PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Whirlpool baths - help needed please!

Hi,
So my eldest has autism, epilepsy and a chromosome condition he's also non verbal - we have just come back from our first ever hot tub holiday. My son had never been in one before and absolutely loved it. So I'm debating about whether to replace our bath in the future for a whirlpool bath. 

Our bathroom is upstairs and my son's bedroom is downstairs and we are awaiting a accessable wetroom for him to be built downstairs for him (so only bath will be upstairs). Just wondered if they are a faff or worth it!  Are they expensive to run? 
«1

Comments

  • silvercar
    silvercar Posts: 49,367 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Name Dropper
    I can tell you that they take longer to fill, as they are generally bigger. You need to use them regularly or the jets get clogged with mould and gunk and spew out black stuff!  

    A relative fitted one, after a holiday where their bathroom had a whirlpool. It was great for a few weeks/ months, but then the novelty wore off and it became too much faff to wait for the bath to fill. Then the gunk started to appear and they had it removed.

    I’ts going to be more expensive to run, because you will need to generate more hot water to fill the bath, plus the water level has to at least cover the jets. Worth checking that your hot water system can cope - if you have a conventional boiler with a hot water tank, the tank needs to be big enough to cope.
    I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.
  • Grumpy_chap
    Grumpy_chap Posts: 18,019 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Hi,
    So my eldest has autism, epilepsy and a chromosome condition he's also non verbal - we have just come back from our first ever hot tub holiday. My son had never been in one before and absolutely loved it. So I'm debating about whether to replace our bath in the future for a whirlpool bath. 

    Our bathroom is upstairs and my son's bedroom is downstairs and we are awaiting a accessable wetroom for him to be built downstairs for him (so only bath will be upstairs). Just wondered if they are a faff or worth it!  Are they expensive to run? 
    Can I just check that your son liked the hot tub, but there was not a specific (professionally recommended) claimed health benefit?

    A whirlpool bath is an expensive next step and takes up a significant amount of space for something that may turn out to be an enjoyable bit of fun but also a novelty that wears off relatively soon.

    If you have any outdoor space, it might be worth considering a temporary solution such as a Lay-Z-Spa (other brands are available).  That will be more like the hot tub on holiday but also easier and cheaper to install and can be put away if the interest wanes.  They are not cheap to run (primarily because of the heating required).
  • bobster2
    bobster2 Posts: 932 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 500 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 14 May at 6:18AM
    If it was the bubbling he liked - would recommend only a regular shaped bath with whirlpool/jet features. If you go for anything larger / differently shaped it would take a huge amount of water to fill to get the water level deep enough.
  • silvercar
    silvercar Posts: 49,367 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Name Dropper
    bobster2 said:
    If it was the bubbling he liked - would recommend only a regular shaped bath with whirlpool/jet features. If you go for anything larger / differently shaped it would take a huge amount of water to fill to get the water level deep enough.
    or just buy some bubble bath from a pound shop!
    I'm a Forum Ambassador on the housing, mortgages & student money saving boards. I volunteer to help get your forum questions answered and keep the forum running smoothly. Forum Ambassadors are not moderators and don't read every post. If you spot an illegal or inappropriate post then please report it to forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com (it's not part of my role to deal with this). Any views are mine and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.com.
  • emchoc
    emchoc Posts: 23 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper
    There are temporary solutions for your existing bath - e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DCBYNBB6 and https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DM1CHGG3 (not specific recommendations, just an idea of the kind of thing that's available)
  • mylifemyrules
    mylifemyrules Posts: 104 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 10 Posts Photogenic
    bobster2 said:
    If it was the bubbling he liked - would recommend only a regular shaped bath with whirlpool/jet features. If you go for anything larger / differently shaped it would take a huge amount of water to fill to get the water level deep enough.
    Yes that's exactly what I was looking for! 
  • mylifemyrules
    mylifemyrules Posts: 104 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 10 Posts Photogenic
    Hi,
    So my eldest has autism, epilepsy and a chromosome condition he's also non verbal - we have just come back from our first ever hot tub holiday. My son had never been in one before and absolutely loved it. So I'm debating about whether to replace our bath in the future for a whirlpool bath. 

    Our bathroom is upstairs and my son's bedroom is downstairs and we are awaiting a accessable wetroom for him to be built downstairs for him (so only bath will be upstairs). Just wondered if they are a faff or worth it!  Are they expensive to run? 
    Can I just check that your son liked the hot tub, but there was not a specific (professionally recommended) claimed health benefit?

    A whirlpool bath is an expensive next step and takes up a significant amount of space for something that may turn out to be an enjoyable bit of fun but also a novelty that wears off relatively soon.

    If you have any outdoor space, it might be worth considering a temporary solution such as a Lay-Z-Spa (other brands are available).  That will be more like the hot tub on holiday but also easier and cheaper to install and can be put away if the interest wanes.  They are not cheap to run (primarily because of the heating required).
    To be honest we all enjoyed it. My son is in the process of having a accessable wetroom built downstairs for his needs so a bath with jets in  was more for the whole family 
  • MeteredOut
    MeteredOut Posts: 2,910 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 14 May at 1:49PM
    silvercar said:
    I can tell you that they take longer to fill, as they are generally bigger. You need to use them regularly or the jets get clogged with mould and gunk and spew out black stuff!  

    A relative fitted one, after a holiday where their bathroom had a whirlpool. It was great for a few weeks/ months, but then the novelty wore off and it became too much faff to wait for the bath to fill. Then the gunk started to appear and they had it removed.

    I’ts going to be more expensive to run, because you will need to generate more hot water to fill the bath, plus the water level has to at least cover the jets. Worth checking that your hot water system can cope - if you have a conventional boiler with a hot water tank, the tank needs to be big enough to cope.
    The majority of whirlpool baths I've seen filled from standard taps, so fill in the same time as a standard bath. Are you referring to those that only fill via the jet outlets?
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 22,004 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    silvercar said:
    I can tell you that they take longer to fill, as they are generally bigger. You need to use them regularly or the jets get clogged with mould and gunk and spew out black stuff!  

    A relative fitted one, after a holiday where their bathroom had a whirlpool. It was great for a few weeks/ months, but then the novelty wore off and it became too much faff to wait for the bath to fill. Then the gunk started to appear and they had it removed.

    I’ts going to be more expensive to run, because you will need to generate more hot water to fill the bath, plus the water level has to at least cover the jets. Worth checking that your hot water system can cope - if you have a conventional boiler with a hot water tank, the tank needs to be big enough to cope.
    The majority of whirlpool baths I've seen filled from standard taps, so fill in the same time as a standard bath. Are you referring to those that only fill via the jet outlets?
    Whirlpool baths are often bigger than a standard bath- wider and deeper.  So take longer to fill .
  • faerielight
    faerielight Posts: 1,953 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    I have owned 1 bath with whirlpool jets, and one with air jets at the base.. the whirlpool ones weren't nearly as powerful as the jets on an outdoor hot tub and  was a let down, and  the pipes were hard to clean. the air jets at the base of the bath are easy to clean as it just blows warm air out, not air and water, so nothing to go mouldy inside. air jet baths are usually cheaper than whirlpool baths. The other thing they might like are chromotherapy lights for the bath.. im neurodivergent and i find the lights  really helped. 
    Many thanks to all who contribute on MSE :)
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 597.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.6K Life & Family
  • 256.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.