Why are whirlpool tubs for suckers? Let me count the ways …
Once again, I thought I’d pass on a little advice and save a serious case of buyer’s remorse for the six people left in America who are still looking to buy a home.
No, no. I’m not going to tell you why corner lots are for suckers again.
This time, I’ve got some advice for those of you who may be thinking about putting a jacuzzi-style jetted whirlpool tub in their master bathroom: Don’t do it.
Trust me, I’m the “proud” owner of one, and the cons far outweigh the pros.
In fact, here are a whole gaggle reasons why jetted whirlpool tubs just aren’t worth it:
1. They’re expensive. Good luck trying to find a decent one for less than $2000. And that’s before adding in the costs required to have someone install it, assuming you aren’t the do-it-yourself type. Then again, even if you are:
2. The manufacturers recommend you don’t install them yourself. For obvious reasons. Most people are simply better off getting a licensed general contractor, electrician or 24 hour plumber who knows what they’re doing.
3. They’re not romantic. Yeah, yeah; on first blush the seductive thought of relaxing in a deep tub of warm water with your significant other, surrounded by lots of candles and rose petals, seems extremely romantic. It’s not. One big reason why is because:
4. They’re noisy. The sound of the running motor and pump is not only a mood killer for those looking for a little romance, it also works against those simply looking for a little relaxation after a long hectic day too.
5. Bubble baths and whirlpool tubs don’t mix. If you aren’t very careful, the water jets tend to cause a foaming issue, which can result in a bubble bath on overdrive. Besides:
6. They take too long to fill. That’s because they’re extremely deep, which also means whirlpool tubs require a lot of water. So much so that:
7. They tend to completely drain traditional hot water tanks. Larger whirlpool tubs can use between 50 and 80 gallons of hot water, which is bad news for the other people living in the house who may need hot water for other reasons while you’re busy getting squeaky clean.
8. Before you know it, you’re sitting in a tub full of cold water. Well, unless your tub has a built-in heater. Then again, if it does, that heater, coupled with the whirlpool tub’s pump motor, ends up leading to:
9. Higher energy costs. Yep. Depending on the tub model, how often you use it, and the price of electricity, you could spend up to $50 per month or more over a traditional soaker tub.
10. Ventilation concerns. The larger amount of heat and moisture that is generated by whirlpool tubs can become a problem if the bathroom has inadequate ventilation.
11. Higher maintenance costs. It’s true. You’ll be paying for those motors, pumps and other electronic and mechanical parts that fail beyond the manufacturer’s warranty period.
12. They’re prone to algae growth. Algae is a common problem with a whirlpool tub because, even after you’ve drained it, water tends to sit in its internal network of pipes, nozzles and jets, thereby allowing it to grow. As a result:
13. They require frequent cleaning. At least twice per month — unless you’re the type that likes seeing bits of black and green algae floating in your bath water.
14. Washing your hair or shaving in them isn’t wise. At least it isn’t if you plan on using the jets; that will only make cleaning even tougher than it normally is.
15. You’ll hardly ever use it anyway. And if you have to ask why, go back to the top of this list and try reading a little slower.
16. They don’t add anything to your home’s resale value. I don’t care what your real estate agent tells you. For most people looking to buy a home, a whirlpool tub is not very high on their list of “must haves.” And for good reason.
Actually, make that 16 reasons.
Photo Credit: Suppa
I agree!!! My parents put one in when they built their house 12 years ago. I don’t think it has been used in the last 6.
Your parents have my deepest sympathy.
I disagree with you 100%. A whirlpool tub is better than a hot tub because your not running it 24/7 and soaking in a chemical bath. A whirlpool tub is a good investment. I had a torn rotator cuff rather than going to a Doctor and wasting money I bought a whirlpool tub. After a month, using it twice a week, I was feeling 100%. Soaking in it at the beginning of the weekend relieves all my aches and pain that I acquired during the work week.Also, I will not mention the fun my wife and I have in the tub.
No surprise that a man wrote this! Men don’t really like soaking in tubs! I have never heard of a person with a whirlpool tub that didn’t like it! This man also acted like he has never had one! He said at one point, “I heard”, like he doesn’t even know! Oh well, he knew what to write to get people to read! The majority of people that have them love them!
You’re making things up. The author never said “I heard” anywhere in the article.
And what do you mean you never heard of a person who didn’t like a whirlpool tub? You just read an article from a guy who said he hates them!
I am remodeling. I want a jetted tub. What ones are good<
As stated above, do not go over the capacity of your water heater.
Get one that drains the pump lines automatically after each use.
Get one that is large enough for your body with adjustable jets where you need them.
Thanks! Sounds good to me, also with torn rotator cuff
Whirlpool tubs are simply sublime in soothing us from throbs.
Well, now … that’s an interesting way to put it, Chung.
I’m not sure what any of you people are talking about… We’ve had our whirlpool tub for 15 years and it has been one of the best investments I’ve ever made. I use it every day. It is a Jacuzzi Corner tub. Sure, you have to clean it a lot, but wow in order to maintain a house you have to keep it clean anyway. I don’t see what the big deal is about keeping a whirlpool tub clean… I guess it really just depends on the person…
Thank you for this response! Truly, my husband just bought me one for my birthday mostly because I have always wanted one and this is going in the guest bathroom, already have a beautiful tile shower in the master bath with a huge bench to curl up on. I have a spinal injury “so lots of aches and pain” he thought this would be better (and so do I)! Lol we are remodeling this bathroom so I haven’t bothered with much research. Sence you sound like a clean freak like me I was hoping you would maybe answer a couple questions I have? If you have time that is? I am not sure about the cleaning, should you keep the water in, treated and covered? Or pour a little bleach in after your done to drain the water? Considering you have had one so long I would LOVE some advice! Thanks very much! Kristie
they are great for political advertising
What if change the motor. I think making it less noisy would improve the overall experience.
If you have a septic system, think of all that water flooding your system! Disaster waiting to happen.
Wow i have 6 one and been in it everynight for the last 20 years kids love it too will be buying a new one soon
Agree with you I love my jacuzzi and after 25
Years replacing with another
None of these problems exist in my home 1.)worth every penny I spend
2.) I am able to install
3,) Im in pain dont care about if its romantic
I can go outside under the stars and listen to music with my honey ❤️
Not that noisy no bubbles needed Epsom salt fine no longer than a tub to fill .
Cleaning is a non issue same as Id clean any tub
Shave right when getting out
Use everyday sometimes twice
Dont care about resale
Keeping my house
You forgot high water bills. Each bath would probably cost close to a dollar in water and sewage charges, on top of the charges to reheat the water in the water tank. That’s *literally* sending money right down the drain!
“Water down the drain!” Good one!
If they live where I do, I pay about 0.5 cents per gallon, so a 50 gallon fill up would cost me 25 cents. I should try and figure out what the cost to reheat the water in the tank would be.
Sucks living in the city! That’s why I choose not to. I don’t rely on the government to full fill my needs.
Well said! Same here. I have a 70 gal jacuzzi tub that wastes less water than taking one long shower. Never had a problem with my septic tank, my well or my hot water heater. Of course you don’t put 75 gallons of water in a 75 gal jacuzzi tub, where would you sit?
Another great read and thanks for the laugh!
I love it when people laugh at my expense! 😉
Whirlpool Jacuzzi type bath tubs with a shower are great. Make sure your bathroom is well ventilated. Also make sure you can access all mechanical parts for maintenance.
You nailed this. I spent almost $2000 to put one in my house 5 years ago. I’ve used it 4 times. What a waste.
I paid the builder of my house $600 back in 1997 to “upgrade” from a soaker tub to a whirlpool tub. I know.
That’s your own fault for not using it!
I totally agree. I had an inground jacuzzi bathtub installed in a new construction. The thing was so heavy, it could only be installed on the ground level encased in concrete for support. Indeed it drained the largest hot water heater available and the water was cold in no time. The worst thing of all was the black algae that grew in the jet nozzles. I’m sorry, but no amount of cleaning could get rid of that mess! Nothing infuriated me more than filling that thing with gallons of hot water only to turn on the jets to find thick black mold floating everywhere rendering bathtime impossible. Grrrr! I lived in that house for 6 years and used the tub maybe twice. Never ever again.
