walk-in tubs?

[micky]

I may need a plumber for my bathtub and I was thinking of planning ahead for once, and getting a walk-in tub.

A) Will I need to get a bigger water-heater? My current one certainly isn't small. I forget how big it is, but if I take a really long bath now, adding a dribble of hot water the whole time, I can run out of hot water. How big a WH do I need?

B) I presume you'll recommend the power-assisted draining? So I don't have to wait a long time to get out. I'll still have to wait a long time after I get in until it fills, right?

C) You can really get the water up to one's neck, one's chin?

D) Any other comments or suggestions?

[hubops]

May-as-well think a little further ahead and get wheelchair accessable :

John T.

[Cindy Hamilton]

That's what we did, including the seat. I haven't willingly taken a tub bath since 1970.

Cindy Hamilton

[trader_4]

No websites selling these? It's basically about the size of a regular tub, but has a door, so I don't see the new issue specific to it. I would think a 40 gal WH would be fine, certainly if it's gas. If it's electric and on a timer, then who knows. It would depend on what other usage there is, but same would apply to any tub.

websites? videos? I would think they would have a larger, unrestricted drain to begin with. That may very well be enough. What's limiting any tub draining now is the limited drain size opening that typically doesn't use the full capacity available of the pipe.

videos

[Ralph Mowery]

I have always thought it odd that the tubs have about a 2 inch drain hole and go to a 4 inch pipe.

Is there any reason other than maybe cost that the tub drain could not match the main drain pipe ?

[trader_4]

The 4" pipe is the main sewer line. It's not only the tub opening that's less than that, but also the line between it and the main, which is typically 2"? To make that larger is certainly possible, just more places in many houses that will have joists cut to hell and such. But the first problem is that typical tub, the opening isn't 2" to begin with, maybe 1.5" and then typically with a pop up stopper that does not come out or fully clear the opening. Just fixing that, I'd bet you'd double the drain rate.

They certainly could go to larger drains, with installers having the option to use it for new installs or reduce it for existing where it's not possible to re-plumb. Those walk-ins, I guess they offer the power drain option because it works with retrofits or new installs. It's probably a good idea to have it for safety reasons. If you need that tub, what happens if you're suddenly feeling like you might pass out and need to get out quick or at least make it so you can't drown?

[Ralph Mowery]

You are probably right on the pipe size. I did not think about the stopper and items that go along with that to even more reduce the ammount of water that could flow.

I was thinking the crapper had a large pipe on it because it is needed and I guess that depending on the home construction the pipe size cold be a problem. The house I used to live in there was a main line going down one side of the house and every thing went to it. Nothing needed to be cut for the piping other than the hole in the floor. Every line could have been 4 to even 8 inches with no problem except for the sinks that the pipes were in the wall.

Looks like they could come up with some kind of ball valve that would not restrict the water flow of even the small tub pipes. Probably one of the few things that has been around for 100 years and no need to change.

[trader_4]

The old time stopper would be a big improvement. The handle and valve contraption probably cuts the flow by half, at least.

[invalid unparseable]

Noted this from Googling:

"Most walk-in tubs hold between 40 and 80 gallons of water. A standard bathtub, by contrast, averages 25 to 45 gallons of water. When considering which bathtub model to purchase, be sure to understand your hot water heater's capacity as well."

[Clare Snyder]

Skip all that crap and get a bath lift - you'll need it eventually anyway - - - - . Then you don't have to sit in the tub while it fills and empties.

[Ralph Mowery]

That is one reason we installed a walk in shower and took out the tub in one of the bathrooms when it was updated. Just step up about 3 or so inches and about 2 inches wide.

[trader_4]

To get to 80, they would have to be way higher or else the outside dimensions are not those of a standard tub. I'd bet that the 40 gal ones are like regular ones and the others are much larger and won't fit into a std tub footprint. If they did, the thing would have to be nearly twice as tall.

[Jim Joyce]

Yes, but how many baths have you taken unwillingly during that time?

[Cindy Hamilton]

Quite a few. In 1978, I rented a cheap sublet room in an older house; I spent an entire summer taking baths.

I would refer to it as "not entirely willingly" rather than "unwillingly".

Cindy Hamilton

[Jim Joyce]

Fair enough. :-) Better than an entire summer without any bathing at all.