11 questions to ask before buying a walk in tub
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Can walk in tubs be used as showers?
Yes most high end walk in tub have an extension to hold the handheld shower on the wall and when extended can be used as a shower. The hand held shower is not fixed permanently to the wall. It can be returned to its initial location.
2. Which Walk in tub is the best?
The best walk in bathtub is the one that provides a safe environment for its user. If you are looking for a walk in tub for an elderly person you want a sound and firm tub. You will probably want a stainless steel frame and at least extra heavy duty marine fiberglass and a minimum of 3 gel coats. The contact floor should be a non-slip floor. If you want a walk in tub for a senior person who seeks an independent and safe bathing system, all the controls should be simple to use, including a large disk pop up drain, an easy to close handle and air buttons that are easy to operate. In addition you will want at least one grab-bar and a convenient sitting height of 17 inches.
Many of the new walk in bathtubs have electronic controls that have many functions to control all the options, however for a senior person with mobility issues it becomes very difficult to control the unit on their . As they say keep it simple for seniors.
3. Who installs a walk in tub?
It is ideal to contact a professional licensed plumber for a soaker walk-in Bathtub. If you are interested in installing a water jetted tub you will need to contact in addition to the plumber a licensed electrician. Many times the circuit in your bathroom has a lower capacity than that of the air and water pump and therefore it is recommended in many cases to wire an independent circuit. A good licensed plumber and an experienced electrician is the best option.
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How fast do walk in tubs drain?
If your walk in tub has a pop up drain it can drain in less than 2 minutes depending on the plumbing on your existing bathroom. Make sure your installation is performed by an experienced plumber.
5 .How deep are walk in tubs?
Most tubs are less than 40 inches deep. A good seat should be 17 inches high to offer a good sitting position.
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How to clean a walk in tub?
Depending on the quality of the surface material a walk in tub is very easy to clean. If your tub has a gel coat surface it can be cleaned easily with mild dish soap, however in most cases the gel coat will make the tub close to self-cleaning. In most cases just rinsing the tub with water will be enough.
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How to use a walk in tub?
A walk in tub can be used as a regular tub or as a shower. The main advantage is being able to sit down in a safe environment . You will be surrounded side and back walls and a grab-bar to provide safety and prevent a costly fall. When the door is closed and completely sealed the tub can be filled to the desired debt and in if equipped with air and water jets, these can be used to provide additional health benefits.
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What are the alternatives to walk in tubs?
There are many substitutes for walk in tubs. Some persons use a regular chair in their bathtub, a small inserted door on their actual bathtub. These will not offer the same safe and independent bathing as a walk in tub. Others convert their tub into a shower and place a shower instead. This alternative can cost as much or more than a walk-in tub and not offer the same degree of safety.
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How do walk in tubs seal?
Walk in tubs have a small door to enter the tub and a rubber seal covering all wet areas of the door. When the latch is closed it creates an outward pressure for a water tight seal. In addition to the force applied to the seal you have the mass of water pushing outwards and making the seal even more water tight.
10 How much do walk in tubs costs?
Walk in tubs can cost between $2000 for the tub itself plus installation and can go up to $15,000 if you decide to remodel a bathroom to fit a large walk in tub. There many models including a walk in tub with jets, air and water jets. There are walk in tubs with a heater and even tubs for obese and overweight individuals.
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How are walk in tubs installed?
Most walk in tubs for seniors are installed after removing an existing tub. Most walk in tubs are shorter than a regular tub which in most cases is 60 inches long. The shorter tub can be moved and installed an extension plate is place at either end to cover the gap. In most cases the plumbing is in the same location as the new plumbing, however sometimes this is not the case and the plumbing has to be extended to the other side. Some more advanced models have leveling posts and this makes it easy to adjust the height. A different scenario is the case when a walk in tub for an elder is installed with a water jetted system. In this case the electrical circuit to the bathroom has to be reviewed and in some cases a new one has to be installed.