That algae is really disgusting. In fact, the first time I noticed that stuff floating in the bath water, I wasn’t even sure what it was. I thought it was crap coming from the water pipe. I was all fired up to call the city and complain about their water, before I finally figured things out. LOL
Yep. If you don’t use your tub very often common mold and algae will build up in the pipes… Yep that’s sucks I know. You have to flush it out with cleaner first if you don’t use your tub very often…
Use food grade hydrogen peroxide while you bathe to oxygenate the water – it’s not only therapeutic but it will keep the water left in the pipes fresh.
I agree totally with this post. That nasty stuff is disgusting. But I am stuck with my tub for now. I found this inexpensive product called Plumb Clean (the one with the yellow label), that when used as directed, has effectively worked in my whirlpool bath. I use it regularly and have had no black yucky flakes or oily residue in my bath! Finally I can take a relaxing bath again and not have to worry about disgusting germs! Awesome! P.S. – I wonder why the kitchen and bath manufacturers don’t tell you this: bleach can ruin your plastic/rubber seals in your tub and then you have bigger issues.
You used it 2 times and saw all that black mold each time you turned it on??
If the time between uses (including the initial install/test date) is relatively long, then it’s very likely.
Let’s call it what it is: a silly luxury expense. I never understood why would would want a Whirlpool tub when you can toss your hot tub outside and enjoy a little nature. The bathroom might be nice, but I’d rather look at a tree than my toilet.
(What do I know? I bought a house on a corner!)
Yep, Paul. I agree. I think the outdoor hot tub is a much smarter choice.
I’ve have a TV over my whirlpool Tub. If I need to use the toilet it’s right there, convenient. Wonder how people have urinated in a hot tub.
Unfortunately, one can’t just toss a hot tub outdoors. They’re even more expensive to purchase and maintain than an indoor whirlpool, not to mention the work involved in levelling a spot in the yard. And they suck electricity like no one’s business. All that said, I love mine for its therapeutic value, but the power bills are killing us, so installing a whirlpool would be a less expensive option (at least for us).
Welp, my asshats on HOA just turned down my request regarding a hot tub, so while I totally agree, I am looking at a jetted tub instead. Not sure if I will do it, but I’m looking.
I totally disagree. Although, I never use the jets on mine. A big deep soaking tub was a must have on my house shopping list. I have a very bad back/neck and soak in mine 3-5 times a week. We have a well/septic, so the extra water/sewer costs are not an issue. There are those of us who love a big tub and have them positioned not to look at a toilet in the bathroom!
Fair enough. Still, you can get soaking tubs without the jets — and other hassles — and save some money. 🙂
Jacuzzi tub has given my wife a quality of life. I won’t comment on using a tub for fun but the jets coupled with the heat gives my wife the ability to go down the steps to the rest of the house. If the view from your tub is what drives you then you have bigger issues.
Rick
We have a very deep jetted tub. It’s pretty much the same size & shape as a regular tub, just deeper. We use the tub all the time, obviously, and use the jets once or twice a month. It’s small enough that you can fill it and still have lots of hot water to spare, but deep enough for us to actually have a good relaxing soak in. (we’re both almost 6ft tall, so deep tubs are a great find!)
I think if it had been a whirlpool tub like the one in your picture it wouldn’t be as functional.
Is it just me, or does that tub in the picture look REALLY uncomfortable?
Hi Christy,
Just read your comment… Looking for a tub with jets to install into out basement bath. Do you recommend it? Which one do you have?
Thanks for the heads-up on the noise – that alone would drive me nuts. My last house had an add-on master bedroom (that was beautiful) and to code, with a deep tub (no jets). Here’s an idea: they had a 2nd water heater outside in like a little closet next to the master bedroom, just for that add-on. This was great because the other water heater, in the garage, was for the rest of the house, including the other master bedroom, so no cold water problems.
However, the problem I had with the deep tub was that it was a pain to have to clean it! It’s hard to clean a tub that’s deep like that. Anyway, I was commenting to give you an option to have 2 water heaters, but of course that raises the $$$, but at least you’d have all the hot water you could handle!
It’s definitely an option, Sandy. Now, if only I had options to also address most of the other problems too! 😉
You can also use an on demand, aka tankless, water heater. They save some money as water is only heated when needed. One caveat, you may have to add a circut if you go with an electric one. I love my tub. 6 feet long and 18 inch water depth. I can strech out and soak up to my neck. They really aren’t that expensive if you can do a self install.
I agree totally with your points above. My kids begged me to install one when we recently renovated our bathroom. I refused. After all, I’m the one who is going to be cleaning it and I’ve heard about all sorts of nasty bacterial growths, not just algae, that can occur if they’re not cleaned properly. Instead I chose quite a deep regular soaker tub and I’m happy with it. Even so, I’ve only tried it out once in the past 6 months – I much prefer the shower.
I much prefer the shower too, Mindimoo.
I dont understand anyone here finding reasons why its bad . Id say minimum research will give you an idea whats involved in owing one . If you too lazy and have no money please dont buy it . Everything you buy requires cleaning. Do you clean dishes after food ? Anyway when I got my jacuzzi about 20 years ago I also thought it was a waste of money . My girlfriend used it few times a year at best , had to clean it but 5 years ago I was blessed with my son and he loves bubbles – best investment ever!!! I use it 3-4 times a week for a last 4+ years – its going strong
The bubble comment is so true!
Bubbles and whirlpool baths = over-bubble nightmare if you aren’t careful. We had bubbles streaming across my in-laws bathroom, bedroom and hallway one time because we hadn’t read your tips first.
I’ll stick with the unromantic shower over an unromantic whirlpool bath from now on.
Wow. That sounds like real nightmare, Joe. I stick to showers too.
I must admit I have a whirlpool tub. But, It came with my foreclosure so I’m not complaining. 🙂
At least you didn’t have to pay extra for it.
I’m not sure I’d even call it a nice option, being that I would never use it.
I still don’t understand how these whirlpool tub companies manage to stay in business.
Because some people have no room outside for a jacuzzi but can have a jetted tub in the master bath. I love my 6 ft long spa tub. Plus I have an outdoor jetted spa when I want to go outside and enjoy friends and entertaining and sinking in a big spa is the best.
Wow! Thanks a lot for sharing this! Before reading this post, a whirlpool tub wasn’t on my housing must-haves, but it was something that made me drool when looking at home ads online. Now I’ll put it in the list with “hot tub” of things that are nice on vacation but not so nice in your home.
By the way, my husband and I got a cabin in the mountains for our honeymoon. Like you mention here, the jacuzzi tub was SO DEEP that the hot water tank was emptied before it was even half full. I had never seen a tub that deep in my entire life. If I was sitting on the bottom of it, sitting straight up, my head barely cleared the lip of the tub. So, yeah… Cool bath in a jacuzzi tub that was only 1/4 full (not even full enough to reach the jets so we could actually enjoy them) – not so romantic!
I’m not even sure a whirlpool tub is nice to have on vacation! And I think a hot tub is definitely a much better option when it comes to the romance department.
We have a 60’s brick ranch. We lived in it for 14 years before remodeling the PINK (pepto bismol shade) bathroom. We completely removed the bathtub. We always just used the shower anyway. There’s a company that makes a shower pan to fit the same footprint as a standard tub, and 6 or 8 colors to choose from. We got that, tiled the floor and the walls of the shower to the ceiling with 12″ floor tile. Ordered 1/2″ custom glass doors, and installed 2 shower heads with a diverter so they could be used together or independently. One a standard head, and one with a 6′ hose. We loved it so much we had another one done in the basement. There hasn’t been one day that I’ve missed that tub in 6 years. It’s the 2nd best money we ever spent.
The best money we ever spent was fencing our yard…but that’s a topic for another post, right?
What a great idea, Monica. Thanks for sharing that tip! If I could convert my whirlpool tub into something like that I would. Unfortunately, there are two windows around it, so that is probably out of the question.
Len, I’m not sure how old this post is but wanted to let you know that we remodeled an old bathroom 20 years ago. It had a window above the bathtub. We changed out the window for an opaque acrylic (glass block looking) window from Pella Windows. It’s great! We have had a shower in there for 20 years and no issues. In fact, we’re getting ready to redo the tile in that shower soon. The window will remain as is.
