My project for the winter is to renovate my bathroom, and I was
planning on installing a whirlpool bathrub. Lately I have been hearing
some negative comments from people about them.For example one person
told me their whirlpool bath pump made a very loud distracting
noise.Another person told me their air jet tub blew cold air and the
water quickly lost its heat.I don't want to install a white elephant
that doesnt get used, and would like to hear comments from people
about their experiences with them--and if they would recommend them.
Thanks

"brent" wrote in message
...
My project for the winter is to renovate my bathroom, and I was
planning on installing a whirlpool bathrub. Lately I have been hearing
some negative comments from people about them.For example one person
told me their whirlpool bath pump made a very loud distracting
noise.Another person told me their air jet tub blew cold air and the
water quickly lost its heat.I don't want to install a white elephant
that doesnt get used, and would like to hear comments from people
about their experiences with them--and if they would recommend them.
Thanks


I think noise depends on the brand and model. Get one with a built-in
heater to maintain the water temperature. Also you may need to install a
bigger water heater tank to fill it depending on the size tub. There has
also been an issue with bacteria growing in the pipes because of stagnant
water left behind after the tub is drained. I think one manufacturer
addresses that issue, but I can't remember the name; Something like sanitub
or sanijet. They have a web site.

From own experiences with my customers that I have wired and gone back
months or years later for other things: The novelty wears off and they don't
get used that much. Personally I would get a portable hot tub outside on
the patio or deck. I think that would get used more often, but they do
require daily maintenance.

On Dec 1, 11:03 am, brent wrote:
My project for the winter is to renovate my bathroom, and I was
planning on installing a whirlpool bathrub. Lately I have been hearing
some negative comments from people about them.For example one person
told me their whirlpool bath pump made a very loud distracting
noise.Another person told me their air jet tub blew cold air and the
water quickly lost its heat.I don't want to install a white elephant
that doesnt get used, and would like to hear comments from people
about their experiences with them--and if they would recommend them.
Thanks

I have one in my master bath. I also have a spa outside. I use the
spa, but never use the whirlpool. IIMO, the spa is much roomier,
comfortable and far more practical. It uses more energy, but that
also depends on how frequently you use the whirpool, which takes a lot
of hot water to fill and then dumps it. (Make sure you have the water
heater capacity to go with it. On new construction it's not unusual
to see 2 water heaters in homes that have a whirpool tub, though
depending on other loads, you're probably OK with one large one.)

On the other hand, a whirpool tub adds value on resale because lots of
people think they are cool, probably because they over estimate how
useful they are, how often they will use it, etc.

On Dec 1, 10:03 am, brent wrote:
My project for the winter is to renovate my bathroom, and I was
planning on installing a whirlpool bathrub. Lately I have been hearing
some negative comments from people about them.For example one person
told me their whirlpool bath pump made a very loud distracting
noise.Another person told me their air jet tub blew cold air and the
water quickly lost its heat.I don't want to install a white elephant
that doesnt get used, and would like to hear comments from people
about their experiences with them--and if they would recommend them.
Thanks

At a time when we are being exhorted to use CF bulbs throughout the
house and buy energy saving appliances, you're going to waste precious
resources on a whirlpool tub? Oh well, maybe that's the American
way...sigh

Joe

I have one as well. I have used it maybe 10 or so times in the past 4 years.
It is a little bit more work to clean than a regular tub but it is not as
hard to clean as I originally thought it would be. I have not noticed water
getting cold quickly but I don't have the patience to sit in the tub for
more than 15-20 minutes. If I don't use it for some time, black pieces come
out of it first time I use it. Overall I like having it. If I remodeled
again, I'd put the same thing.

If you or someone in your family uses a regular bathtub often, it is
probably worth getting it. But if you rarely use a tub you are unlikely to
start using a whirlpool just for the whirlpool. The pump is supposed to be
quiet but I do find it annoying. The water makes noise too. I have a Kohler.
You can get same tub with or without the whirlpool. Finally if we are
talking about a regular bathtub, I would recommend you a little bigger tub
(whirlpool or not) than standard assuming your bathroom is big enough to
hold it. You are supposed to have 15" clear space on each side of toilet
(this is most places in US). Mine is 32Wx20H. Standard is something like
29Wx15H although not sure.

I agree with other poster who said that your home is going to be more
attractive to buyers if it has a whirlpool. I also agree that this is
because they overestimate what it will be worth to them.

