What is a Walk-In Tub?
This tub is a bathtub that is used for the same purpose as a regular tub. However, the design of this tub can provide you a convenient bathing experience for people who are older. Walk-in tubs frequently look the same as traditional bathtubs but come with a watertight door built into the side and involve one or more safety grab bars to make getting in and out of the tub a simple way. These tubs are available in various choices, configurations to fit your needs and budget.
Why convert into a Walk-in Tub?
In some cases, the addition of a walk-in tub can let your loved one stay safe in the house. Walk-in tubs contain an outward swinging door to prevent slipping or falling and there is also a built-in seat in this tub. Because these tubs frequently come with special safety features, they may ease the stress you can be experiencing and make bathing an enjoyable experience for you or your loved one once again. The type of walk-in tub depends on the individual’s current and future mobility and any certain conditions they have that can benefit from some of the therapeutic choices available. Wheelchair-accessible tubs are able to give you comfort while letting your family or friends live independently.
Why select a walk-in bath?
As you get older or experience reduced mobility from issues like illness/injury, getting in or out of the bath can become hard or even dangerous for some. If you’re quite happy to have a shower and have a separate shower cubicle or wet room, that is best and perhaps the great choice for you. However, several people prefer the delight and relaxation of soaking in a warm bath. That is where a walk-in bath or bath with a transfer seat may provide that for you.
Can my regular tub be converted into a walk-in tub?
Yes, you can convert your regular tub into a walk-in tub by doing some necessary modifications. You will need some specific tools as well in order to convert your normal tub into a walk-in tub.
What Safety Features Should You Consider while converting a regular tub into a walk-in tub?
Non-Slip Flooring – Most models involve anti-slip textured floors to help prevent slips/falls.
Step-In Height – With a step-up height of between 3 and 7 inches, walk-in tubs are ideal for people with limited mobility and balance problems. The lower the height, the better.
Built-In Seating – Most walk-in tubs contain textured seating to prevent slipping off the seat and to importantly decrease the effort that is needed for individuals to go from laying to a standing position.
Anti-Scald – there are anti-scald valves in most walk-in bathtubs. These automatically compensate for extreme changes in the cold/hot water lines to prevent injury while bathing.
Safety Grab Bars – Handrails/safety grab bars make it easy to stabilize yourself during entry or exit from the bathtub and frequently come built into the design of the tub.
Fast Drain – This feature lets you rapidly drain the tub in case of an emergency.
How Do Walk-in Tubs Work?
A walk-in tub lets for independent bathing even if your mobility is compromised. When you require assistance bathing, your dignity, and your independence can be reduced, making you uncomfortable and turning what should be a relaxing and therapeutic experience into an ordeal that you dread. You may have considered a walk-in tub before but you are not sure how it works or if it is great for you and anybody else in your house that would be using it. You should also know more about how the addition of this tub can make the bathing experience convenient and comfortable and how a walk-in tub works. The walk-in tub generally operates with a door that is located in the side and hence, you will not need to step over the side with the possibility of falling or injuring yourself. Even with helpful grab bars and other safety features, in a regular tub, there is a wall that you have to get your legs over to get into the tub. A walk-in tub removes this problem as the door to the tub is in that front wall. You open the door, step into the tub, close it, and enjoy your bath.
- The walk-in tub door seals when it closes, making sure that all water stays inside and doesn’t leak onto the floor outside the tub. You can safely enter and exit the tub without worrying about slips and falls.
- Walk-in tubs should be drained before the door can be opened so that you will exit the tub. Several models can be equipped with fast drain technology so that the water drains within a minute.
- Sitting down on the floor of a tub may be very hard and even painful if your mobility is limited or you’re otherwise disabled. Most walk-in tubs feature a seat that makes it simple for you to bathe comfortably.
Additionally, to these features, walk-in tubs are ideal for therapeutic features like whirlpool massage and hydrotherapy that may be effective in physical therapy.