It’s been around awhile, Sherry. But it is still extremely popular and usually gets hundreds of visitors every day.
Monica what is the company you used for the shower pan!
When we renovated the master bathroom a couple of years ago, we left in the original jetted tub. Used it maybe 4 times in 8 years? We did however put in a *big* shower with jets! Although…..we don’t use the shower jets much….just when the back is really sore.
I was just watching a home show where people were wondering if they should get rid of their whirlpool tub. The realtor said that since it was there, to just keep it because people want them, even though they end up never using them. I think they are a huge waste of space and energy myself, but if I had one already, I doubt I would rip it out.
I doubt I would really rip one out either just to do it. However, if I was doing a bathroom remodel, I certainly would.
I love my garden tub and I use it at least 5 times a week. Okay, so I only use the jets once or twice a month.
This is the forth house I’ve had with a garden tub and jacuzzi and I have never had algae, repair problems, exhausting the hot water, or the other stuff you mention.
It hasn’t kept us from selling the previous 3 houses. I don’t need the jets but I definitely need the tub!!
Our jacuzzi is why I have been taking showers for the past 5 years. For most of the reasons you mention.
In our defense, we really didn’t want one, in the same way I hate fireplaces. But there weren’t many housing options that came without. Well, there was the snake house… it had a huge carpeted room with a sunken tub in the middle facing large glass doors to the outside. That was a little bizarre.
Wait a minute here … you hate fireplaces?!! That’s right up there with hating puppies. LOL 😉
I absolutely love fireplaces. Love ’em, love ’em, love ’em! They’re just so cozy and warm. I’ve usually got a fire (natural gas — not wood) going all winter long — and I live in Southern California!
I used to hate fireplaces too, and for similar reasons to you hating whirlpool tubs.
A newer gas appliance without a two story chimney makes sense, but a fireplace with a traditional chimney is just stupid: Where the chimney meets the house can be big maintenance $$$s. Energy loss – you can try to seal them, but a lot of heat and AC $$$s are lost through the chimney, even with closed flu gas.
Next house: Gas appliance fireplace (no chimney), no tile or light granite, no whirlpool, water heater in the garage, single story.
Good site btw
Ugh I bought a house with one and have never used it. I would prefer to have extra closet space…
I filled it up one time to make sure the jets worked and brownish water came out of the jets. I’m too afraid as to what is growing in there!
That brown stuff was most likely algae, Michelle.
I loooooove my jacuzzi tub man! Don’t hate! It’s one of the best things ever! I can sit in it for 1 hour and the jets keep the water hot, hot, hot!
Sam
You must have a heater, Sam. I suspect if I could keep, among other things, the water hot, the algae at bay, the noise and maintenance to a minimum, and the electric bills down, I’d love mine too! 😉
We installed a steam shower instead. While you are in the shower- if you have some extra time you just push a button and the steam comes into the shower stall. You can also put a few drops of essential oil in the receptacle- like lavender or bergamot. Some systems even have piped in music.
Much more practical and takes up less space.
By the way, the steam shower/generator is dead quiet and it cleans itself (flushes) after so many uses or you can push a button and do it manually. No issues so far in the four years we have had it.
I am looking for a steam door, any recommendation and advice for building a new steam bathroom. My next question did the inline heater will kill the molds growing on the water lines. Thanks
Now all you need is a nice lounge chair to relax.
I had mine installed in 2005 and have used it once or twice a week since then. I love, love, love it! I paid $1200 for mine, and got the extended length version, so one person can occupy it comfortably. I also got the extra jets, extra powerful motor, and a heater which does not run off of the pump. If you aren’t a “bath” person you won’t like it. If you don’t get the upgrades you probably won’t like it. As for the cleaning, all you have to do is run it with a little bleach in it every so often once you get out of it. I’ve never had any repair problems or cleanliness problems with it in the nearly 7 years I have had it and insist on having it in my next house.
Just curious: How much did the tub cost with all those extras, Alan? Or was that $1200 for the whole kit and caboodle?
Alan, great points! I’ve wanted one for YEARS and just finally deciding to make a decision and just do it. I’m looking to buy one to replace my regular tub but I don’t want to end up with no pressure.
From what I’m seeing, you have to be sure to get one that when it’s installed, it has individual hoses running from the pump to each jet rather than all the jets running on the same line or there would be no water pressure with the jets?
Get a tankless water heater (or instant or whatever they are called). No reason to constantly be heating up gallons of water in the off chance you might want to take a hot shower or use the water for something. And then you won’t have to worry about running out of hot water either. Think that is what I might do in the future…
I’m Installing a brand spanking new jetted tub i got it for $400 originally costs over $1400 wow what a steal,Don’t really see your point on not having a whirlpool tub? I have lower back problems, Seems like a great thing to have in a bathroom compared to a crappy soaker tub, and as far as cleaning it,so what, whats so hard about cleaning it? It’s not like it’s going to be used everyday. I’m keeping the shower head and just will need a seperate shower cutain.Funny you seem to think everyone with a jetted tub uses them everyday and doesnt clean them? Also I live on a corner lot,Way better that any other lot, because we can have a seperate garage and drive in from the street, many advantages to having a corner lot and a nice jetted tub. Sounds to me like you wish you had a jetted tub and a corner lot and are just jealous you dont have either? I would say this website is for suckers. 🙂
… and I would say, Marie, that I would never buy your house — even if you offered it to me for 99 percent off! 😉
WOW THAT IS A GOOD PRICE.
I WANT TO REPLACE MY OLD TUBE AND INSTALL A
JETTER TUB.
DO YOU HAVE A PLUMBER
THANKS
ISABEL
I guess to each his own, Just got the tub installed what a great addition,I even added a separate circit for the heater, great feeling having a nice jetted tub and shower combo. Who cares if it cost a few dollars extra a month. I planning to have a sauna built too, i’m sure you probably have 16 reasons not to own saunas too? Corner lots are great by the way, nice to have plenty of parking, guess it all depends on the location of the corner lot, don’t you think?
I can’t speak for saunas, marie … I never owned one! 🙂
As for the corner lots, yeah, if you’re on a corner lot in the middle of nowhere — then it might (I said “might”) be tolerable. But I doubt it. 😉
I will NEVER own a whirlpool tub ever again for all of the above reasons but particularly because of the black algae that comes blasting out of the jets when you turn the jets on, into a tub full of hot water that quickly becomes unusable. I was so mad when I had to pull the plug on a very large whirlpool bath full of hot water …. grrrrrrrrr
I, too, will never forget the shock that fell upon me the first time the algae came out of the jets. It was disgusting. Still, that is a minor inconvenience that can be fixed relatively easily when compared to some of those other drawbacks!
My wife has been bugging me to put a Whirlpool Tub in the basement. I have bee avoiding doing so because I don’t think it will get the use and the cost of maintenance. I forwarded this article to her. Hopefully she will let this “Soak in”!
You are right; My mom has one of these and the noice is aweful you can’t even fill it up all the way because of the foaming issue, even though her’s has a heater the only on that uses it is my nephew and of course he splashes water all of the floor.
You didn’t include the suctioning issue when you have anything in the tub with you like a rag or soap usually gets stuck to the intake. Her switch is also in a very unuser-friendly place as you have to get out of the tub to turn it on or off. Who thought of putting 5 feet away? Anyway I hope everyone that reads this passes it along. I would rather have a large shower with more that one head..lol
Wow, this has been enlightening. I have always enjoyed sitting in a hot tub (my parents have a pool and spa) and I have considered getting one of these when my husband and I buy a house. Now I’m thinking I’ll get one outdoors and skip the bath tub completely. I never even thought about these problems. Who wants to sit in a tub full of algae- and bacteria-filled water? Yikes!
Totally agree. I would never put one of those in my home.
