How to Choose the Best Walk-in Bath for you in 2020

Discovering the best walk-in bath requires a whole lot of analysis and consideration. If you’re seeking to make investments 1000’s of {dollars}, you could be sure to perceive the varied varieties of walk-in baths. That you must know what options to search for and what inquiries to ask before you purchase.

On this article, we have performed the analysis and collated the commonest questions you could ask your self before you purchase and the questions most individuals ask about walk-in tubs.

Kinds of walk-in tubs

Whereas each walk-in tub serves the identical main function – a bath that minimizes the danger of falling – you’ve got many choices to select from:

The Soaker: a easy tub. It’s no completely different than a typical bathtub, in that it fills with water so that you can soak in. The one distinction is it’s a walk-in tub.

Hydrotherapy: a bath with water jets designed to therapeutic massage muscle mass and joints to supply ache aid.

Aerotherapy: a bath with air jets. The aim is much like a waterjet, to supply therapeutic advantages, however air jets are simpler on delicate pores and skin.

Aromatherapy: Normally mixed with a hydrotherapy or Aerotherapy tub, the bathtub releases important minerals and aromas into the water for a spa-like expertise.

Wheelchair Accessibility: a walk-in tub with an additional vast door and strategic handrails for getting from a wheelchair into the bathtub.

Bariatric tubs: a bath constructed to deal with individuals who weigh over 300 kilos. These have a bigger capability, a bolstered construction, and bigger door.

Inquiries to ask before you purchase a walk-in tub

Most individuals assume that bathtubs are a typical measurement, however this isn’t the case. They will vary between 50- and 80-inches lengthy and between 30- and 36-inches vast. As such, earlier than you converse with a gross sales rep, you could measure your bathtub alcove so what measurement tub will match. You’ll be able to all the time match a smaller tub into the area. Most producers embody an extension equipment to fill the additional area.

How outdated is your plumbing?
In case your waste drain pipe may be very outdated, then it’s doubtless to not code. As such, you could discover your tub doesn’t drain very quick, even when it has a fast drain system.

How is your mobility?
That you must truthfully gauge your mobility. Do you’ve got bother stepping over an 8-inch step? Do you battle getting up from a sitting place? Answering these questions truthfully can assist you choose the precise walk-in tub for you. If you happen to battle getting out of a sitting place, then you definitely’ll need to be sure to choose a bath that has a excessive seat and doesn’t recline you in any approach. And should you battle to step over something, then a really low threshold step-in is important.

Are you able to afford a walk-in bathtub?
A walk-in tub isn’t low-cost. Even essentially the most reasonably priced walk-in tubs value 1000’s of {dollars}, with out set up prices even thought of. Can you afford these prices? The most effective walk-in tub manufacturers supply financing to make the prices extra reasonably priced.

Do you’ve got good credit score?
If you happen to can’t afford to pay for it suddenly, you could must finance the bathtub and set up. As talked about, the most effective walk-in tub producers supply financing, however solely to folks with good credit score. Financing permits you to get the bathtub for a month-to-month price moderately than one giant lump sum.

Will you want further assist constructed into your rest room?
Stroll-in tubs are heavy. Acrylic tubs weigh between 200 and 500 kilos with out water. When stuffed with water, the load can attain near 1,000 kilos. It’s value consulting with a structural engineer to verify your bathtub alcove is structurally sturdy sufficient to carry this a lot weight. If not, you could must have further assist constructed into it.

Continuously requested questions on walk-in tubs

How do walk-in tubs assist aged people who find themselves injured or disabled?
The peak of a typical bathtub is roughly 20 inches. If it’s a soaker tub, the peak could be near 30 inches. This ledge poses one of many largest dangers for seniors, who’re already at a giant threat for falling, and for these with mobility points. In essence, it turns into a tripping hazard. And if you mix the slickness of water within the tub, the danger of fall on the best way out is magnified.

