Wanted: Opinions on whirlpool/air bath tubs

[joflier]

I''m super excited right now - I''ve finally begun the remodeling project of my upstairs bathroom.

I''ve waited 3 years for this!!! (and I''m pretty proud, considering it''s something I never thought I''d be able to do or afford on my own). Getting that done was something the ex promised and repromised forever, but nothing ever happened.....Anywho - I''m at a point right now of picking out a tub. I deal with chronic pain issues, and taking baths always seems to help. Thus I''ve decided to splurge and get a whirlpool tub.
My dilemma is that I know nothing about what makes one good or bad. And then I''ve run across the idea of an air-bath. I think I''ve been in one @ a hotel at some point, and I really enjoyed it, but I don''t recall too much.
Ideally, I''d love to have both whirlpool jets and an airbath combined, but these are oober expensive, and I do need to be cost conscious. The air seems to be much more costly...

Does anyone prefer one over the other (air vs jets)? I''ve found some whirlpool tubs that are what seem to be a very good price, but I just don''t know if the quality is what I want. Or if the jets are even going to be helpful for my pain (i''m thinking the placement of the jets - as to the worst of my pain being the low back). So perhaps the relaxation of an airbath might be better......

Also, for those of you that have one or the other - how are they for maintenance and cleaning?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

We had one a few houses ago and I didn't realize that you're not suppose to put bubble bath in the water. . .lol Just a warning in case. I put some in and it frothed up so much that it spilled over the side of the tub and all over the carpet (yes we had carpet in the bathroom - why the builders did that, I have no clue). I had to run back in forth from the tub scooping bubbles out with a large pot while they kept overflowing even after the jets were turned off. Huge mess! lol

I'm pretty sure we had a whirlpool bath. It felt great. . .be sure to have a nice spot to place some candles and a glass of wine!

OH, and someone told me that bacteria can get trapped in the jets. Maybe something worth researching. I never read up on that problem. . .

 

[joflier]

Date: 2/3/2010 7:16:01 PM
Author: MC
We had one a few houses ago and I didn''t realize that you''re not suppose to put bubble bath in the water. . .lol Just a warning in case. I put some in and it frothed up so much that it spilled over the side of the tub and all over the carpet (yes we had carpet in the bathroom - why the builders did that, I have no clue). I had to run back in forth from the tub scooping bubbles out with a large pot while they kept overflowing even after the jets were turned off. Huge mess! lol

I''m pretty sure we had a whirlpool bath. It felt great. . .be sure to have a nice spot to place some candles and a glass of wine!

OH, and someone told me that bacteria can get trapped in the jets. Maybe something worth researching. I never read up on that problem. . .

Oh goodness!! That sounds like something that I would do, too! haha! But I guess, upon thinking about it, I can see why that might not be a very good idea...

 

[Cind11]

We have a whirlpool. I almost never use it because it is so big and takes a long time to fill. Plus, cleaning it is kind of a pain because it''s so big. I do like it when I use it though. One thing I wish I would have done is get a heater. When you are in it, (and I like to be in a long time if I''m going to go to all the time to fill it) the water starts to cool off. I end up having to put more hot water in which gets rather annoying. So, make sure you get something to keep the water heated!!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

Date: 2/3/2010 7:25:42 PM
Author: joflier

Date: 2/3/2010 7:16:01 PM
Author: MC
We had one a few houses ago and I didn''t realize that you''re not suppose to put bubble bath in the water. . .lol Just a warning in case. I put some in and it frothed up so much that it spilled over the side of the tub and all over the carpet (yes we had carpet in the bathroom - why the builders did that, I have no clue). I had to run back in forth from the tub scooping bubbles out with a large pot while they kept overflowing even after the jets were turned off. Huge mess! lol

I''m pretty sure we had a whirlpool bath. It felt great. . .be sure to have a nice spot to place some candles and a glass of wine!

OH, and someone told me that bacteria can get trapped in the jets. Maybe something worth researching. I never read up on that problem. . .

Oh goodness!! That sounds like something that I would do, too! haha! But I guess, upon thinking about it, I can see why that might not be a very good idea...

