You have plenty of walk-in tub styles to choose from in 2022.
Walk-in tubs are one of the most useful technologies we’ve seen in homes today.
The fact that they allow people to take baths without having to risk slipping and getting hurt makes walk-in tubs well worth looking into.
Add onto that the fact that you have plenty of choices when it comes to walk-in tubs. Depending on your needs, you can choose from a tub with water jets, aromatherapy features, larger entry doors for those who use wheelchairs, and just your basic tub with a door.
Choosing the best walk-in tub for your home in 2022 will come down to your requirements, your bathroom space, and your budget.
Know that if you go with a walk-in tub in your new bathroom remodel, Homeowner Funding can set you up with the financing plan to make it all possible.
Let’s learn more about choosing the best style of walk-in tub for you and your home in 2022.
What Factors Should Determine Your Style of Walk-in Tub?
You have plenty of walk-in tub styles to choose from in 2022, but what style you go with depends on several things.
Your Health
Before anything else, you should consider your health and mobility when selecting a tub. The primary reason people buy walk-in tubs for their homes is because they can’t step over the high wall of a standard tub and don’t want to risk slipping and falling at any point.
That makes walk-in tubs–with their low entry spaces, grab bars, anti-slip floors, and comfortable seats–ideal for elderly people and those with mobility issues.
Your Space
Something else to think about when selecting a walk-in tub is the bathroom space you have. A standard walk-in tub could be anywhere from 60 to 70 inches long and about 30 inches wide.
You’ll need to be sure you have the room for a walk-in tub before selecting one. Also, don’t forget about the door on the tub. The doors on most models open out, so you’ll need clearance for that.
However, don’t let the door stop you if everything else fits; you can get models with inward-swinging doors. Some people just find them more difficult to get into.
Your Home’s Water Capabilities
Because walk-in tubs allow you to sit down and be submerged up to your neck, you’ll need a lot of hot water at one time to fill the tub. If you have a traditional water heater, you’ll need to be sure it can provide you with between 40 and 80 gallons of hot water at a time.
You should also be sure your drain pipes can handle that amount of drainage all at once. Because of the high volume of water in a walk-in tub, draining can take between 5 and 15 minutes. This can be inconvenient for some people, since you have to wait in the tub until it’s fully drained and risk becoming cold.
Your Budget
Finally, you obviously have to think about your budget for a walk-in tub.
Because these tubs are specially designed for safety and convenience, they cost more than your average tub. You can expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000 for a basic soaking walk-in tub.
Meanwhile, a tub with hydrotherapy elements can cost up to $7,000. A walk-in tub designed for bariatric individuals can cost $10,000 and up.
After considering all your other needs for a walk-in tub, think about what you can afford.
The Main Styles of Walk-in Tub in 2022
Now that you know the factors that can help you decide on the best walk-in tub for your home, let’s look at the options you have for walk-in tubs in 2022.
Basic Soaking Walk-in Tub
The most basic kind of walk-in tub is called a soaking tub or else just a walk-in tub. It has an entry door and a seat that will let you sit fully in the water. There are no other features here to speak of, but this basic style is good enough for many people.
Hydrotherapy Walk-in Tub
The next step up is a hydrotherapy walk-in tub. Just like you’ll find in a hot tub, a hydrotherapy walk-in tub features powerful water jets along the seat and the bottom that serve to massage the body and encourage general relaxation. If you feel this would be an important feature for you when you take a bath, it could be worth springing for the extra cost.
Aromatherapy Walk-in Tub
For something a little special, there’s also an aromatherapy walk-in tub option you could look into. You can place essential oils or beads into a compartment in the tub and then turn on the hydrotherapy jets. The jets will disperse the oils or beads into the water, helping to relax you even further by surrounding you with your favorite scent.
Wheelchair-Accessible Walk-in Tub
Then there are walk-in tubs built specifically for people who use wheelchairs. It isn’t that the wheelchair goes into the tub. These tubs simply feature much larger doors, an even lower wall to step over, and a higher tub seat. These features accommodate people who require a quick and easy transfer from a wheelchair to the tub seat.
Bariatric Walk-in Tub
Bariatric walk-in tubs are built for people who require more space to fit comfortably into a walk-in tub. The entry doors are wider, and the seat is much bigger.
Add a Walk-in Tub to Your Bathroom Remodel with Homeowner Funding
Walk-in tubs are a modern convenience that many people can’t do without.
If you’d like to include a walk-in tub into your bathroom remodel, Homeowner Funding can help. We’ll set you up with the right financing plan, design and install the remodel, and help you to understand your repayment terms afterward.
Get in touch with us now to learn more about us or to find out more about your options for a walk-in tub!
