Baltimore HUD Homes Blog

A Guide to Buying Whirlpool Bathtubs

You may have heard of hydrotherapy and its effects on people who are suffering from different kinds of diseases. You probably know about Jacuzzis and may have heard of whirlpool bathtubs. Combining all of these, you may probably want one in your own home to fully enjoy and experience the therapeutic effects of a whirlpool bathtub or to maybe just have a relaxing time soaking in it.

It is a fact that having your own Jacuzzi is much better than traveling to the spa just to experience hydrotherapy. However, you may know that owning or installing a whirlpool bathtub in your own home can be quite costly. And, you probably dont know what to look for in a whirlpool bathtub or what kind of whirlpool bathtub to choose from.

There are several kinds of whirlpool bathtubs available in the market today. You have to choose one that fits your budget and one that is suitable for your home. Styles and whirlpool systems are also different with every design, so it is recommended that you know something about whirlpool bathtubs in order to know what exactly you are looking for.

The first step in choosing a whirlpool bathtub is by figuring out where your bathtub will be installed. Once you have figured out where you want to install the whirlpool bathtub, choose which kind you want. There are the 5-foot whirlpool bathtub models that can be installed in your existing tub alcove, recess-mount tubs that is installed between walls, which butt against the tub rim, the corner tubs for maximum floor space and the deck-mount tubs will require a tiled surround and will drop into the floor or platform.

Another factor you should consider when buying whirlpool tubs is your water heater. You should make sure that it is large enough to fill about 2/3 of your whirlpool tub with warm water.

The person that will use the tub, in this case, you, should also be considered. This is because you dont want to find out later that that tub is too short and uncomfortable to lie down in. Thus, it will entirely erase the concept of you buying a whirlpool bathtub. A whirlpool bathtub should be comfortable to use. Also, there are whirlpool bathtubs that can fit two persons. Consider how you will often share it with that person at the same time because it will consume a lot of heated water that can be very expensive.

The weight of the whirlpool bathtub should be considered. You may want something thats durable and at the same time can be supported by your floor.

As you know, all things that have mechanical units need proper care and maintenance. Sometimes, you need to replace a certain part of a mechanical unit. This also goes for whirlpool bathtubs. You need to have easy access to maintenance parts of the bathtub and someone who knows how to replace it.

Another thing you should look for in a whirlpool bathtub is the safety features. Obviously, you dont want something to happen to you when you are using the tub or anything to happen to your tub if you accidentally left it turned on. So, here are the features you should look for in a whirlpool bathtub:

1.  Low Water Sensor These sensors will automatically shut off the motor once it has detected that the water level is too low. This will prevent the motor to burn out.
2.  Built-in grab bars and slip-resistant floors A safety feature to help avoid unwanted incidents like sliding.
3.  Internal water heaters To save money on heater, you should consider buying a whirlpool bathtub with internal water heaters to keep the water temperature consistent.

These kinds of tubs recirculate water and therefore needs constant cleaning. Some whirlpool bathtubs have self-cleaning systems that automatically purge bacteria-causing residues after each use.

Remember these steps and you will surely enjoy your brand new, therapeutic whirlpool bathtub.