Individuals select walk-in tubs for 2 primary causes: security and accessibility. This tub goes past the same old perform of a tub, with particular options that cater to individuals with particular bathing wants. Whereas it’s extra pricey than conventional tubs, it’s a smart funding in case you assume long run. Its modern security options can prevent on emotional and monetary prices of an assisted dwelling middle–or worse–an ER go to, making it extremely really helpful by toilet security specialists.
Whether or not you’re repurchasing or a first-time purchaser, it’s finest to do correct analysis first. The very last thing you need is to purchase the improper product and waste your time, effort and cash. How can I be certain that Mother doesn’t slip whereas bathing? What can I do to make it simpler for Dad to get into the tub? Discover solutions to those questions with this full walk-in tub purchaser’s information and uncover your self the wonders of a walk-in tub.
What’s a walk-in tub?
The Stroll-in tub’s most defining characteristic is its walk-in design, the place customers are capable of straight stroll into the bathtub. This makes it a safer and extra accessible possibility for individuals who want somewhat extra help. With walk-in tubs, there’s no extra stepping over the same old slippery ledges and excessive partitions of a standard tub–which might be harmful and inconvenient for individuals with restricted mobility. It stands above the remainder merely due to its inclusive craftsmanship, you gained’t see in different tubs.
Who’re walk-in tubs for?
Whereas anybody can take pleasure in a walk-in tub, its total design and engineering are particularly constructed for:
- Senior residents and aged who want a secured bathtub to assist them of their bathing
- Older individuals who need to age in place quite at nursing houses
- Individuals with bodily accidents or athletes who’re recovering from a sports activities accident
- People who’ve issues with coordination, steadiness and mobility (i.e, disabled, handicapped, wheelchair customers, para- or quadriplegics, amputees, individuals with Alzheimer’s)
- Individuals whose well being/pores and skin situations want hydrotherapy
- Chubby or giant customers who can’t match comfortably in an everyday tub
Why do you want a walk-in tub at dwelling?
Whereas it’s pretty new out there, walk-in tubs provide options to outdated, persistent issues that put burden and even hazard to individuals’s bathing. Fortunately, a walk-in tub:
- Eliminates hazards to a senior’s toilet
- Provides a extra handy and ergonomic help for household caregivers who help the aged of their on a regular basis bathing
- Provides seniors and other people with mobility issues the independence they want with out compromising security and luxury
- Permits growing old adults to scrub their hard-to-reach physique elements
- Brings peace of thoughts to youngsters dwelling with a senior guardian however aren’t at all times at dwelling
- Supplies life-improving hydrotherapy advantages which have lengthy been utilized in bodily remedy amenities and hospitals
- Provides dwelling worth and makes your toilet age-in-place prepared
Given the overwhelming walk-in tub decisions out there, listed below are a number of the essential elements it is advisable think about to search out the precise walk-in tub on your dwelling:
1) Tub Measurement and Design
A great start line when shopping for walk-in tubs is to resolve which design and dimension is the most effective match for the person’s constructed, ergonomic necessities, and loo configuration. Be as explicit as doable with you and your beloved’s bathing wants, as these will dictate which walk-in tub will carry probably the most comfort and luxury to your loved ones’s every day bathtub.
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Compact Soakers: Soaker walk-ins, a.ok.a the sitting bathtub, enable its bathers to take pleasure in a full submersion whereas sitting upright. They’ve vertical excessive partitions, easy-entry swing doorways and a chair- top seat (typically 17-inches excessive) that gained’t require you to stoop down simply to be settled within the tub. It has a hole bathing nicely (with nearly 20 inches of water depth), the place you possibly can have a deep, stress-free soak whereas having fun with different bathtub luxuries like air or whirlpool therapeutic massage, foot therapeutic massage and remedy lights. Many individuals love soaker designs attributable to their compact dimension (typically 60 inches or much less lengthy) that may negotiate by way of slender doorways and match small loos. |
Lay-down: This tub’s structure is fairly just like a typical lay-down bathtub, besides it has an opening door for a extra handy entry and exit. Not like soaking walk-in tubs, a lay-down walk-in tub is designed to absolutely accommodate the bather’s physique and limbs, making extra room to recline and stretch out the whole physique. It has comparatively low partitions and inside than the high-walled soaker walk-ins, so it’s not probably the most sensible choice to those that aren’t able to bending down too low.