Mihaela

"brent" wrote in message
...
My project for the winter is to renovate my bathroom, and I was
planning on installing a whirlpool bathrub. Lately I have been hearing
some negative comments from people about them.For example one person
told me their whirlpool bath pump made a very loud distracting
noise.Another person told me their air jet tub blew cold air and the
water quickly lost its heat.I don't want to install a white elephant
that doesnt get used, and would like to hear comments from people
about their experiences with them--and if they would recommend them.
Thanks

just plan on a big hugger water heater or two. gas heater size say 100
gallons commercial type unit. if you use electric for water heating
you might have to upgrade your electric service to 200 or even 400 amp
have enough water heating capacity.

no one I know uses their tub much, some have a plywood cover with
cloth over the wood to save cleaning time, they get dusty even when
not used

On Dec 1, 11:57 am, Joe wrote:
On Dec 1, 10:03 am, brent wrote:

My project for the winter is to renovate my bathroom, and I was
planning on installing a whirlpool bathrub. Lately I have been hearing
some negative comments from people about them.For example one person
told me their whirlpool bath pump made a very loud distracting
noise.Another person told me their air jet tub blew cold air and the
water quickly lost its heat.I don't want to install a white elephant
that doesnt get used, and would like to hear comments from people
about their experiences with them--and if they would recommend them.
Thanks

At a time when we are being exhorted to use CF bulbs throughout the
house and buy energy saving appliances, you're going to waste precious
resources on a whirlpool tub? Oh well, maybe that's the American
way...sigh

Joe


How is someone having a whirpool tub that they use ocasionally any
worse than someone driving the kids to an amusement park or the
beach? Or a family getting on a plane and using energy to go on a
vacation trip?

The people that want to go around making random judgement calls on
nits never cease to amaze me.

" wrote:

no one I know uses their tub much

We were complimented by the builder of our house for _not_ purchasing a jetted
tub. They said it's one of those options that adds a large amount to the price
but rarely gets used. Far better to buy one of those portable jet units that
hangs over the tub wall...

--
"Tell me what I should do, Annie."
"Stay. Here. Forever." - Life On Mars

On Sat, 1 Dec 2007 11:18:12 -0500, "John Grabowski"
wrote:

From own experiences with my customers that I have wired and gone back
months or years later for other things: The novelty wears off and they don't
get used that much. Personally I would get a portable hot tub outside on
the patio or deck. I think that would get used more often, but they do
require daily maintenance.

Yes, plus the filter must run 24/7, running up the electric bill. Not
by much, but by enough that if you're not using the spa at least
weekly, you should consider whether it's worth the energy use/waste.

wrote in message

How is someone having a whirpool tub that they use ocasionally any
worse than someone driving the kids to an amusement park or the
beach? Or a family getting on a plane and using energy to go on a
vacation trip?

As long as there are people in the world that are homeless and starving,
we're not allowed to have any fun, eat steak or drive a car better than a
Plymouth Reliant. Have you no shame?

wrote in message
...
just plan on a big hugger water heater or two. gas heater size say 100
gallons commercial type unit. if you use electric for water heating
you might have to upgrade your electric service to 200 or even 400 amp
have enough water heating capacity.

no one I know uses their tub much, some have a plywood cover with
cloth over the wood to save cleaning time, they get dusty even when
not used

Why do you need more electric service? The take the same amount of water
that a regular tub uses, it just pumps it while you bathe. Why would you
cover your bathtub, whirlpool or not? Are you confusing this with a hot tub
or spa?

"KLS" wrote in message

Yes, plus the filter must run 24/7, running up the electric bill. Not
by much, but by enough that if you're not using the spa at least
weekly, you should consider whether it's worth the energy use/waste.

No,it gets drained after each use. Do you use the same water in your
bathtub? He's not talking hot tub or spa, this is a bathtub.


I still prefer a shower.

"brent" wrote

planning on installing a whirlpool bathrub. Lately I have been hearing
some negative comments from people about them.For example one person
told me their whirlpool bath pump made a very loud distracting
noise.Another person told me their air jet tub blew cold air and the
water quickly lost its heat.I don't want to install a white elephant

The second one is true. The first, variable.

that doesnt get used, and would like to hear comments from people
about their experiences with them--and if they would recommend them.

We had one in a japanese apartment. We rarely used the function as it blew
cold air (or rather, air from the bathroom which is colder than the water).
Due to it's design, it didnt have the problem of water trapped inside.

What we did actually like and use, was an external unit that you put over
the lip of the tub which creates it's whirlpool by jetting the water inside
the tub around. It's not as much 'force' as a true whirlpool, but we liked
it and wore it out eventually. It was 'no muss, no fuss' stuff. Knowing
what I do now, I would actively avoid buying a house with a built in tub
whrlpool. If I saw a side unit propped over the lip though, I'd be grinning
and asking if it could stay with the house.

No,it gets drained after each use. �Do you use the same water in your
bathtub? �He's not talking hot tub or spa, this is a bathtub.

