Purchasing a
Walk-in Tub can be a very confusing process for you or
your loved ones. With the ongoing growth of the 65+ population coupled
with the decreasing nursing home population, it is no secret that The
Greatest Generation and The Boomers are committed to Aging in Place.
Aging in Place is very simply the ability to live in one’s own home –
wherever that might be – for as long as is confidently and comfortably
possible.
A Walk-In Tub can be described as any bath tub containing a door that
opens and closes allowing for easy entry and exit. But, unlike a
walk-in shower, you can fill it with water and soak in it. They
typically range in price from $1700 to over $30,000 depending on the
features you choose, whether or not you have it professionally
installed, and most importantly, the quality of the product you choose.
Making a decision based on price only, rather than evaluating your
personal situation can often lead to the purchase of a Walk-In Tub that
does not meet your needs. Since you already own a bath tub that does
not meet your needs, purchasing another one would be a poor use of money
rather than an investment in Aging in Place.
Although the price of a Walk-In Tub can be expensive, the cost of a
fall is almost always more expensive. When you consider that most
people arrive at nursing homes as a result of a fall, and a high
percentage of those falls occur in the bath tub, a walk-in tub is less
than just weeks in a nursing home. But again, in order for a Walk-in
tub to truly be an investment, it is imperative that it meets your
needs.
For example, let’s compare two different companies to install a
Walk-In Tub. Company A is $10,000 and Company B is $13,000. The usual
reaction would be to choose Company A because you think you are saving
$3,000, and they both have a door. However if the threshold height on
Company A’s Tub is 6 inches and Company B’s is 2 inches, and you can’t
pick your foot up over 6” or won’t be able to in a year or two, you have
not saved $3,000 at all. What you have done is wasted $10,000 to
replace your existing tub that does not meet your needs, with another
tub that does not meet your needs. What you thought was savvy shopping
has just turned into a poor use of money. This is why you should
carefully consider your needs and health concerns, or those of your
loved ones before you worry about the price. The long term cost is the
real number to consider. Here is a list of the most important features to evaluate when considering a Walk-in Tub:
1) Is it a framed or a frameless Walk-in Tub?
While the wide array of brand names can truly be overwhelming, there are
only two designs on the market today; framed and frameless walk-in
tubs. Framed tubs are built on a steel frame. The bottom of the tub is
suspended off of the floor and these tubs typically have a 6” to 12”
entry threshold. Frameless tubs are designed with an extra strength
mold that does not require a steel frame, and the bottom of the tub is
not suspended in the air. The typical entry threshold of a frameless
walk-in tub is 1” to 3”.
Because the typical Walk-in tub holds 600-800
lbs. of water plus you, you really need to consider if you think it is
wise to suspend that weight in the air with nothing but air under the
bottom of the tub, or whether you want the floor of the tub on the
ground, where the bottom is reinforced by your floor.
2) Is it acrylic or fiberglass? Most walk-in tubs
are no longer made of acrylic because gel coat fiberglass is simply much
stronger. Even though any fiberglass tub is stronger than acrylic, you
should still consider the quality of the fiberglass that goes into your
tub. The Chinese fiberglass has a very poor track record and
reputation while Marine Grade Gel Coat fiberglass is the best. The
poorer quality fiberglass in a framed walk-in tub will almost certainly
lead to spider cracking in the floor area, and then leak.
3) Is it a hydrotherapy tub? Some walk-in tubs are
what are termed “soaker” tubs. This means that they have no air or
water jets and it is just a tub with a door. Some tubs have air jets
only. While the bubbles are very relaxing, and some air jet tubs are
advertised as hydrotherapy tubs, the only way you have true hydrotherapy
is if both air and water jets are present. It is the movement of the
water that creates the amazing health benefits these tubs are renowned
for. According to the AMA, a 35 minute hydrotherapy bathgives you the
cardio equivalent of a two mile walk. Hydrotherapy has also been proven
to relieve arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, insomnia, the
symptoms of diabetes, MS, MD, and many more. It also helps white blood
count and helps to regenerate injured tissue. To go to the expense of a
soaker tub and not spend a little extra to receive the benefits of a
hydrotherapy tub is something you will have to weigh based on your
health objectives. Also, if you choose a hydrotherapy tub, make sure it
is self-purging and has an ozonator so that you do not have to worry
about bacteria growing in the lines.
4) What is the drain time? The frameless tubs have
a much faster natural drain time than the framed tubs because they do
not change the drain height of your existing tub. Some framed tubs take
as long as 15 minutes to drain. The frameless tubs drain in about two
minutes. This is important to consider because you can’t open the door
and get out of the tub until all the water is drained. Some companies
with slow drain times will offer a “minute valve”. This is an extra
pump that installs under the tub and requires electrical power. If it
fails, it is difficult to drain the tub and get out. In most cases,
your tub will need to be removed from the opening to service or replace a
failed minute valve.
5) The warranty – warranties on walk-in tubs range
from 6 months to lifetime on all parts. The most important warranty is
the door seal. As we mentioned earlier, there is 600-800lbs of water
and that creates a lot of dispersion. This dispersion puts a lot of
pressure on the door and mold, and if you choose a poor quality tub,
this can lead to door leaks. If the door leaks, you can’t use the tub
so make sure the door seal has a lifetime warranty. It is also very
important to consider a United States manufacturer. Good luck getting a
part from China if you experience a problem.
6) Do you need installation? A walk-in tub
requires carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and sometimes more. It is far
easier and more cost effective to have one company install and service
your tub rather than try to hire all of these different contractors to
handle your installation. You do not want to end up in a situation
where three or four contactors are either blaming each other or telling
you it is a manufacturer’s problem and the manufacturer is in China.
Make sure the company is licensed and insured and check references.
Once you have carefully considered all of these features and benefits
and identified tubs that truly meets your needs, it is time to find the
best price. Good luck, and enjoy your Walk-in tub.