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Wheelchair-accessible (WCA): WCA walk-in’s design is probably the most accessible and handy possibility for wheelchair customers attributable to its barrier-free seat, extra-wide doorways, and easy acrylic body that enable customers to simply slide out and in from any wheelchair. The bathtub has easy-to-swing, outward-opening doorways that may be opened and closed with minimal energy in comparison with its inward-swing counterpart. This purposeful tub additionally flaunts a leak-proof door seal, modern handles and easy gliding locks that may give individuals with bodily limitations the independence and privateness they want. |
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Bariatric: One downside of walk-in tubs is that they’re comparatively slender, making them unappealing and uncomfortable to bigger customers. The bariatric walk-in tub serves giant bathers by having all of the options of the standard walk-in tub however with a wider body, door entrance, and 30-inch seat. This tub is normally focused at people weighing 300 lbs. or better. |
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Bathe-tub mixtures: The walk-in bathtub bathe combo affords each the comfort of upright bathing and the effectivity of taking fast showers. This design contains an adjustable, multi-functional bathe head, constructed within the high-walled body of a typical soaker walk-in tub. With this fashion, the bather has the choice to take pleasure in a protracted, deep bathtub or a fast, thorough bathe with quite a lot of sprays– all whereas sitting down! |
2-person walk-in tub: This tub is made for individuals who desire a shared bathing expertise with a accomplice or an additional room for a caregiver. Designed for a number of customers, two-person walk-ins have two huge seats which can be positioned both dealing with or subsequent to one another, with its door within the center. Get pleasure from all the advantages of a walk-in tub, twice!
2) Security Options
In keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, greater than 1/3 of American adults will expertise at the very least one fall accident yearly (That’s about 800,000 hospital admissions yearly). Thus, it’s essential for walk-in tubs to be outfitted with these security options for a extra secured and worry-free soak:
- Additional-low threshold entry (No extra giant steps and tripping over when getting into the bathtub!)
- ADA (Individuals with Disabilities Act) Compliant contoured seat for a extra secured sitting house when you bathe
- Ergonomic controls for customers with arthritic palms
- Textured, non-slip flooring to attenuate the chance of slip accidents
- Secure, easy-to-reach grip bars and handrails to maintain the person’s steadiness and coordination when navigating the bathtub
- Leak-proof, sealed doorways to forestall water from trickling out as soon as the bathtub is stuffed
- Fast, auto-drain system and discrete overflow to keep away from drowning accidents
- Featherlike neck and headrest pillow for a extra comforting soak with out the neck pains of the same old tub (typically an add-on, typically built-in)
3) Therapeutic Options
Who says purposeful can’t be indulging? Regardless of the walk-in tub’s foremost perform which is to carry an inclusive, accessible bathing, it’s not devoid of superior, therapeutic options that may carry spa-like luxurious to your toilet. Earlier than making an impulsive choice, ask your self this: Do you want a plain, soaker walk-in tub to simply wash in security or a whirlpool walk-in bathtub that may soothe sure medical situations? See which therapeutic characteristic meets your rest wants:
Water Jets
A walk-in tub could also be outfitted with highly effective water jets for a focused, deep therapeutic massage that may calm down stiff muscle tissues and joint pains. These are normally seen on Jacuzzi walk-in bathtubs.
Air Jets
Stroll-ins with air jets blow mushy streams of air for a softer, extra soothing therapeutic massage that’s typically paired with a bubble bathtub.
Aromatherapy
This walk-in tub is infused with stress-free fragrances. Many individuals love so as to add important oils for that spa-like expertise that’s good for the pores and skin! (Pleasant reminder: Be sure you test in case your oils are secure and suitable with the bathtub’s jets.)
Chromatherapy
This characteristic contains therapeutic lights that shine in numerous colours and assist set the temper. They’re usually on the bathtub’s sides or backside.