I wish you had put a date your whirlpool bath was. I have owned several. You’re right water cost are higher and that’s about where I’ll leave it. Other than that, the noise, cleaning and heating of the water are outdated. Unless “maybe” you purchase the cheapest model available. I could not live with out my tub! It’s my relaxation after work, not only does it relax me I get clean to!!! If I were in the market to buy another home it would be at the top of my list. Or at least have the room (which older bathrooms don’t) to add later.
haha, use mine ALL the time. Again, I’m on septic so the water is essentially free. I hate water in my face so have always taken baths and this one is a pleasure. Using it for the last 8 months we’ve owned the house and there hasn’t been a problem with algea(knock wood) and I use bubble bath without the jets so it’s like a regular bath. It was here when we bought the house and has a separate heater, different sequences, lights, etc. What it doesn’t have that my friend put in is an additional shower nozzle for washing it down – very clever of her. The cool thing it does have is a small shelf/seat which is great to sit on when bathing a baby in the bath – you’re right there to play, no back ache and only your feet get wet.
And have used it, though mostly without the jets, for many a romantic time!
Some women like shoes – never could understand that. But my jacuzzi tub is my luxury and I bet it works out to be a lot less than many women spend on their shoe collection ;-}
Thank you so much for putting this into persepctive. I’ve been debating about this and googled it and found your article. I’m so glad I read this before remodeling my bathroom.
My pleasure, Christy.
Believe me, you won’t ever miss the dumb thing. 🙂
We purchase a home 20 years with a jetted tub. I had never had one and never really wanted one but wife said we would love it.
We have used it every day for the last twenty years. Sometimes twice a day. I work in construction and have plenty of aching muscles. Soaking in a jetted tub always makes my muscles feel better.
About 5 years ago we also installed small flat screen TV in bathroom so while in tub you can watch TV.
We heard the same things about getting a swimming pool. Too expensive, too much work, only can use it for 3 months a year (here in Michigan) but we have absolutely loved that too.
We would not be in house or apartment without jetted tub. Not sure what to say other then we both love it.
I love ours. We are looking to purchase a new home and if it doesn’t come with one, we will add it. We have “date nite”. When we get home, we eat dinner and then “calgon” together. Talk about our day.
I agree with you! My parents had a jetted tub installed in my childhood home and I think I used it maybe a handful of times as a teen. It was loud and I just didn’t get much enjoyment from the jets. When my husband and I purchased our home it came with a large soaker tub and a 80 gallon water heater to fill it. We absolutely love it! It doesn’t have jets, but its size allows us to have hot water up to our necks and comfortable spread out. It’s a little cramped with 2 people but it works great for one. My children think it is a mini swimming pool and always ask to take a bath in our tub instead of in their standard size tub :).
We are looking at building and for some crazy reason we were considering putting a large whirlpool in our master. But then we stayed at a suite that had the very tub we were looking at. While it comfortably held two people, the jets were very loud and like you said kinda kills the mood when you can’t even talk. The jets to me still didn’t offer that much enjoyment, I would take my large soaker tub over a whirlpool any day!!
We have a jetted tub and hate it. We would like to have it converted to a soaker tub. We live near Atlanta if anybody knows of a company that will do this. Thanks.
I totally disagree. You are comparing the larger tubs, lets be fair. We have had a whirlpool tub which is the same size as a regular tub. Takes the same amount of water you would use for a bath and has an inline heater which keeps the water at 104 degrees. No noticeable differance in water, electric or gas. My wife uses it 2 times a week and enjoys every minute she uses it. This is a Kohler tub and at the time less than $1500.00
I lived in Japan and love soaking tubs. I’ve thought about getting a jacuzzi tub b/c getting older and aches and pains. My husband has always put a small amount of bleach in the tub in our previous house in which we remodeled and put a jacuzzi and never had a mold problem. maybe bleach is your answer.
I have been using a product called ‘spa-giene’, which is a quarternary ammonium compound. Before that, I was using the widely recommended Cascade dish detergent and bleach protocol to flush my jacuzzi jets and thought it was doing a good job as the water came out clean from the jets. I started using spa-giene, and was amazed to see the crud that came out with it, making me a believer of the fact that cleaning with bleach is not enough. Use spa-genie and see what comes out of your jets.
My only grievance is that black crud keeps coming out of the jets even though I have done atleast 20 cycles of cleaning with spa-giene by now. When I use bleach, the water comes out clean. When I use spa-giene, I get a lot of crud.
When we built our house 4 years ago, I had them install a Jacuzzi tub in the master as well as a shower. I have to say it was my favorite place in the house! That was my place to get away. Once or twice a month I would fill it with hot water and pour some bleach into and run the jets for a few. I never ha trouble with mold. We have now relocated into an older home with no room for one and I have to say I miss it terribly!
Those of us with lower back problems find relief in a jetted whirlpool tub. It is a lot less expensive than an outdoor jacuzzi. If you do the recommended cleaning with the suggested products, you wont have any problems. You just need to do your research before you install one. Get a bigger water heater, and the heater pump to keep the water warm, and make sure you have easy access to the heater, just in case it stops working.
Uh oh. When we bought our new house the contractor had already installed.
Now I realize that we should have insisted on him tearing it out and putting in a politically correct smaller tub.
I’ve got my crow bar and sledge hammer in my hands.
Time to get to work.
Well I find it hard to believe that taking a bath with someone you love isn’t romantic. For those of you who think it is too expensive, then don’t buy one in the first place. It’s like having a swimming pool and complaining about the costs, it falls on deaf ears.
One problem that is easily solvable is proper cleaning of the jetted tub. These tubs can be as safe and clean as a well run swimming pool if cleaned properly. The tubs have about 15-20 feet of plumbing lines that are full of warm stagnant water that develops crud, what ever you want to call it. I use a cleaner that the lodging industry uses called Oh Yuk Jetted Tub Cleaner.
I also bring it with when I travel. And yes, next time I’m at a beautiful lodge, looking out the window watching the snow fall as we sit in a nice warm jetted tub, I’ll think about this group and smile thinking what a luck guy I am!
Just like any luxury, it takes a little effort, a little forethought, and a little cash. I appreciate this article because it points out the specifics of those. To call folks suckers, though, not so much. There are, for many, medical/health benefits in regularly using these gadgets, making them something more than just a luxury.
So, like that stair climber you bought to motivate you to exercise, use your tub. After all, you paid for it. I’m bummed for you that it wasn’t the good fit for you you thought it would be.
Well, get this. The second bathroom in the 1900 bungalow has had a whirlpool/jacuzzi installed in the floor — along with an i-beam installed over it with a pulley and chain that a chair was attached to in order to lower the previous owner’s wife into the tub. It also has two grab bars on the sides, and did have a gate — and I mean gate — across it so she would not accidentally fall in. There are now these steel plates on either side that would probably pull out the plaster if removed. I want the tub out and am thinking it will have to be — somehow have to be released and lowered and left in the crawlspace. Scared to have the i-beam touched — I hung an antique electrified lantern on it that runs the length of the tub. There are antique brass fixtures at the end of the tub on the wall. Getting this picture? Imagining the fear of the guests I have over? Think I ever use it? It is a sight to behold …
this seems like a personal preference so you dont like whirlpools[the writer] maybe someone else will thats what makes this world such a beautiful place different people different minds i respect your opinion well respect mine i want a whirlpool tub …what
My husband talked me out of a Whirlpool, but we did get a normal soaker tub. I use it rarely because of just how much water it holds [50gal], but let me tell you — it stays warm for a very, very long time [an hour plus?], WITHOUT a built in heater. It’s a BainUltra. Not easy to find, but totally worth it. About $1,000 for a 65″x32″ five years ago. One of the few things we did in our reno that I can say was a clear ‘winner’ decision.
I have chronic muscle pain, so for me that REAL ones that REALLY massage are worth it. Most just make fart bubbles, though, and a lit of noise. 🙂
I can’t wait to visit my daughter so I can relax in her whirlpool. It never gets cold (AT LEAST IN 45 MINS.) and is so enjoyable, I do not fill it to the highest and I read in it,. The tub is regular size so no more then usual amt. water goes into it. I had a foot operation and it really helped the swelling. There’s never any gook in it so it is difficult to see what you all are complaining about. when you get older and achey you will appreciate it. in the meantime we are redoing our bath so we can have one!
We made the mistake of installing a Jacuzzi tub when we had our master bathroom remodeled 10 years ago. I am looking for a way to completely seal up the jets so perhaps we can at least use it as a soaker tub without having to deal with the mold and black algae. We used pool shock on it a few times (the only thing that seemed to kill the algae & mold) but since we are on a septic system we can’t really shock it as often as would be required for hygiene and safety. It sounds like I need to have an electrician come disconnect the power to the motor so I can seal it up tight & maybe get some use out of it! Until then, it’s just taking up space.