As someone who has lived in two houses with 5+ year old jetted tubs, I''m a bit put off by them. The bacteria thing is correct, and if not cleaned for a while, nasty, NASTY things come out of those jets.

So, I hear that using vinegar every so often can help clean those jets. But, after dealing with slimy gunk coming out of jets the first time I attempted using them, I would lean toward the air bath.

And the heater sounds like the best idea ever!

 

[April20]

Date: 2/3/2010 7:16:01 PM
Author: MC
We had one a few houses ago and I didn''t realize that you''re not suppose to put bubble bath in the water. . .lol Just a warning in case. I put some in and it frothed up so much that it spilled over the side of the tub and all over the carpet (yes we had carpet in the bathroom - why the builders did that, I have no clue). I had to run back in forth from the tub scooping bubbles out with a large pot while they kept overflowing even after the jets were turned off. Huge mess! lol

I''m pretty sure we had a whirlpool bath. It felt great. . .be sure to have a nice spot to place some candles and a glass of wine!

OH, and someone told me that bacteria can get trapped in the jets. Maybe something worth researching. I never read up on that problem. . .

Oh god, I''ve done this in ours not once, but TWICE. The second time was months later and I forgot what happens when you do it!!

I really wanted a whirlpool tub for a while. When we remodeled the bathroom I insisted on having one. We got just a basic one from Lowe''s. I love it. I get achy from lots of plane travel and when I get all crazy and ride my bike for too long because I forget I''m not 22 anymore and the whirlpool tub is a lifesaver for those days!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 2/3/2010 9:50:16 PM
Author: April20

Date: 2/3/2010 7:16:01 PM
Author: MC
We had one a few houses ago and I didn''t realize that you''re not suppose to put bubble bath in the water. . .

Oh god, I''ve done this in ours not once, but TWICE. The second time was months later and I forgot what happens when you do it!!

hahaha Glad I''m not the only one. The kind I used, Origins Ginger Float, had directions on the container saying a "generous handful" to the water and that I did!

 

[lyra]

We couldn't put a whirlpool bath in our ensuite because there was no way to wire it, otherwise I would have loved that. We put one in our basement when we finished it. Ours is just mid-range only 6 jets. I'm not sure what you mean by air. Ours has a motor and it does draw in air through 2 button "holes" on the top that you can adjust to make the jets stronger if you want. It has an on/off button as opposed to a timer. Hitting the lower back is not easy in our tub, unless you sit up and rest against the back. So try to see which jet pattern might suit you best. Honestly, I found less can be more, you don't need 10 jets or anything and it doesn't have to be huge either. This is the second one we've had in a house.

To clean out the bacteria (if there is any), we put vinegar in the water and run it for a while. I'm not sure how often I'd do this, you can easily tell when it needs to be done by the build up that is created. It may be once a week or so depending on how often you use it. Body oil and skin debris is what gunks it up actually. I'd estimate I do it after every 3rd bath I think.

It's fine to use bath salts in the whirlpool, even scented bath salt crystals, just nothing that foams.

I honestly love having the whirlpool and would try to have one in every house.

ETA: ours is a plain whirpool with no heater. If you take a bath that is longer than 25 minutes, adding hot water is fine, not much of a hassle because our tub isn't huge and seems to stay warm for quite a while even though it is acrylic.

 

[Burberrygirl]

I have a whirlpool and

it! I''ve had a lot of lower back issues in the last four years and I think the jets have helped me plus it''s soooo relaxing. I love that feeling--geez, now I want to go take a bath!

 

[joflier]

Date: 2/3/2010 11:36:00 PM
Author: lyra
We couldn''t put a whirlpool bath in our ensuite because there was no way to wire it, otherwise I would have loved that. We put one in our basement when we finished it. Ours is just mid-range only 6 jets. I''m not sure what you mean by air. Ours has a motor and it does draw in air through 2 button ''holes'' on the top that you can adjust to make the jets stronger if you want. It has an on/off button as opposed to a timer. Hitting the lower back is not easy in our tub, unless you sit up and rest against the back. So try to see which jet pattern might suit you best. Honestly, I found less can be more, you don''t need 10 jets or anything and it doesn''t have to be huge either. This is the second one we''ve had in a house.