Whirlpool and Air Combo
This contemporary luxurious walk-in tub is full of all of the stress-free incorporates a walk-in tub can get: air and water jets, remedy lights, aromatherapy, and multi-functional taps.
4) Tub Door and Drain Choices
Subsequent to the bathtub’s dimensions and dimension, it’s equally essential to find out in case your toilet configuration can accommodate the bathtub’s door and drain.
Stroll-in tubs have left or proper drain choices; be sure you select the choice suitable along with your current drains. Determine the bathtub’s drain orientation by wanting from its accessible aspect. Equally, walk-in tubs have two door choices: inward or outward swinging doorways. Select swing-out doorways if you would like a better entry, exit and navigation inside the tub, and have sufficient house for the door to swing. Inward doorways are bought extra as a result of it takes up minimal house however for the reason that door swings into the bathtub, shifting round inside it may be tougher.
It’s additionally essential to select a bathtub door in response to the bather’s degree of energy and mobility. If the bather has mobility points however to not the purpose of needing a wheelchair or caregiver, then swing-ins might be thought-about. Conversely, different individuals like wheelchair customers and seniors who want a washing companion might discover it simple to enter the bathtub however arduous to get out from the within. On this case, swing-out doorways that may be conveniently pushed away as they exit is a greater possibility.
5) Fill and Drain System
In comparison with normal tubs the place you simply dip inside as soon as the bathtub is crammed with water, walk-in tubs require the bather to take a seat inside the bathtub whereas it’s filling. This setup might pose challenges to the customers, so it pays to know the walk-in tub’s fill and drain system, in addition to its temperature regulation.
Fill-up Time
One of many primary buyer issues about walk-in tubs is the sluggish fill-up time. As a result of walk-in tubs are taller than normal tubs, individuals assume that they use extra water, thereby an extended filling time. Surprisingly, its water utilization is about the identical. A mean tub makes use of 42-80 gallons of water whereas a walk-in tub makes use of about 50 gallons.
One sensible solution to resolve this downside is to decide on walk-in tubs with fast-fill expertise. Fast fill taps pace up the fill time course of which may take as much as quarter-hour for some fashions. Trendy pressurized taps ship extra water to the bathtub, making certain it fills up in a well timed method. You may spend much less time ready and extra time having fun with the bathtub! One other problem is being uncovered to air through the ready time, which can depart the bather chilling. To maintain the person heat and comfy whereas ready, it’s finest to decide on a mannequin with a heated seat.
Drain System
Draining a walk-in tub equally requires a little bit of a ready time. Good factor, most walk-in fashions as we speak embrace twin drains that considerably scale back the draining time to a mean of two minutes. Whereas most bathtub drains depend on easy gravity to empty a bathtub, many walk-in producers as we speak are more and more incorporating pumps to hurry up the water move. Home drain situations additionally have an effect on the draining time, as pipes with better width assist drain the water at sooner charges.
Temperature controls
Provided that the person should sit within the tub and shut the door first whereas it fills with water, there isn’t a probability to regulate and get the precise water temperature earlier than you soak in. The bather’s physique can even simply acclimate to uncomfortable temperatures, because the water slowly climbs. That’s why it’s essential to have anti-scald or thermostatic management valves to raised regulate the water’s temperature.
One other essential issue is to test the tank of your own home’s water heater. No less than a capability of fifty gallons is the really helpful tank dimension to make sure that there’s sufficient sizzling water to fill your tub at a cushty temperature, and in addition on your tub to not shortly cool on the finish of the bathtub.
6) Tub Materials
When selecting a walk-in tub, don’t overlook to issue within the materials as a result of it would enormously decide your walk-in tub’s sturdiness, upkeep and aesthetic enchantment. As a result of rising number of walk-in tubs out there, the supplies used is usually a mix of two or extra. The manufacturing course of is likewise extra complicated than we predict, to verify the tubs are high quality and sturdy sufficient for the customers. Nonetheless, most walk-in tubs are made out of those two widespread supplies:
Acrylic
Acrylic is a well-liked materials even to luxurious walk-in tubs. Acrylic tubs are constructed with a single, steady piece of heat-molded acrylic that’s versatile and light-weight sufficient to type the bathtub’s seats, headrests, jets and different molding particulars. Its easy-to-maintain property that may last as long as 30 years (in fact, with correct maintenance) is a good possibility for long-term, heavy-duty use. It’s an ideal insulator too so you possibly can maintain your bathtub hotter for longer durations. Worth-wise, acrylic is barely costlier than fiberglass attributable to its manufacturing course of. It’s additionally extra pricey to restore.