You have my sympathy, Molly.
haha thanks for this list! never thought about these things, def don’t want a jet tub now
I have a bad back so for therapy like the hot spa. So I’m looking to convert mine to a full time “spa” with an inline heater to help keep the water hot; filters to clean; but can’t find any “conversion kits” etc.:-(
love ours! absolutely a plus in the romance dept. good for my arthritic knees. great after a hard workout. hopefully, if you have any kind of tub, you clean it at least twice a month, lol!
You are hilarious! I came across your post after searching for someone to fix my tub actually and I think I’m now leaning towards leaving it alone (it came with my short sale so I kinda didn’t pay for it, but sort of..I guess) I don’t do algae (why I tossed my aquarium) and I don’t need a bubble party all down my hallway (my OCD won’t allow that in the least bit). Thanks again!
Thanks, JerseyGirl. The Honeybee thinks I’m hilarious too.
(Unfortunately, she usually laughs at me — not with me.)
been in rehab & still improving do to botched back surgery.want to use existant jacuzzi hot tub but dont know how to get in & out as raised a few feet off floor.are there any plans or rail systems etc i could add to tub to help me???
Have you tried the bath stool with telescoping legs so that the legs inside the tub can be longer than the legs outside of the tub. You can sit on the stool and swing legs over the edge of the tub. Then slide into it. This worked really well when I had my surgery. Good luck!
My husband always says the best purchases he has ever made for me would be my kendle and whirlpool tub and I have to agree. Yes I live in the bath tub. Bubble bath and the jets going. I love it. Yes the water bill went up….that’s a liitle expected. Guess what its bath time…….. : )
I disagree. We just installed a $450 Eljer whirlpool tub from Menards in our bath and I love it! Not a corner drop in unit, but a retrofit real tub/shower. Love love love it. The cheapest plain ol’ tub was $298 so for $150 more I got jets.
I love whirlpool tubs and look for them specifically when we travel. We are getting a garden tub, so no jets, in the house we’re moving to. My son has been disabled from arthritis since childhood, and deep, soaking tubs are very therapeutic for him. My husband and I love to soak in whirlpool tubs. Sure, I’d like them to be quieter, but they aren’t. However, that does give you some good background noise., especially when kids are awake. *ahem*
I absolutely agree, and will add ‘difficult to clean without standing in it…’
Thankfully, We have a walk in shower. When I inquire about what to do to eliminate the whirlpool tub, no one has an alternate use! One idea was to cover it with a yoga platform.
I’d be interested to know what others have done to convert theirs to usable space.
These tubs are great for reducing aches and pains and helping me to unwind after a long day. But, yeah, I also have to put up with everything you noted here.
We put in a steam shower instead. More practical and just press the button when you are in the shower! Can use essential oils with it as well.
Great idea, Mary Ann!
Very useful information especially for people who just bought a new home and want to put in their bathroom a big and fancy jacuzzi-style bathtub.
Personally, I’ve always been obsessed with whirlpool tubs. I know the drawbacks, but owning one has been my dream in life since I was five years old. Unfortunately, I don’t make enough money to buy my own house or rent a place that has one, nor am I ever likely to. But in my fantasies, I’d have a jacuzzi in every bathroom of the house and TWO in the master, maybe a big one and a small one, precisely due to the decadence of the fact that you can’t use two at one time. Then I’d have a hot tub out back as well, and maybe some trick feature like a reflecting pool in the living room that has a secret jacuzzi hidden inside it, as well.
Despite my obsession, I think that America seems to have moved on from jetted tubs…but then again, the house I grew up in had a master bath with a large shower that made it unsaleable during the 20-year infatuation with “Roman orgy baths,” as my parents called the giant-jacuzzi-on-a-pedestal-with-separate-shower-type bathrooms. Now America wants giant showers again. I’m sure that trend will eventually pass too. Who knows what’s next? Me, I’ll stick with 70’s disco fabulous and 80’s glam – much better than all the bland beige banality of today. Yes, I am the person who owns all the seasons of Dynasty.
What about saunas? I think saunas are really good for your health. I have one installed at my house, and we all use it regularly.
Your 16 reasons are for poor people. When your rich like me, I don’t give a damn how much it costs to run, and when I have my bevy of hot girls naked in my 7 person in ground jacuzzi off the side of my bedroom…trust me a little bit of noise from the tub doesn’t bother me one bit !!!!
Eww. What kind of “hot” girls — no pun intended — are you hanging out with, Alex? All of the girls I know would never be caught dead in tub full of floating algae. Then again, I guess gold diggers aren’t very discriminating, are they?
I’ve never owned anything bigger, tub-wise, than your ordinary, one person tub. However, visiting family in Italy, I fully enjoyed a large jacuzzi-style tub.
On a weekend resort stay, I also enjoyed a jet tub (perhaps hot tub or jacuzzi?) Anyway…
I suffer from arthritis in my spine and elsewhere, and fibromyalgia. The heat and jets are soooooo soothing to my aches and pains. SO, since I have ZERO money to own such things…(both vacations were gifts, by the way, from a family member with much more flexible and ample funds than I!)
…I have come up with a “plan” to create my OWN hot tub/jacuzzi or whatever. It shall consist of:
1) some sort of waterproof surface, surrounding the space that the tub will be placed.
2) a good-sized kiddy pool, tote, or stock tank(?), which will be the actual “tub,” and a duplicate which will be placed inside (or outside) of it for stronger stability once filled.
water access (hosing, faucets, whatever you have available nearby in the vicinity of your bath.
3) a choice of multiple power filters that are submersible, such as turtle tank filters, because they can be placed wherever you want, plus will filter and “clean” the water as you bathe.
4) lastly, a heater. This could be an aquarium one, a makeshift one that heats up a tank of water outside, with a fire pit under it, and pushes the water through a tube into the tub, then exits through a tube back into the heater tank to circulate the cold back into the tank to be heated.
wicked sleepy, but yep. that’s my plan…
My previous house had a jetted tub. I LOVED it. Single, older woman, had no problems with it or plumbing bills. Water stayed hot a long, long time.
My current house has only a soaker tub. I miss my jetted tub but don’t want to the expense of ripping this big thing out. It is on the second floor.
I did occasionally run water and bleach through the jets. No problem with algae…just wondering, do you ever swim in lakes or ponds?
WHIRPOOL TUBS ARE A MAJOR SELLING POINT IN MY CONDO COMMUNITY. UNITS THAT CANNOT HAVE THEM, (DUE TO SIZE RESTRICTIONS0 ARE ALWAYS SOLD FOR LESS. I HAVE HAD JACUZZIS , IN ALL OUR HOMES, SINCE 1975, AS A KID, AND WOULD NEVER CONSIDER IT A WASTE. I THINK YOUR ADVISE IS BAD. CHEAP HOUSES DON’T NEED JACUZZI. IF $40.00 EXTRA FOR WATER A MONTH IS AN ISSUE, THAN MAYBE YOU SHOULDN’T EVEN BE QUALIFIED TO OWN A HOME. THIS SOUND LIKE ADVISE FOR SLUM HOUSES.
Let me guess: you sell whirlpool tubs for a living. But seriously, if whirpool tubs aren’t appropriate for “cheap houses” then they most certainly aren’t apropos for “expensive” homes. But I’m glad you enjoy yours, Addey.
By the way … WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING?
I also have a jetted tub, and for all the reasons that you listed, I think I’ve only used it like 4 times in 10 years. Two of the four times, I was bathing with a whole bunch of algae floats. Haha!
Lots of truth in what you say, although the one I have is a newer air model that self purges so no algae problem, and has a good heater to take care of maintaining the temperature. It has proven nice to have when I needed daily sitz baths or relaxing the legs and back after overuse. The younger grandkids always enjoy the bubble bath action and look forward to using the tub when they visit, so again, a nice addition in our case, albeit a luxury.
