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Choosing the right whirlpool bathtub can be far more complicated than choosing a normal bathtub. While bathrooms are often designed to hold bathtubs, they’re not often designed to hold whirlpool tubs. Buying a whirlpool can involve a complete bathroom remodel. Fitting the jetted tub to your bathroom can help you avoid a costly and unnecessary remodel.
Before you begin to look for a jetted bathtub in a store, measure the space where the bathtub will be installed. Measure the total space including the area where walls or other fixtures will be knocked out. Once you know how large space is, you can buy a whirlpool that (hopefully) fits in your current bathroom. This can help you avoid a complete bathroom reconfiguration.
Go to a showroom and choose a model based on the space in your bathroom. Don’t forget that the cost of a jetted bathtub rarely includes the price of installation, so you’ll need to factor price into the cost as you look at different models.
Once you’ve picked a model for yourself, get the specs from the installer. The specs will include information about the exact requirements of the whirlpool you’ve chosen, so when you’re trying to decide whether or not the jetted tub fits in your bathroom, having the specs on hand will be very handy.
Invite a plumber to your home and show the plumber the specs. Your plumber can take some measurements, inspect your bathroom and tell you what will need to be done to your bathroom in order to accommodate the jetted tub. Your plumber can also give you a bid for the job, so you’ll have a starting point when trying to decide how much the total installation will cost.
Whirlpools have a motor and require electricity in order to run. In fact, jetted tubs can require quite a bit of electricity. If your bathroom isn’t already wired for a jetted tub, make an appointment with an electrician to find out how much it will cost to upgrade your home. If you’re not sure whether or not your electrical service will accommodate the tub, contact an electrician.
If you’re still thinking about moving forward with the installation, it might be necessary at this point to get a contractor. For complicated installations, a contractor can manage the project from start to finish, from getting the whirlpool into your bathroom to building a platform and managing the electrician or plumber subcontractors.
At this point, you should start to have a sense of what buying a jetted tub will entail and how much it will cost. Developing a budget can help you decide whether or not this type of remodel is realistic. After compiling your bids and the cost of the jetted tub, don’t forget to add in at least 10% to the total cost. It’s not uncommon for contractors to encounter problems with wood rot and other issues in bathrooms, so if your floor is weak or if you encounter another problem, you may need to pay extra for repairs.
At Terry’s Plumbing, we can help you decide where your jetted tub will go and what will need to be done to your home’s plumbing to get it there. To find out more, contact us today at 1-877-483-7797.
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