As such, a walk-in tub is a superb solution to mitigate the danger of falling. The best step-in threshold on a walk-in tub is 8 inches. Most are round 6 inches. The bottom are between 2 and three inches. And for the reason that tubs have seize bars, you possibly can regular your self as you get out and in of the bathtub.

Moreover, if you will get excessive of a typical tub, you could discover it troublesome to stand up from a mendacity place as soon as within the tub. It’s not unusual for seniors to search out themselves unable to get out of a tub, though they haven’t fallen. As such, a walk-in tub places you right into a sitting place so you possibly can rise up and step out. The seat additionally minimizes the danger of falling in case your senior beloved one is having a shower.

What are the potential therapeutic advantages of walk-in tubs?
The Arthritis Foundation recommends massages and warmth as two pure strategies for alleviating arthritic joints. By soaking in a sizzling bathtub with hydrojets massaging your again and joints, it’s straightforward to see how this can assist handle ache related to arthritis. However a very good soak additionally helps in different methods. It will possibly assist enhance circulation to the toes for diabetics. The comfort helps ease stress and may carry your blood pressure and heart rate down. And in keeping with the College of Texas at Austin, taking a sizzling bathtub 90 minutes earlier than you go to mattress results in higher sleep. And higher sleep results in higher well being.

How a lot do walk-in tubs value?
As talked about, the low-end entry-level walk-in tub is more likely to value round $1,000 and infrequently near $2,500, relying on the model. However if you need a very good walk-in tub with hydro jets and air jets, it’s going to value between $5,000 and $10,000. And none of this contains the set up prices.

What are the potential drawbacks of walk-in tubs? The most important downside is the set up and price. Bathtubs aren’t straightforward to put in and it may be pricey simply to take away your outdated bathtub, a lot much less set up a walk-in tub. Plus, at their most reasonably priced, a walk-in tub prices roughly $1,900, however the fee can skyrocket to shut to $10,000 relying on options and supplies used. And set up usually prices as a lot as the bathtub itself.

That mentioned, a nursing house or care facility prices between $2,500 and $5,000 monthly relying on the place you reside. If the costliest walk-in tub prices about $15,000 (with set up included) and saves you from shifting right into a nursing house for years, then a walk-in tub is clearly the higher monetary choice. See, one of many largest causes seniors find yourself in care amenities is as a result of they’ll not preserve a wholesome degree of hygiene. In different phrases, they’ll’t bathe themselves. Sometimes as a result of moving into and out of their bathtub or bathe is not protected. Nicely, should you’re in a position to safely maintain taking baths and sustaining your hygiene regime, then you definitely’re in a position to age in place independently, saving you the month-to-month value of a retirement facility in the long term.

One other potential draw back is the water capability. It’s often better than a typical tub, so it takes longer to empty. And since it’s important to anticipate it to empty, you may end up sitting in tepid water for a number of minutes earlier than you possibly can exit the bathtub. As well as, if the capability of the bathtub is bigger than your water heater, then you definitely’ll run out of sizzling water earlier than it fills up.

A extra minor downside is the cleansing of the whirlpool and air jets. In the event that they aren’t getting used frequently or cleaned, water can sit within the tubes and breed micro organism, which is often innocent however can depart your tub smelling terrible. Select a bath with a self-cleaning jet function to make sure this doesn’t occur.

Can a walk-in tub merely substitute my present bathtub?
Most walk-in tubs are designed to suit into the identical area as a typical tub, with the caveat {that a} walk-in tub is about 40 inches excessive. Nonetheless, normal bathtubs range in measurement. Your bathtub could be wherever between 50 inches lengthy and 34 inches vast to 72 inches lengthy and 30 inches vast. As such, it’s a good suggestion to measure the realm the place your present bathtub sits, wall-to-wall. Be sure to store for walk-in tubs that match into these parameters.