Wow. About to move. Away from a beautiful lake view. And the ONE thing I wish I could take with me is my air jetted whirlpool tub! We have a tankless water heater. And there’s a heater in the tub. So hot water is never a problem. I shower in the summer. But I use my tub EVERY day in the winter! I have back problems and nothing helps like those jets! I’m SO glad I didn’t read your article six years ago before putting in the tub! It has been a godsend! I see no real change in the water or utility bills. We do have an exhaust fan in the bathroom and it’s big and open. As for cleaning. I wipe it down with a scrubbing pad before getting out. And about once a week I fill out with water, add vinegar and run all the Jets for about ten minutes. It’s the easiest thing in my house to clean.
We have a 60″ whirlpool tub. It works very well and isn’t that noisy. I am considering adding an in line heater. It is an American Standard that was in the house when we bought it. We have a well with plenty of water so the only cost is electricity which is lower than most towns. I think it’s something we will use more with the heater installed, but maybe only once in a while. I think it is a nice thing to have, but not something I would put out the money for. Lucky for me, it was already here!
I would fill it with cold water and bleach, run for 10 minutes then drain. Then fill with hot water, hope not to run out. Loud, noisy and used a lot of propane. Used it a few times, then that was it. Too much trouble. New jetted tubs use air, so no water circulation. I would want a normal size tub, with air jets. But with all that said, I do promote the feature when I sell a house with one.
Why do you fill with bleach right before you use it? Bleaching makes suds that take a little while to rinse out. Only have room bleach a couple times a month. You can also use a little comet to scrub it clean
I agree with you on # 3,4,5 and 12.
However, the best use for a bathtub size whirlpool is the comfort it brings to those with body aches and pains, not romantic but practical.
So yes, a whirlpool tub may not be romantic, but it can be quite beneficial to folks in pain.
As far as cleaning, if one attends to it every month, you will not have an issue with bio-growth. A cup of bleach and a 1/4 cup of cascade powder running for 15 minutes does it for my whirlpool tub.
Water consumption is about 30 gallons and I have the built in heater that maintains temperature, it does not make the water hotter.
I estimate it costs about $1.00 for each use and we use it maybe once a week, sometimes every other week.
I have a jetted soaking tub in my rented townhome and already let my realtor know that this is on my “must-have” list for my home search. We’re also looking at new construction and the cost to add the jets to a soaking tub is about $1500 which over the life of your mortgage is really minimal. When I do use the whirlpool/Jacuzzi, my water bill is only about $5 more and I can’t realize gauge the electric bill difference due to other variables. It does take quite some time to fill but surprisingly, we can fill the entire tub with only hot water and need to add cold because it’s too hot…not sure if that will still be the case in our own home. As far as cleaning, after each bath I refill the tub about an hour or two later and flush it with a quart of Clorox bleach with the jets running for 10-20 minutes. I have never seen any algae or dirt return. When my back is killing me, I add two cups of Epsom salt and by the time I return to the real world, I feel like a new person. Overall, yes it will cost a little more and take a little extra time to clean, but the cons are not enough to keep me away.
I use my whirlpool tub almost daily to manage arthritis pain, and my husband uses it 3 times a week to relieve his psorasis. It came with our house, but I will never be without one again. For us, it has vastly improved our function and quality of life now that we are in our 60s. But I had one when I was in my 30s that I loved before I needed it for pain management.
BTW there are relatively inexpensive biofilm cleaners to keep the jet lines clean – the same way hotels sanitize between guests. I use bath salts and a small amount of herbal bath (like Kneipp), making it a cinch to wipe out the tub. I adjust the air intake to moderate foaming. None of these issues has been a big problem and I love my whirlpool tub. I had fancy hot tubs before, but like the bathtub much better for cleanliness.
Nice to see you all venting about jetted tubs and corner lots. First things first. Im building a new house and am on the fence about getting a jetted tub or soaker tub. All depends what I can afford. I still want the jetted tub if my budget allows. As for corner lots, owned one for 23 years, and would not have it any other way neigbors on only two sides is a beautiful thing. And I must chime in and say my house on the corner lot, just sold in 25 days. ding dong.
Just do it. You don’t even have to turn the jets on if you don’t want to but at least you have the option. They’re so big and cozy and contrary to the poster filling takes 10 min tops. I have 2 small kids… it’s not inconvenient
This is one persons opinion and not based on your own personal experience… use mine all the time.
I found reading this article and scrolling to the bottom more inconvenient than my jacuzzi tub. I use it every other day. No way I’d have it ANY different. Easy to clean to flush with some bleach and rinse several times and it’s good. The real water wasters are pools and sprinkler systems. Though I didn’t install mine it came with the house and was brand new. I didn’t buy the house for it just a bonus. We just love ours. I’ve actually thought against moving because wed lose our tub 🙂 to each their own. But 4 years strong I love ours.
It’s a total waste of money. You have to fill it up completely to clean it, drain, fill again to rinse out the pipes, drain, then fill again to use it. Unless someone else knows another way, chime in! We had one installed in our new build and used it maybe 5 times in 7 years.
We don’t have a whirlpool tub, nor do we plan to invest in one. However, we do have friends who have confessed that a whirlpool tub was a top selling point that influenced them big time when buying their home.
While they swear it’s comfy and cozy and warm and bubbly, they do complain about one important aspect: it’s too small! Apparently you can’t fully enjoy couples time in there without making a big splash all over the place
Good point, Adriana. LOL
What we did is we installed a steam shower system within our regular shower. The generator is totally silent. You can add different essential oils to it also. You already probably take showers, so all you have to do is press a button when in there and it’s on! Only costs maybe $5 per month to run and can cost less if you install a switch or cut the circuit breaker for times you will not be using it. You also can install a music system as part of it, but we didn’t go for that cost. We also bought a $100 canister towel warmer and we feel like we have a spa!
Very interesting, MaryAnn! Sounds great. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, my gosh! When were you in my bathroom to take this picture?? This is dead on my tub except for the ledge on the far side. Mine is just shaped that way without it, which means MORE water!! I love to soak as I have back issues but all the reasons you mentioned are why I don’t use it more; too much water, too long to fill, it gets cold fairly quickly, and the black gunk if you don’t flush it out. When I remodel my bathroom and get rid of all the pink tile I will put in a real tub that I can just soak in and not worry about all the other stuff, and maybe add bubbles, too!
Disagree completely. Hot tubs get used a LOT by people who enjoy them. If the OP’s point was that people install them and never use them, well that applies to just about anything else that gets installed but never used in a home. Hot tubs are vital for people with muscle and bone issues that requires soothing heat and massage and are fantastic for people who are active.
I upgraded my 5 ft soaker tub with a new deep soaker tub and picked up a retrofit kit to make it a whirlpool tub… it cost me 250 US and about 3 hours to drill and install the jets.. I use it mostly in the winter when I just want to soak in the heat and jets to relax my muscles… the main problem is people are so uptight they just don’t know how to unwind anymore…. I was also given a 7 ft whirlpool tub from my brother in law who bought a cabin out out town and converted the main floor bathroom to a huge shower that will fit at least 4 people with show jets everywhere.. just no water pressure… so I built a new bathroom in my basement to accommodate that tub… my son uses it from time to time…. .. when I sold my old place.. I had a whirlpool tub in my master… it was a definite selling point to the purchaser.. for me?? it would be a perk.. like when I bought the place I am in now… I am single windowed male… but the en-suit has a double sink, , now a whirlpool tub and a separate shower… I use the shower mostly… but like I said when I need to relax? I bring in a portable radio and unwind… as for cleaning it??? not a big deal… normal cleaning.. and every so often.. maybe once a year? I through in some dish washer tabs and let it run through the jets…but the jets are laid out as self draining.. so never an issue with algae.
This post is silly and very biased. What did Whirpool tubs ever do to you Len. It’s one thing to have an opinion and another to shove it down everyone’s throat.
Here’s my take on your points.
1. Expensive?
– Fair, it’s a luxury item
2. Don’t install yourself?
– I’d recommend this too if I wanted to earn some extra cash from installations. With video tutorials online, DIYs are easier than ever.
3. Not romantic?
– That’s subjective… next.
4. Noisy?
– Fair. I mean, can you feel the power of those jets??
5. Bubble baths?
– Like you said, this is only valid if the jets are in operation. You can decide, either bubble bath or jets. With a stinky soaker tub, you don’t have the choice.
6. Takes too long to fill?
– A watched pot never boils, Len. And too much water, see point 1.
