Air Tub vs Jetted Tub

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Air Tub or Jetted Tub?

Air tub vs jetted tub – decisions, decisions. What’s best for your bathroom depends on two factors.

The first factor is the physical sensation you prefer. The second is the configuration or style of the tub itself.

Physical Sensation

A jet tub, also known generically as a whirlpool tub, uses jets of water pumped under high pressure from nozzles on the sides of the tub. These can usually be adjusted for direction to focus the streams of water where the user wants. This is the hydromassage effect. The whirlpool tub may or may not include its own heater.

By contrast, an air tub uses jets of air, also under high pressure, rather than water, to produce its effect. This is more relaxing than therapeutic.

So, to the occupant, the difference between the two tub types is the sensation delivered. The water jet feels a bit like a deep-tissue finger massage and is what most people think of as hydrotherapy.

On the other hand, the air jet, which delivers numerous streams of bubbles, provides a “fizzing” sensation. This is more gentle than the water jet but very relaxing.

Some therapy tubs come with a combination of air jets and water jets. 

Tub Configuration

This brings us to the second decision factor we mentioned earlier. The configuration or style of the tub itself.

The admitted starting point of this site in recommending a therapy tub within the context of a bathroom remodel is aging-in-place and Universal Design. So, we are principally concerned here with accessibility and safety. So we lean towards walk-in tubs.

This brings us to the second decision factor we mentioned earlier. The configuration or style of the tub itself.

The admitted starting point of this site in recommending a therapy tub within the context of a bathroom remodel is aging-in-place and Universal Design. So, we are principally concerned here with accessibility and safety. So we lean towards walk-in tubs.

However, if aging in place is far from your mind, there are less expensive options with step-over therapy tubs. They also favor the supine position rather than the seated position. And they come in two-person configurations too.

But even in a non-aging in-place situation, we recommend the use of safety grab bars.

• Related post: Bathroom Grab Bars

When contemplating a step-over therapy tub, give a thought to resale value. We think the walk-in tub is a better option for resale. 

Walk-in Tubs

In an aging-in-place application, we absolutely recommend the walk-in tub rather than the step-over tub, as being a better long-term solution, even though they are more expensive.

Given the very great comfort of having a tub to soak in, especially when it is a therapy tub. When you put the cost of this type of walk-in tub in the context of your overall remodeling budget, you may well find that by making savings elsewhere in the budget, the cost of a walk-in therapy tub suddenly becomes doable.

Financial Assistance for Walk-In Tubs

While Medicare itself does not cover these items, it is an open question whether Medicare Advantage programs may. However, they do appear to be tax-deductible as a medical expense. Check with your financial adviser as we do not give tax advice.

Air Tubs & Jet Tubs on Amazon

Walk-in Tubs on Amazon

• Related post: Soaking Tubs
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