DIY - hose for portable bathtub

Courteous

Hi forum folks,
I bought a plastic, foldable portable bathtub (yes, such a thing exists!) from Amazon. The tub itself is amazing, really happy with it, but I’ve a problem filling and emptying it. I think this is probably quite fixable but just seeking some advice. So, the tub is supposed to be filled and emptied via a plastic hose/tubing, but the tubing supplied is very flimsy and short. I think I could buy longer, sturdier tubing but I’m not sure how best to fit it to my kitchen tap or shower hose (either would do) and to the bathtub outlet. I’m envisioning an adjustable ring of plastic with clamps so you can tighten the tubing so there’s no leaks but don’t know what that’s called, if that would be the best option? Some photos attached so you can see what I mean. Advice would be much appreciated! 

[Deleted User]

Hi,

maybe something like this, Jubilee Clip,

or a thumbscrew version,

Courteous

Amazing! That’s brilliant thank you (this forum is the best - it genuinely cheers me so much that people can be so helpful to each other, giving their time and knowledge freely). That’s what I had in my head but didn’t know if it was a real thing/what it was called. 

Hmm just looking at the tap and I’m wondering it it’d best if the hose ending went up to the tap head, like a sock. I feel like the part the hose end fits currently isn’t wide enough for it to attach to so it’d just leak. Stretchy ended hose pipe maybe, does that exist? Or maybe just a hose pipe or wider diameter than the one supplied (though hopefully not too wide for the bathtub outlet- depends how tight the clamp could go I suppose. Hope this is making sense! 

Bendy_House

What a courteous reply.

Looking at that first pic, are you sure that's the filling hose? If that goes to the bottom connector - pic 2 - that would suggest it's for draining down the bath after use? How do you empty the bath?! 

For 'filling', then any hose that connects to a tap or shower will do. In fact, why not the existing shower hose - just unscrew the shower head, and drape it over the top of the bath to fill? Or, for that kitchen tap, I'm sure there are clamp-on connectors. I'll have a gander.

Bendy_House

Like this baby - just add a clip-on hose connector, and a short length of garden 'ose: https://www.screwfix.com/p/hozelock-mixer-tap-connector/3485t (The hose will go nicely soft with the hot water, but hey... )

twopenny

Facinating. Over 3yrs I can't get a plumber to fit a bathroom or remove the defunct disabled shower.
This means be my answer to a pain relief bath while I persue more plumbers 

Of course I'd have the same problem re filling.

Thanks for posting this Courteous.

Courteous

Bendy - thanks that’s really helpful. I think there was just the one hose but of course it would make sense to just buy 2 to fit, one for filling one for emptying. Re emptying it’s supposed to just drain into your shower tray, gradually. But to do that it needs to be higher up and I don’t have the wherewithal to build a little stand, and the bathroom is very small. 
(also - I meant to say, I recognise your username from posts helping me last year with a radiator/boiler issue. I wanted to let you know we got the drip you spotted fixed, and this year I’ve bled the radiators and knew what to do re checking the boiler pressure, felt so much more confident, had a radiator key etc  so - thanks! )

Twopenny - yes isn’t it great! I’d never heard of it and it works very nicely (minus the flimsy tube issue - there’s a lady on Amazon reviews who wrecked her carpet with water damage, so def needs some care!). I’ve just been filling/emptying with buckets but it’s exhausting haha so looking for a better way of doing it. 

Courteous

As an aside, I kept the instructions because they are so wonderfully worded. The translator did an excellent job - “do not exercise violently”, good advice!

Bendy_House

That's good to hear, Court :-)

I'm guessing - from the pics - that your bath is this one? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Folding-Bathtub-Portable-Household-Independent/dp/B0928ZQJ37/ref=sr_1_2?c=ts&keywords=Soaking+Baths&qid=1667152345&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI2LjEwIiwicXNhIjoiNS41MSIsInFzcCI6IjMuMTcifQ==&refinements=p_4:Folding+Bathtub&s=diy&sr=1-2&ts_id=1938735031&th=1

If so, then these spigot connectors on the side of the bath are ONLY for draining it after use. IF the supplied hose is a tight, reliable, and watertight connection on that spigot, then in theory it can be left permanently connected, and all you'd have to do is ensure the hose end is kept nicely above water level - nothing will come out. Then, when you wish to drain the bath, just place your thumb over the hose end, lower it on to your shower tray, and release - the bath should drain to the highest point of that hose, so that depends on how low the shower tray lip is. Then use buckets for the rest!

To fill, use the existing shower hose if you can - remove the shower head to improve flow if needed, then drape it over the bath top. You can get longer shower hoses if needed - just swap with the one already there - it won't matter if it's longer than needed within the shower cubicle.

Eldi_Dos

If you were wanting to keep discharge hose attached with thumbscrew jubilee clip and hose held secure at height above bath level a couple of tool holder clips fitted to the wall would work, keep blue plug in hose end till emptying.

grumbler

Courteous said:

I’m not sure how best to fit it to my kitchen tap

Do you have mains pressure hot water in the kitchen (combi/system boiler)?

If not you may have problems with a long hose and a mixer tap.