Swimming pool jets are a source of some confusion as far as positioning them is concerned. Some pool stores advise pointing the jets one way, while others advise pointing them another way. Some pool technicians will say it doesn’t matter. Here are some of the basics of positioning swimming pool jets.
The swimming pool jets are there to return water from the filter. They circulate water through the pool, while the skimmers are responsible for removing large debris from the water. As long as you vacuum your pool regularly, the position of the swimming pool jets isn’t critical as far as pool circulation is concerned.
Some pool technicians suggest that the jets point up so as to add oxygen to the water. Some say that they should point down to cut down on the amount of pool vacuuming required by setting up a circulation that gets most of the debris to the skimmer. You can try both and see which works best. Some people choose to point them down to avoid the jolt of water when people swim near them.
Some pool technicians advise positioning the swimming pool jets so that they push any floating objects to the shallow end of the pool close to the steps or the ladder. This is an extra measure of protection against children falling in the deep end of the pool, but it does not take the place of a comprehensive pool safety program that involves a proper fence, gate, gate latch, and adult supervision.
There are swimming pool jets that are purposely added to pools to turn them into swim spas or "endless swims" that work much like the swimming version of a treadmill. They allow you to swim "laps" in place by providing a current that you swim against. These jets are great for those who like swimming laps but who can’t spare room for a long lap pool. The pool has to be at least three meters long for the swim jet to be effective. They’re usually sold as a package with a swim-jet pump, and you need a power supply for the pump and a large PVC pipe to handle the large flow rate.