Homeowners who wish to renovate their bathroom to accommodate the needs of a disabled person or an elderly are doing a great service. Not only will they help the people enjoy their time in the bathroom while they’re taking a bath, but they will also help improve the layout and appearance of their facility. Among the many options that homemakers consider installing are walk-in baths, showers, and bathtubs. They may all cost more than your average fixture, but they also provide various advantages and disadvantages.
In this article, we’ll examine the pros and cons of a walk-in bath to help you decide whether you would want to install it or choose a different route.
Pros
- Relatively safe to use. Walk-in baths have an inner-swinging door and a threshold that you need to step over before you can come inside. You would then close the tub and wait for it to fill up with water. These structures also come with standard safety features such as grab bars, slip-resistant flooring, an integrated seat, and anti-scald valves.
- The hydrotherapy feature is perfect for the elderly. The bath has a hydrotherapy feature that would agitate the water and create soothing streams of water. The warm water will also help ease the joint aches and pains that seniors usually feel. Soaking in ample warm water will help their blood to circulate much better, and it will help them feel healthier.
- Lesser water usage compared to traditional tubs. Compared to traditional bathtubs, a walk-in bath wouldn’t use much water. There are models which only use about 25 to 40 gallons to fill compared to 50 gallons for a standard tub. Newer walk-in tubs also have heating systems that allow them to circulate water instead of refilling them as needed.
- Features. Walk-in baths incorporate many features that make bathing a truly riveting experience. Several models have safety features that you wouldn’t have to buy from the hardware anymore.
Cons
- Fill in and drain times can take longer. While it is relatively safe, when you’re using a walk-in structure, you would have to wait for it to fill up before you can effectively submerge yourself. Consequently, you will also have to wait for the water to drain before you can step out of the tub. It may take a few minutes based on the water pressure and supply. You will encounter a few minutes of discomfort, especially if you don’t have the towel handy.
- Hypothermic risk. If the bather is elderly, they might have an increased risk for hypothermia because they have thinner skin. They cannot step off the structure because they need to wait for the water to drain completely for a safe exit. You have to be aware of this consideration.
- Flooding. One consideration that you must always remember is to secure the door lock. If the water pressure becomes too much and the door isn’t locked correctly, there’s a risk that it will open, and you’ll lose gallons of water in the process.
- Installation cost. Another disadvantage of installing a walk-in bath is the cost. It does cost much more than the regular shower, although the features are much better.
Final thoughts
Consider the different advantages and disadvantages thoroughly if you’re thinking of buying a walk-in bath to install in your bathroom. You have to weigh them carefully before committing so you wouldn’t regret the decision.
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