Walk-in Bathtubs: Potential Hidden Costs

If you’ve read the article “Buying a Walk-in Tub – Your biggest Mistake?” and you still believe you would like to purchase a walk-in style bathtub, then continue reading to learn about some of the potential hidden costs you should be aware of when buying a walk-in bathtub.

1. The tub’s dimensions may not fit through all the doorways between the outside of the home and the bathroom. If it does not, you will have to pay to have the door frames removed and reinstalled to get the tub into the bathroom.
2. There is a good chance you will need to upgrade your water heater to handle the higher water demands of these tubs. A new water heater can cost anywhere from $800-$2,000.
3. Expect to see a significant increase in your monthly water bills due to repeatedly filling a large tub that can hold anywhere from 40-80 gallons of water.
4. Confirm what is, or is not, included with the tub prior to ordering. Many tub sellers will require you to pay extra for parts such as a hand-held showerhead, waste and overflow kits, grab bars, and faucets.
5. Jetted-style tubs will often require the purchase of an inline water heater in order to maintain the water temperature. This can significantly increase utility costs and usually requires installing an additional electrical outlet.
6. You may need to pay to have the plumbing modified to connect the tub and have it run properly.
7. Purchase of an additional pump or rapid drain may be needed to make the water drain faster.
8. The bathroom floor may require extra structural support to manage the weight of the tub when filled with 40-80 gallons of water.
9. Lastly, you might find it necessary to install a heat lamp over the tub in order to remain warm during the time you are sitting in the tub waiting for it to fill and empty.

Salespeople will often neglect to mention the items in the list above – until after you have signed on the dotted line. We hope this list will help make you a more informed consumer. We urge all potential consumers to also read the article Walk-in Tubs: Buyers Beware!

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