There are actual air-bath tubs. No jets - instead, there are anywhere from 30-70 little holes around the tub which are air injectors. They make thousands of little tiny fizzy bubbles that kind of tickle. Its super relaxing.

The vinegar seems like an easy enough cleaning solution. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[lyra]

Ah, now I get the air tub thing. I don''t think they work nearly as well for "therapy" as a whirlpool. I have this air jet "mat" that I used to use before we got the whirlpool and you''re right it was tingly, but when you covered the holes with your body, some jets just didn''t work. With the whirlpool, the jets are strong enough to work when you are right up close and against them (they push you away to some extent).

 

[AprilBaby]

We have a double size whirlpool and we never use it because it takes all of the water from the water heater and more to fill it. And it cools off too quick.

 

[joflier]

Date: 2/4/2010 12:24:59 PM
Author: AprilBaby
We have a double size whirlpool and we never use it because it takes all of the water from the water heater and more to fill it. And it cools off too quick.

That''s why I''m thinking a heater might be good - although their $200! I''m trying to spend as little as I can on this thing. But it''s probably worthwhile.

Does anyone have the ''Jacuzzi'' brand? I found one that would work - just don''t know what''s a good brand or not.

 

[geckodani]

Date: 2/3/2010 11:15:27 PM
Author: MC

Date: 2/3/2010 9:50:16 PM
Author: April20

Date: 2/3/2010 7:16:01 PM
Author: MC
We had one a few houses ago and I didn''t realize that you''re not suppose to put bubble bath in the water. . .

Oh god, I''ve done this in ours not once, but TWICE. The second time was months later and I forgot what happens when you do it!!

hahaha Glad I''m not the only one. The kind I used, Origins Ginger Float, had directions on the container saying a ''generous handful'' to the water and that I did!

Okay, for starters - I ADORE the ginger stuff from Origins.

Which is why I will never get a whirlpool or jetted tub - I love my bubbles too much! I, personally, would go for a really deep soaking tub, but that''s totally a personal preference.

We had jets in my house growing up, and I seem to recall them getting quite scuzzy.

 

[geckodani]

Date: 2/4/2010 9:27:02 AM
Author: joflier

Date: 2/3/2010 11:36:00 PM
Author: lyra
We couldn''t put a whirlpool bath in our ensuite because there was no way to wire it, otherwise I would have loved that. We put one in our basement when we finished it. Ours is just mid-range only 6 jets. I''m not sure what you mean by air. Ours has a motor and it does draw in air through 2 button ''holes'' on the top that you can adjust to make the jets stronger if you want. It has an on/off button as opposed to a timer. Hitting the lower back is not easy in our tub, unless you sit up and rest against the back. So try to see which jet pattern might suit you best. Honestly, I found less can be more, you don''t need 10 jets or anything and it doesn''t have to be huge either. This is the second one we''ve had in a house.

There are actual air-bath tubs. No jets - instead, there are anywhere from 30-70 little holes around the tub which are air injectors. They make thousands of little tiny fizzy bubbles that kind of tickle. Its super relaxing.

The vinegar seems like an easy enough cleaning solution. Thanks for the suggestion!

That sounds absolutely fantastic!!!

 

[ringthings]

I love the Jacuzzi brand. Typically last really long (with proper use, care, maintaining.)

They''re relaxing, and you can get them the size of a normal tub so they don''t take forever to fill with water.

I put bubble bath in mine ALL the time when I had it, for years. The guy who did the routine check on it said it was bath bead powder that wasn''t good for it; liquid was fine. Maybe it varies by model, or by individual experience with it?

Now, I want a jacuzzi BAD.. but there isn''t space.

 

[Kay]

When we remodeled our master bath, we installed a Bain Ultra Meridian 60 with air jets. It has a back heater that feels good and keeps the water warm longer. We chose air jets because of the bacteria problem with water jets. Also, you can use bubble bath, salts, bath oil, etc. with air jets but not with water jets. The motor is also quieter.

http://www.bainultra.com/web/wcm/connect/bainultra/en/main/products/baths/meridien/meridian_60