7. No hot water left?
– For houses where this may be an issue, you’re probably look at smaller whirlpools that are similar in volume to the traditional soakers.
8. The water is cold? (*IF* you don’t have a heater)
– Sounds like the same issue you’d have with a soaker.
9. Third time you’re mentioning cost. See point 1.
10. Ventilation concerns because it’s too hot?
– I thought they get cold quickly?? Haha
11. Fourth time you’re mentioning cost. See point 1.
12. Algae growth?
– If it’s been a long time between uses, you just need to run the jets with water and cleaning solution (I know, expensive. See point 1).
13. Frequent cleaning?
– Jets aside (covered in point 12), soakers require frequent cleaning as well.
14. Shaving in the tub (again *IF* the jets are on)?
– Ew, ew, ew! Would you save in a pool of water in a soaker? If so, you can do the same but without turning on the jets. You probably wouldn’t want to waste that expensive jet time shaving anyway, would you? 😉
15. Frequency of use?
– Your use is not necessarily reflective of other peoples’ use. I think your comments prove enough that many people use them often, and for health reasons.
16. Home value?
– Here’s the deal, it may not increase your home value dramatically, or even at all but the bottom line is that it is a must for some buyers, as proven in your comments. Clearly, with proper care, a whirlpool IS a soaker tub BUT more, and I would like for my home to be marketable to ALL buyers.
Cheers!
I need my heated jacuzzi tub. My body has been in 13 auto accidents, 8 years of gymnastics abuse, 3 years of cheerleading, a dozen years of running…a couple slip and falls and a few horse riding accidents.
Now at 47 I am paying for it all. It is what keeps me walking actually. We don’t have money worries so a dollar or two a day for my tub is not an issue and cheaper than pain meds.
Our Jacuzzi brand tub is 25 years old with no issues ever. It is quiet and heats water perfectly. Our bed\bath is open concept and I jacuzzi at 6 am while he still sleeps.
#1 issue with whirlpool tubs is people don’t use them, seals dry out and then leaks and issues arise. So buy one, use your tub, screw the money it costs, enjoy it.
My guess is a noisy tub is what you get when you go cheap, so don’t skimp when buying. Just be realistic on what you really will use.
If you don’t like to soak you are not going to start just because you got a big tub. If you do love tubbing then it won’t go to waste. If you have injuries or pain it is theraputic. And healthy!
My brother said I might like this website. He was totally right. This post actually made my day!
I’ve been using my whirlpool tub for 18 years and about 4 times per week. I love it. It works terrific on my peripheral neuropathy feet & hands. It was already installed at home purchase. My best guess it is now 20 years new.
I have only had to replace one air switch and all else has been problem free. No heater/water warmer, but the water stays nice and cozy for my 1 & 1/2 hour therapy sessions. I have not had any black fungi/algae problem and I attribute that to using it frequently with an occasional cold water flush. The jets get slightly dirty from time to time but a used electric toothbrush works great for cleaning them. Yes, I fill it completely full of mild hot water and let the pump run the entire time.
We do not notice any overly loud noises-(it is well insulated,& vented around the motor). I am not concerned about water usage or the electric bill. I want foot & body therapy and do not mind paying for it.
Now that I am older I use a large medical chair-(plastic with backrest and armchair). It sits half in and half out of the tub. It certainly meets my needs and I am completely happy with it.
Maybe I just got lucky. I really don’t know and it is the first and only one that I have owned. HAPPY SOOTHING BATHING!
I found your opinions interesting. Kind of like buying a treadmill to use for a coat rack.
I have one other reason to ask. I am diagnosed with an incurable neuromuscular disease this past yr. The pain or muscle slams can be debilitating. My wife has fibromyalgia. She and children encourage me to get one. My treatments are 20k every three weeks for life . That allows me mobility but not much more.
Hot showers help but I wonder if the warm jets would be practical. Do you still believe it’s a waste?
I use my jetted tub at least 4x/week. Ladies, of you haven’t tried it for pleasurable experiences, you are missing out. The real reason women use them more than men. Lol
We bought the top of the line Jacuzzi jetted tub when adding a new master bath in our home ten years ago. It looks beautiful…..too bad it doesn’t perform that way.
Because of the jets, dark crud grows in the pipes and will pop out into your nice tub full of water just when you don’t want it. And someone will say … you should clean your jetted tub! Are you kidding? We even go so far as to buy Jacuzzi’s brand of pipe cleaner that is only $16.00 for 2 treatments. Only problem is it doesn’t resolve the problem. The dark crud keeping on coming!
And someone will say … that is soap that has dried and is coming out of the pipes. Well, I agree with some of that statement. However, I don’t think I have ever gotten into a tub where soap wasn’t used because let’s face it, your muscles may be sore, or your back may hurt, but when we all get in the tub or shower, we use soap and clean our bodies, because that is what humans do. So, not using soap is not an option.
These jetted tubs are deep, so as we age, and our bones and muscles begin to hurt more frequently, it becomes more of a challenge to actually get in and out of these deep tubs. This becomes a real safety issue, no joking aside.
Bottom line, this Jacuzzi tub looks great in our updated master bathroom, as long as no one tries to use it.
And one last thing … Just what do you think Jacuzzi has to say about all that crud that grows in the pipes? Well, Jacuzzi indicated if you limit the soap use (really?) and clean it regularly (I am spending $16 a month on these cleanings and it doesn’t help), it should limit the amount of crud coming out of the pipes? Jacuzzi also told me that it was somewhat of a design flaw with the style I had purchased and that they had changed the pipe layout. I asked them how that would benefit me, and they stated it probably wouldn’t as my warranty had expired.
So for all the folks on here who are supporting the use of these tubs, that’s great and I’m glad for you. But my wife just will not sit in a tub of water with chunks of dark crud floating around her, and that was immediately after using the Jacuzzi tub and pipe cleaner
I just bought a house with a whirlpool tub, and it is 21 inches tall, and you need to get your leg over that to get in. It is loud as hell, and is nasty, and I can’t wait to pull it out and replace it with a nice, big shower with a seat, or a conventional tub/shower combination.
Yes, it may be appealing to some, but this one is going to be given away to some poor, unfortunate soul who will pull it out for me. I have as second, full bath with a regular tub/shower and if and when I want a soak, I can use that one.
It was a selling point back in the 90’s – but no one suspected what a pain in the butt it would turn out to be.
Call me a sucker then. We had one in our last house that fit just one person and used just a bit more water than a traditional rectangular tub. Ours was used constantly by myself, my husband and our three sons. It had a longer tub bed. It was almost a fight to be able to use it.
Our current house has an odd sized tub, uses too much water and is not long enough. I would love to be able to find another corner tub to replace it that is longer and doesn’t use so much water. So far, no dice.
I agree with you, Len. We bought our house 30 yrs ago (it is an 80’s house) and it, along with most of the houses in our area, came with a jaccuzi. We’ve used ours maybe 20 times in all those years, and no time in the last 20 years, I’m sure.
We’ve recently flooded and had to have our house rebuilt. We had them take out the jaccuzi tub, now we have more room for storage and shelves. The house is not done yet, but we are anxious to see the final product. Bye Bye jaccuzi and Hi to more room.
Another reason we didn’t want another tub or soaker is that with the climate change, we’ve noticed in our neighborhood not many people throwing water on their lawns, maybe water conservation is a better plan. Not judging others, just our thoughts. Happy soaking to others who like to. We like our shower.
Hey man can’t agree with you. Whirlpool tubs are just amazing.
I had a jetted tub and as of today am installing another in a brand new renovation. I couldnt imagine not having it… the therapeutic benefits are amazing and as one of the posters said can be the difference of how you function.
The half dozen things I read about… gunk coming out, cant use bath bombs, noise, Ive not once had any of those experiences. Anyways, had to chime in with praise for the jetted tub!!!
We have a jacuzzi tub and my wife and I enjoy it often. I especially like looking across from her and enjoy looking at a hot naked women relaxing with me in a hot tub- candles and the whole Shabang!
Huzza, huzza!
We just bought a new home with a jet tub (rectangular not a corner one so it doesn’t use much more water than a regular tub.) I have a chronic pain condition caused by damaged discs and let me tell you … I use that thing every other day! The combo of hot water and the jets soothes not only my neck where the injury is but also my arms which have chronic nerve pain from the compressed nerve roots. I don’t care how much the electricity cost is. It’s like having a physiotherapy tub in my home!!!
