When people think of pool jets, they think of pool return jets – which line the walls of the pool, shooting water into it for circulation.
Pool deck jets also shoot water into the pool, but they’re installed on the deck outside the pool.
Also referred to as laminar jets (if illuminated), they shoot a stream of water up into the air that arches and lands in the pool.
These jets can shoot anywhere from 4 to 11 feet, creating a stunning display of water arches. Water flow is fully adjustable in many models, for short or long arches.
The stream of water itself is also customizable – from pin size, to large size, to wide spraying, or triple-stream. Interchangeable nozzles make it easy to switch things up at any time.
The Pros & Cons
Of course, when it comes to implementing new features in your pool, there will be advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a close look at both.
Pros
The pros of deck jets are plenty.
Putting aside that they’re visually pleasing, they add a lot of tranquility to your outdoor space. In fact, when you’re in the pool, the sound of the water arches will drown out most outside noise, aiding in relaxation.
Deck jets can be souped-up by adding colorful LED lights to them – these are called laminar jets. When night falls, you can still run the jets, as the entire arch will be illuminated, providing an impressive light show.
The jets can also be angled to your preference. Most pools keep them at 45 degrees, but being able to adjust them gives added flexibility in their use.
As they’re designed to sit flush with the deck, jets come with covers in an array of colors to easily blend into your decor.
Deck jets also cool the pool water’s temperature and protect chlorine from being quickly destroyed by the sun’s rays.
For many pool owners, the implementation of these jets will lead to the desire for more features. Popular add-ons you can pair with illuminated jets are bubblers, waterfalls, and spouts for a truly unique pool.
Cons
Taking a look at the cons, deck jets are, unfortunately, not free.
While they’re a relatively inexpensive feature, you’re still looking at around $1000 per jet.
Additionally, while the sound of trickling water can insulte you from outside noise, it may be irritating for certain neighbors to listen to.
A Cost Breakdown
Installing these while building a pool is going to save you money, but if you have an existing pool it is possible to have deck jets retrofitted.
Depending on the model and installation/labor fees, you’re looking at somewhere between $500 and $1200 per jet. On a retrofit job, be prepared to pay more.
The nice thing about pool deck jets is they don’t require much additional power to run, so you won’t be left with an inflated bill at the end of each month.
Pool Deck Jets Ideas (And 5 Examples)
So how can you position pool deck jets for maximum effect?
As pools come in various sizes and shapes, there’s no one-design-fits-all when it comes to deck jet placement. Essentially, you could do any of the following and have them look great:
- Low Arcs Of Water
- Opposite Arches
- One-Sided Arches
- Illuminated Arches
- Arches For Freeform Pools
Let’s look at some real examples:
Example #1: Low Arcs Of Water
Unlike most pool deck jets, this low arch design seems to have the installation right on the edge of the deck.
This makes for short streams that can “connect” in the center of the pool to the opposite stream, forming an “M” shape.
A bubbling effect is created where the 5 streams converge, giving a contrast of shapes as well as additional symmetry to the rectangular pool.
Example #2: Opposite Arches
Similar to the previous example, these deck jets are more traditionally positioned about 1 foot from the edge of the deck, and shoot tall arches into the pool.
They’ve done a really good job with them, as the arches land in 6 separate spots, but still give off a vibe of elegance, tranquility, and symmetry in this glamorous pool.
Example #3: One-Sided Arches
Some backyards have minimal space for a pool, which is when one-sided arches can be used for enhancement.
These pools can only be accessed by two or three of its sides. With the far side pressed up against a wall/fence, many pool owners will add vegetation and deck jets to add a touch of class.
Example #4: Illuminated Arches
Depending on your taste, illuminated arches might look amazing, or might look awful.
What you can’t deny though is that they’re eye-catching, illuminating the entire stream of water with color from LED lights that are built into the laminar jet.
The LEDs are usually capable of multiple colors, can be set as a single color, and even have pre-programmed light shows to keep the look constantly changing.
Example #5: Arches For Freeform Pools
Not everyone has a perfectly rectangular pool. In fact, many pool owners prefer the “lagoon look” that a freeform pool provides.
Although they don’t have the same aesthetically symmetrical appeal, adding arches to these pools can easily be done and can still look great.
In this case, they’ve added 6 deck jets that converge in the same spot for a dramatic look. By localizing the jets to one end of the pool, it doesn’t look crowded at all, and perfectly accentuates the backyard.
Ready to Jump In?
While it may seem like pool deck jets are a one-dimensional feature, it all depends on how you use them.
With a little bit of creativity, you can present a pool that looks quite different from a basic model, and at a relatively inexpensive price they should be one of the first pool features you should seriously consider adding.
