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Things To Ask About When Buying A Whirlpool Bathtub

Christopher Smith

People who suffer from debilitating health conditions, such as painful arthritis and other muscle and joint diseases, can get a lot of relief from a whirlpool bathtub. These tubs have air jets that circulate the water creating a therapeutic bathing experience that both massages and relaxes. People who get a lot of exercise also enjoy the benefits of a soothing whirlpool bath. As you can imagine, stress and worries seem to float away while you recline in the warm, jetted water. However, when you go out and buy a whirlpool bathtub, there are a number of questions that you need to ask before purchasing anything.

Are there any safety features on this tub?

Many of the people who need a whirlpool tub suffer from arthritis and other debilitating conditions. Therefore, manufacturers make models which incorporate safety features for their protection. For example, you will find whirlpool tubs with steps to aid people in getting into and out of their whirlpool tub, slip-resistant floors, and strategically-placed safety handles and bars which can be used for support.

Does the tub come with its own water heating system?

People who wish to maintain water temperature in their whirlpool bathtubs for longer periods of time may want to consider buying a tub that has an internal water heating system. The water in a jetted tub cools much faster which means you have to keep adding hot water to maintain a temperature. Depending on the size of your water heater, you may run out of hot water before you’re ready to get out of the tub. When you have a tub with an internal water heating system, you’ll be able to keep the water at a steady temperature all through the time you’re bathing.

Is there a low water sensor on the tub?

You have to have the water in a whirlpool bathtub at a certain level in order to keep your pumping system in good, working condition. Running the jets when the water level is too low could cause the pump to burn out and necessitate major repairs. Having a low water sensor on your tub keeps this from happening, because it will not allow the jets to be turned on unless the water is at a safe level. If you have young children in your household who might inadvertently turn the jets on without there being water in the tub or an elderly person who can sometimes be forgetful, a low water sensor would be a good feature to consider.

How much work will it be to clean this tub?

A whirlpool tub is going to be harder to keep clean than a traditional tub is, mainly because of the jets. Any additional frills that are on the tub are going to require special cleaning, too, like built in handles or control panels. Take a close look at any tub you are thinking about purchasing and ask yourself how difficult it will be to clean and how much extra time you’re going to need to allot to the task. You obviously don’t want an unhealthy build-up of dirt or mildew in the jets. Be sure to ask if you need to use any special cleaners on the tub.

Is it going to fit my existing space? One of the most important aspects of buying a whirlpool bathtub is to buy a size that’s going to fit in your bathroom. If you buy one that’s too large, you’re going to have to do a much bigger remodel in order to get it to fit. Be sure to measure your existing space before you go out to shop for your tub. If you want to put in a tub that’s a different size or shape than what you have now, make sure you know that there will be room for it. It’s good to measure your entry doors, too, so that you’ll know if you’ll even be able to get the tub into your house. After all, some of these tubs are really big and many of them you see were installed in homes while they were still being built!