Do I must have a walk-in tub professionally put in?
Brief reply is sure, get it put in professionally. Ideally even by consultants from the producer as a result of they’ll know tips on how to troubleshoot any of the varied quirks associated to your particular walk-in tub. However think about this, putting in an everyday bathtub isn’t straightforward and never really useful for the novice DIYer. Putting in a walk-in tub is rather more troublesome. It requires a number of issues — an awesome capacity to measure and degree objects, plumbing, electrical work, caulking, and extra. Maybe the ground must be bolstered to deal with the extra weight of the additional water. Or possibly tile from the wall and ground needed to be eliminated. Both approach, hiring knowledgeable is the protected possibility. Plus, many producers will void a guaranty if the bathtub isn’t put in professionally, in order that’s one thing to remember.

How a lot water do walk-in tubs require?
A walk-in tub holds roughly twice as a lot water as a typical tub of an analogous size. So in case your present bathtub holds roughly 40 gallons, then you possibly can count on a walk-in tub to carry about 80 gallons. This quantity of water means it’s best to examine your water heater capability in opposition to the water capability of the walk-in tub earlier than you buy the bathtub.

How lengthy do walk-in tubs take to fill?
How shortly do they drain? Most walk-in tubs include quick fill taps with a circulation fee near 19 gallons per minute. This might fill a 80 gallon tub in just a little over 4 minutes. That mentioned, water circulation has lots to do with the standard of your private home’s plumbing and your private home’s water strain. Simply because it’s rated for 19 gallons per minute doesn’t imply your private home’s plumbing is able to that. As such, use a stopwatch and time how lengthy it takes on your present bathtub to fill. Then multiply by two and also you’ll have a good suggestion of how lengthy a walk-in tub put in in your house will take to refill.

How lengthy does a walk-in tub take to empty?
The most effective walk-in tubs both function two 2-inch drains or a pump to shortly drain the bathtub. Producers boast that these strategies can drain a full 80 gallon tub in a matter of a minute, however the reality lies in your house’s plumbing. No matter how effectively these fast drain options work, in case your plumbing is outdated and to not code (which means the waste drain pipe isn’t as large appropriately), then the water can solely drain as quick because the plumbing permits.

Are there any options to walk-in bathtubs?
If the price of a walk-in bathtub is past your attain in the mean time, there are options:

What security options come normal?
Search for a walk-in tub that’s ADA licensed. This implies it meets the Individuals with Disibilities Act necessities to have seize bars, simply accessed controls, non-slip surfaces, and a low threshold.

What options could be added to a walk-in tub?
The usual non-obligatory options for a walk-in tub are hydrojets, air jets, coloured lights, and aromatherapy. You must also look so as to add an inline heater if it’s not included along with your hydrojets, as this heats the water because it circulates by the jets. Some tubs supply heated seats or heated air blowers for a similar purpose. Additionally search for fast drain pumps, cushioned headrests, bidets (jets positioned on the seat for added cleanliness), towel racks, handshowers, and micro-bubble options.

Can I bathe within the bathtub as effectively?
Sure. Each walk-in tub we reviewed comes with a handshower. Whereas not a bathe within the strictest phrases, a handshower permits you to rinse off from the sitting place, as if you had been having a shower. That mentioned, you may also set up a showerhead above the bathtub should you choose a bathe over a shower. Some producers even have fashions with overhead rainfall showerheads.

What does “ADA compliant” imply?
To be ADA compliant, a product’s design should adjust to the Individuals with Disabilities Act. This implies it meets particular security necessities, resembling the place the controls are positioned, the clearance for the bathtub, non-slip surfaces, seize bars, and a seat. You’ll be able to evaluate these requirements on the ADA.gov web site maintained by the U.S. Division of Justice, particularly Part 607.

What’s hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is a time period used to discuss with any water-based remedy. It’s been frequent since historic instances to make use of cold and warm water to alleviate ache and discomfort, in addition to calm down muscle mass and ease stress. With walk-in tubs, this refers to whirlpool jets, which offer deep muscle massages, and air jets, which offer a gentler exfoliating therapeutic massage.

What’s chromotherapy?
That is the usage of lights beneath the water to advertise leisure. Some folks discover numerous colours glowing within the water creates an atmosphere that helps them calm down.