The one my parents have is basically a little deeper than a normal tub so it doesnt take much more water. My mom used it a lot before she got to the point she couldnt get in and out of it.
Yet another reason why whirlpool tubs are for suckers, Kay.
We use ours 3-4 times/week, have an inline heater that can be turned off in summer; have replaced the motor once in 10 yrs. Best investment ever made!! We’re looking into an American Beverly 60″x40″x34″ deep model right now to replace our custom careers marble tub.
I’ve had a jetted tub for about 4 years and have used it probably 500 times. Cleaning it is a small price to pay for the enjoyment I get from it. I am a Pisces and love water, so that could have something to do with it.
I love your blog!!
What Eugene said. I Absolutely LOVE mine as do my children. It gets used 3-4 times a week. My husband whos not a tub man uses it on occasion if having back pain & it really helps.
We are on a septic system & no idea of water tank size but have had zero issues with septic or running out of hot water. Heck I often put kids in the tub while i shower, have dishwasher running & washing machine going (zero issues). No mold or black (we clean it). Additionally, we are tall. We need a larger tub to be fully submerged in water.
We bought our new build 12 years ago with said tub I will never have a home without one. To each their own. Money well spent in this house
Im not sure what all the hate is about. All these issues with jacuzzis can be easily solved.
We have a two person deep jacuzzi tub – but it is in our master bedroom, not the bathroom. I put the bathroom fan on (connected to the on suite) and open the window if I need extra ventilation.
I installed a TV above ours. It’s the next best thing to a hot tub. It is super easy to clean, just huck some dishwasher pods in there and turn jets on for awhile. Then drain, rinse and wipe down. I do this every couple of months.
I did not clean it for like 6 months one time and there was no mold or algae coming out. That is BS – maybe in microscopic amounts.
The new ones drain pretty much all the water. We use it several times a week all winter, but never in the summer. Its also great if you need to clean stuff in it – backpacks or bigger items. I do not notice an increase in the power bill.
It uses most of the hot water tank to fill though, but this is fine for us. If it gets cold – add more hot water. Ours was installed with thicker water pipes and fills up quickly.
The jets are not that noisy when we turn the pressure down and if you want it to be silent – TURN THEM OFF.
The guy who wrote this article is obviously not a problem solver and most likely single. No wonder you wouldn’t use it.
No need for personal attacks. I’m an engineer – and married.
But since you want to play that game, now it’s my turn: You sound like you sell whirlpool tubs for a living to unsuspecting suckers.
Well, as an owner of one of these whirlpool tubs, I can attest to what the author of this excellent post wrote. His warnings are all true. Mine has been a colossal waste of money. I wish I had never bought mine.
And, yes, the algae problem is absolutely real. Unless you use the tub on a daily basis, the water sits in the plumbing and gets moldy and then is spit out during the next session. It’s disgusting!
Buyers beware!
My wife wants one…. she soaks in the tub every Friday night after a long work week…… she’s done this for more than 30 years…… she want’s a Jacuzzi tub…… time to get her one..
Well said! Should have built a closet instead of a tub. We tried to use ours and it wouldnt even fill all the way up before running out of hot water. No inline heater and on an exterior wall so its cold within 10 minutes of use. Dumbest idea Ive seen yet for a home.
Sorry, but I agree with the writer. But he left out 1 important con, the older you get the harder it is to get in and out of. Ours has been nothing but a giant laundry basket for at least the last 10 years. Can’t wait to get rid of it!!
I agree that large tubs are expensive to heat and maintain, but so are outdoor jacuzzi, etc. I believe each has it’s own advantages. Although I don’t use the Jacuzzi tub all the time, the one in our has has been in place for 20 years. I use it about once a month and thoroughly enjoy every jetted warm soak. I don’t seem to have the algae problem. Finally in the winter months I open the bedroom door and allow the heat and moisture to counter the dry air in the bedroom and to recoup waste heat.
I completely disagree. I use mine regularly. I also have a tankless hot water heater so no worry about using all the hot water. It’s not too noisy, especially if you compare it to children running around or teenagers playing video games! I’ve never had an issue with mold or algae, I clean it after every bath. My water and electric bills are no higher than when I lived in my previous home without a jetted tub. I guess if you have the right equipment and take care of it, it can be a relaxing safe haven
I think you mean fungi, not algae. Algae don’t typically grow in the dark, fungi love the dark. There are some organisms sometimes referred to as algae that aren’t photosynthetic, but they’re unpigmented.
My impression of jetted tubs for home use has been that they’re really good for a minority of users who will love them, while the rest were installed because they’ve been promoted by Big Plumb as a standard, modern thing to keep up with the Joneses, even for replacement of every bathtub in the house. I saw my old landlord installing one in his family’s upstairs unit, then years later when I had shingles pain asked if I could come up and use it, found out they’d used it only briefly and never fixed it once it broke, if it was even working right to start with. I guessed that was typical. They do feel good to use, but doubt they’d be worth owning by as many people who have them at home. Same with gym equipment.
If you like air bubbles, you can for much less get an outboard air jet unit for a standard tub. It can be put away when not in use. It does, however, raise the effective floor of the tub, so you need a fairly deep bath for effective use of it by adults. If you like a foamed-over tub, you can rig an upholstery shampooer attachment to either the exhaust of a vacuum cleaner or the same outboard spa blower (which has the advantage of its own GFI) to quickly blow a thick foam over a bather, as used in movies and photo shoots. Kids enjoy that more than bubble bath, especially if you add some coloring to the soap, and if you use real soap solution (a little hard to get a good one now that Ivory’s liquid hand wash is soapless) it makes a lather than they can actually wash with.
If I had one, I’d probably use it ONLY in the summer, like I’m using my friend’s now after summer football practice (I coach) when I’m hot, sweaty, and sore. His water heater’s insufficient to fill it any more than tepid, which is great for cooling off. It’s a walk-in tub he had installed for his late wife at her insistence and that then she wound up never using, and has both air and hydro-jet, the latter with variable air intake. The air gives kind of a pounding massage that’s hard to take for long; the jets with wide-open air intake very efficiently produces a pile of dry foam atop the water with a little Ultra dish liquid.
From my previous experience with another tub, if the air intake is on the inside wall of the tub, then if you use a mixture that produces a HEAVY, WET foam, there’s no danger of over-foaming the tub, because the air intake will just suck it back in when it reaches that height. I had such a foaming formula for bubble baths and foam parties (see link; it never made money, though). However, most bubble baths and certainly hand dish detergent will make a LIGHT, DRY foam that WOULD overflow the tub if you let it, but fortunately not get the bathroom too wet and could simply be wiped up with dry towels.
No way I’d buy one, though.
Turns out my friend’s has an automatic (timed) air purge that cleans out the lines and is supposed to be very effective at preventing contamination.
The obvious moral to this story is do your research.
Don’t confuse a whirlpool tub for a hot tub. Hot tubs have filters and cleaning cycles. The biggest advantage is that when working properly they are always clean, hot , and ready.
Whirlpool tubs are not. Don’t get a whirlpool tub for bathing … get it for soaking. No dirty girls and boys allowed. Shower before getting in to reduce the accumulation of bathwater stew.
Understand that even if you shower before soaking you are still leaving behind germs, bacteria, and cooties. Add a sanitizer to the water upon exit. Circulate for a few minutes before draining.
You will still need to perform a good cleansing cycle at least every third or fourth soak but this will make the whole process a bit more manageable.
Lastly, be realistic. Will you actually put aside the time to use a whirlpool tub? And will that time of day coincide with your water heater being chock full of good hot water?
If you’re imagining a long hot bath after a long day of doing laundry, making dinner, cleaning up afterwards and starting the dishwasher then, good God girl … GET A GRIP! Tepid water might be the best you get.
My whirlpool tub is original to the house. 30 years old. Upstairs. I haven’t run it/cleaned it out with bleach for years. I’m frankly afraid it will leak because of the air and water pushing through the old pipes. The build up of fungi or whatever is in the pipes in gross.
Should I try running it? Do I have reason for concern?
I’d love to know other’s experiences.
I don’t think you have to worry about it leaking as long as you leave the valves off.