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5 Common Misconceptions about Walk-In Tubs

walk in tub installation

If you’re an elderly or disabled individual or are caring for a loved one who may have mobility issues, you should do all you can to prevent accidents. Common techniques include removing loose rugs, installing better stair railing, and replacing your current showers or tubs with walk-in tubs.

Most people are familiar with these safe tubs. You may think you’ve been in a hotel room that had them installed, or maybe you noticed one when you visited an elderly family member. However, there are persistent misconceptions about these excellent safety features for seniors and the disabled. The following are the 5 most common misconceptions about walk-in tubs.

Installation Is Costly

The walk-in tubs cost is very reasonable, and same goes for installation. You don’t have to hire a contractor or renovator for custom installation work, nor do you have to move or change any plumbing. While a walk-in shower may be a tad more complex to install, a walk-in tub is a simple feature. Installation is comparable to installing any ordinary tub. The safety features are built into the product.

More Hot Water Is Necessary

Many people seem to falsely believe that a walk-in tub has a much larger capacity or requires the use of more water than a traditional tub does. You don’t need a second or expanded capacity water heater, nor do you need to run more plumbing into your new tub. Simply find a tub that’s similar to your current tub and suits the water heater’s capacity.

water running in walk in tub

Water Builds Up

There is no truth to the common misconception that walk-in tubs drain more slowly or tend to collect water, causing a hygienic issue. These tubs are actually completely drainable, just as other tubs are. In fact, in most models the user is unable to open the tub door until the tub has completely drained. Some models include extra drainage features or a second drain, so you can exit the tub more quickly.

Standing Up Is Necessary

If you have a disability or are elderly and have frequently envied images of people lounging in a lie-down tub, then you don’t have to feel this way any longer. For most users, a walk-in tub makes it completely safe to lie down and get back up again easily without help. You have the option to sit or stand while you bathe, and the showerheads are flexible enough to suit whatever height you prefer.

Entering and Exiting Is Difficult

The term “walk-in tub” may recall a clumsy image in your mind: a tub that’s so poorly designed that the seat is partially obstructed by the wall of the tub itself, or that makes sliding in and out very difficult. Many people perceive these tubs are more beneficial to the individual assisting the bather, rather than the bather themselves. However, newer models have doors that open outward so that the seat is never blocked and sliding in and out is easier than ever.

Best of all, even you can even buy these newer, affordable walk-in tubs at a cost that suits most budgets. You shouldn’t have to pay exorbitant prices for safety and comfort. Of all your beliefs about safe tubs, dispelling your overestimation of the price may surprise you most.