Gel-Coated Fiberglass
Most walk-in tubs are made from fiberglass with a gel coating. Fiberglass is a sturdy materials, made out of layers of micro-strings of glass heated collectively, after which formed and sprayed with a resin gel coat. It’s extra budget-friendly than acrylic however is liable to scratching and floor cracks attributable to its porosity. To resolve this, some fiberglass tubs embrace an acrylic gel topcoat to assist additional shield the bathtub. Total, this easy-to-install and light-weight materials is an effective match for two-story houses as a result of there’s no want for extra flooring help. It’s cheap, however they’re not as sturdy as acrylic. You may anticipate a fiberglass walk-in tub to final 10-15 years.
Set up and Different Prices
Putting in a walk-in tub just isn’t a easy DIY dwelling mission. Whereas they’ve compact, box-like constructed that may tightly slot in three-walled alcoves, they’re cumbersome and heavy so it’s essential to fastidiously study whether or not your toilet structure, basis and plumbing system can accommodate it.
When crammed with water, the bathtub can weigh almost 1,000 kilos, so it actually wants sturdy flooring and wall help. A walk-in tub requires complicated plumbing and electrical work, particularly if it has elaborate sensible options. It’s finest when you’ve got it put in by knowledgeable so that you simply’re assured that the bathtub will work accurately and final a few years with none issues.
Professional-tip: In case you are putting in a walk-in tub into an current house, it’s extra economical to decide on smaller fashions you can slot in the identical house with out enormously altering the structure and plumbing. This set up is comparatively cheaper and simpler so it can save you {dollars}.
Consider as nicely different doable prices like flooring and tiling, pipes and heater system, and any extra wirings. With correct planning and budgeting, you will get probably the most appropriate walk-in tub on your dwelling that’s inside your affordable value.
7) Worth and Manufacturers
Stroll-in tub’s pricing differs relying on the model, dimension, colour and have. However the normal pattern is: the extra options, the upper the value. Soakers vary from $2,000 to $4,000 whereas jetted walk-ins can go as excessive as $10,000.
Whereas the upfront value might be off-putting, you’ll discover the expense price it given the years you’ll be capable of take pleasure in it. Stroll-in tubs can final for many years and develop with you as you age. Even in case you don’t have mobility points now, you should use it as we speak and nonetheless reap its advantages in a while. You may confidently age in place in your present dwelling, and never have to fret about making adjustments to your toilet while you’re already in your senior years.
For consumers who’re tight on funds and house, selecting a design that doesn’t pressure you to reconfigure the room may prevent some huge cash. If you wish to get your cash’s price, assume long-term and put together beforehand. Contemplate all of the person’s wants and your toilet necessities, plan for all doable prices and select top-rated but cost-efficient manufacturers like Ella’s Bubbles, Venzi Tubs and American Acrylic that ship on their dedication to supply high quality bathing with their high quality bathtubs.
What’s the following step?
Now that you’ve got an thought in regards to the ins and outs of a walk-in tub, it’s time to take motion:
- Get a product catalog or test tubs on-line
- Know the options of your chosen tub, its guarantee, transport time and options
- Converse to the shop’s customer support consultant and ask your particular questions
- Request a quote for the product you’re serious about
We’re glad to assist
On a regular basis, we obtain numerous, distinctive conditions of individuals wanting to buy a bath. We perceive your issues and we’re glad to speak by way of your particular questions, that will help you discover the precise tub on your wants and situation.
Right here at BathtubsPlus, we consider everybody deserves a secure and easy accessibility to bathtub. For extra queries, issues or suggestions, e mail us at: gross sales@bathtubsplus.com or attain us right here.