I still prefer a shower.

many friends with those tubs added to existing homes have undersized
water heaters and thus they cant fill the tub with enough hot water to
use.

since these tubs are generally larger than regular tubs and hold more
water a larger higher capacity water heater is essential.

if your heating by gas a 100 gallon commercial one will likely do the
job.

the trouble with electric is look at the power needed to run one, say
a 100 gallon high capacity.

this issue can require a service upgrade which can be very expensive.
if your using electric to heat water you probably dont have gas.

so combine heating demands with regular home demands and add a large
power hungry hot water tank.

On Sat, 01 Dec 2007 20:47:29 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"KLS" wrote in message

Yes, plus the filter must run 24/7, running up the electric bill. Not
by much, but by enough that if you're not using the spa at least
weekly, you should consider whether it's worth the energy use/waste.

No,it gets drained after each use. Do you use the same water in your
bathtub? He's not talking hot tub or spa, this is a bathtub.

Ed, you cut out too much: he was suggesting an OUTDOOR spa unit, and
that was what I was responding to. To help you remember, I'll repost
the relevant text:

wrote:

[cut] Personally I would get a portable hot tub outside on
the patio or deck. I think that would get used more often, but they do
require daily maintenance.

These things don't get drained after each use. OK? Enjoy your
shower.

On Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:24:40 GMT, wrote:

On Sat, 01 Dec 2007 20:30:53 GMT, KLS wrote:

On Sat, 1 Dec 2007 11:18:12 -0500, "John Grabowski"
wrote:

From own experiences with my customers that I have wired and gone back
months or years later for other things: The novelty wears off and they don't
get used that much. Personally I would get a portable hot tub outside on
the patio or deck. I think that would get used more often, but they do
require daily maintenance.

Yes, plus the filter must run 24/7, running up the electric bill. Not
by much, but by enough that if you're not using the spa at least
weekly, you should consider whether it's worth the energy use/waste.

Completely wrong. My spa runs the filter for 1 hour every 12 hours. It also runs
whenever the temp falls below what I set it to maintain. The amount of
maintenance a spa requires is miniscule. I add a small amount of sanitizer after
each use, (not daily) and check the water with a simple test strip about once
every 3 weeks to check overall water quality. It rarely needs much adjustment,
and if it does, that's not a big deal, either.

I drain, wipe down and refill the tub about every 3 or 4 months. Draining takes
about 45 minutes, filling takes about 30 minutes. Most of that I don't need to
be there. Not much actual "labor" involved.

Brushing your teeth before you go to bed each night is at least as much work, or
maybe more.

Electricity averages out to about $25 a month over a year. I'm in New England.

The rewards are more than worth it. Laying out in 102-103 degree water under a
starry winter night with a little snow drifting down is simply awesome.

You're right that the rewards are simply awesome; in fact, I'll be
going out to mine after dinner, where the outside temp is 18F and
there's snow on the ground. My point about running the filter though
was that for mine, I run it for 4 hours 2x a day, otherwise the
chemistry gets out of whack because of the number of people using it.

On Dec 1, 12:01 pm, wrote:
On Dec 1, 11:57 am, Joe wrote:



On Dec 1, 10:03 am, brent wrote:

My project for the winter is to renovate my bathroom, and I was
planning on installing a whirlpool bathrub. Lately I have been hearing
some negative comments from people about them.For example one person
told me their whirlpool bath pump made a very loud distracting
noise.Another person told me their air jet tub blew cold air and the
water quickly lost its heat.I don't want to install a white elephant
that doesnt get used, and would like to hear comments from people
about their experiences with them--and if they would recommend them.
Thanks

At a time when we are being exhorted to use CF bulbs throughout the
house and buy energy saving appliances, you're going to waste precious
resources on a whirlpool tub? Oh well, maybe that's the American
way...sigh

Joe

How is someone having a whirpool tub that they use ocasionally any
worse than someone driving the kids to an amusement park or the
beach? Or a family getting on a plane and using energy to go on a
vacation trip?

snip

'Two wrongs don't make a right'. Ancient proverb.
Cheers,

Joe

Look at Sanijet models if you don't want mold in pipes. Internet sales
only.



"brent" wrote in message
...
My project for the winter is to renovate my bathroom, and I was
planning on installing a whirlpool bathrub. Lately I have been hearing
some negative comments from people about them.For example one person
told me their whirlpool bath pump made a very loud distracting
noise.Another person told me their air jet tub blew cold air and the
water quickly lost its heat.I don't want to install a white elephant
that doesnt get used, and would like to hear comments from people
about their experiences with them--and if they would recommend them.
Thanks