Walk In Tub Buyers Questionnaire Tracking Sheet

List the Make, Models, and Features of EVERY walk in bathtub you are considering purchasing before calling for your quotes! The questions below are used for you to provide to the walk in bathtub vendor and keep track of quotes, information about the walk in tubs and general company information. Duplicate this information for every product under consideration. How did you find the product? Internet____ Satisfied Customer______ Advertising________ Professional Referral_____ Retail Dealer______ Manufacturer___________________________ Model____________________________________ Dealer:___________________________________ Dealer Location: ______________________________________ Web Address: _________________________________________ Phone__________________________ Fax:_____________________________ E-mail:_________________________________________________ Installation Provided? _______________________ By Whom? ____________________ Was pricing offered over the phone? _____________________ What were you told about and what was included in the price?________________________________________________________ Did they earn your trust and confidence, or did you feel manipulated after speaking with them?___________________ Notes:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why are you interested in purchasing a walk- in bathing appliance? Try to be specific if possible and think about your personal issues (or those of the bather for whom you are helping.) both entering and exiting the current bathing environment. Include specifics regarding any health or mobility challenges you may be experiencing.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Quality of Life Consideration Questions

Is it important for you to be able to live independently for as long as possible in your current home? Circle One: Yes No Not Important Do you want to avoid going into a nursing home or assisted living facility? ________________________ Do you require help to exit or enter the bathing environment?______________________________________ Is bathing/Soaking/Showering regularly stressful or risky for you? _______________________ How long has it been since you have enjoyed a sit down bath or full body soak? ________________ Would a major injury, hospital stay or nursing home admission impact your financial stability?_________________________________________ What medical/mobility needs do you have? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Do you currently use any assistance in your mobility?_______________________________________ If so, is it medical equipment or human assistance?__________________________________

What medical/health challenges are you currently experiencing?____________________ Are they expected to worsen over time?__________________________________________ Are you currently taking any medications?______________________________ How many separate prescriptions do you take daily?__________________________________________ Has anyone told you Medical Hydrotherapy tm would be beneficial to you?_______________________________________________

Size of Tub Questions Don’t take size of the bathing for granted. This is not a “one- size-fits-all” purchase. Making sure the appliance you are investing thousands of dollars to purchase will function comfortably for all bathers. It is important to your quality of life in using it. Do you know the overall bathing well dimensions?_______________________________________ (Note: not outside tub dimensions, but the inside of the bathing well) Dimensions: Height_____in. x Width______in. x Length______in. Is this size sufficient for your body shape and size?__________________________________________ How many gallons of water does the tub hold? _____ Will the water heater provide sufficient hot water to fill the tub?______________________________________________ What is the DEPTH of tub at overflow?_______in. Will the depth of the tub permit mid-chest soaking for all bathers?________________________ Is the seat height ADA compliant and appropriate for your needs?______________________________________________ Do you know the height of the seat? ________in. What is it?__________Is this the appropriate height for

you?_________________________________ What is the threshold height?_______________in. Can you easily clear the threshold height to enter the tub?___________________________________ What are the outside dimensions of the tub (NOTE: These are the dimensions that most manufacturers use to sell their tubs.) Dimensions: Height______in. xWidth_______in.xLength______in. Are there any issues getting the tub into the desired bathing environment?______________________________________ How wide is your bathroom door? _____________in. Are there any turns or hallways to pass through?

Door Operation Questions Door Operation and swing doors are vital to a good buying choice. There are many options, and most manufacturers have NOT thought through how their approach to closing and opening the door affects you. Most of the product features depicted below are NOT ADA compliant. Does the tub have an inward or outward swinging door?_________________________________________________ Which is better for your situation? Can you open and close the door easily (Are there obstacles that could interfere with the operation?)____________________________________ Does the door wing interfere with your entry and exit?_________________________________________________ How does the door closing mechanism work?___________________________________________ Is it ADA compliant?____________________________

Does it create a risk that you may not be able to operate it? Is the door seal guaranteed for life not to leak?__________________________________________ By Whom? Manufacturer______Dealer_______Installer_______

Safety Devices and Grab Bars Questions Stabilization location is a very important aspect of making your bathing area safe. You cannot rely on a walk-in bathtub manufacturers, dealers, and certainly not salespeople, to provide appropriate devices. If a manufacturer even thinks about stabilization, they tend to treat grab bars as features that are the same for everyone. Nothing could be further from the truth. Does the tub have grab bars built in?__________ Are they inside the bathing area?_____________ Are they located in the correct position for your personal use?___________________________________ Are the grab bars and devices ADA compliant?_____________________________________ Will the bars p provide appropriate stabilization for every bather throughout the entry and exit process?__________________________________________

Filling and Draining Issue Questions Walk-In and Slide-In bathing appliances create a totally different bathing experience from traditional tubs and showers. You will enter, sit, close the door and wait for the tub to fill. After the bath or hydrotherapy, the bather waits for it to drain before opening the door to exit. How fast the tub fills up and drains is a major quality of life issue for you, and something MOST manufacturers don’t even think about. What kind of filler valve does the tub have?____ Is the filler valve independent of the tub, or fabricated into the design of the tub shell______ What size is filler valve? ¾ inch___1/2 inch_____ Does the tub come with a hand held shower?____ How is the shower valve operated? With a diverter or separately plumbed?

If separately plumbed, is the shower thermostatically controlled?_____________________ Is the hand held shower ADA compliant?________ What draining mechanism is used? Single mechanical___________Single Manual________ Single fast flow_____Dual Fast Flow__________ Is it a sanitary drain? _________________________________ Assuming a standard 1-½ drain line, do you know how fast the unit will drain? _____________Minutes Does the manufacturer provide a thermostatic mixing valve? _____ What kind of valve is it? _________________ Temperature protection valve__________Manual Blend Valve__________Pressure Balance Valve______________

Construction Method and Material Questions There is much confusion in the market place as manufacturers taut the benefits of their approach to fabricating walk in tubs. I do not intend to attempt to go over all aspects of the various construction approaches here. There are only a few bits of information you need to know when it comes to construction related issues. Remember, a walk in tub is a “deep bathing well” appliance, and cannot be manufactured as simply or as inexpensively as traditional shallow bathtubs or shower pans. So, how the tub is fabricated is important to long-term satisfaction and performance. What is the material used in construction of the outer skin: Fiberglass?___Acrylic?____Both?_____ Is the outer surface material non-porous?______ Is the manufacturer promoting the use of “leveling legs?_______________________________________ Does the manufacturer guarantee the shell of the tub? How long?___________________Years

What is the internal structure of the tubs? Metal frame?______Integraded wood frame?_____Frameless shell?

Hydrotherapy Questions Without a doubt, one of the most compelling reasons to invest in a walk- in bathtub is the option to add hydrotherapy. Is the tub jetted?______ Does the manufacturer promote: Water Jetting?________(Jacuzzi) Air Jetting?____________(Hydrotherapy) Both?____________________________ Which is medically appropriate for you? Is the unit self-cleaning?______________________ Are the jets located properly for your use?_____ Now that you have your answers, or maybe even your questions, get together with any one you want to be involved in the process of deciding. We strongly encourage you to have your grown children, spouses, friends or other trusted advisors involved in this process with you.

Ways to Purchase a Walk-in Bathtub

In-Home Sales Consultation – this is the most traditional way to purchase a walk-in

tub due to the custom nature of your home and existing conditions. Usually, a sales

representative will bring along pitch books. CD’s or DVD’s to show the features and

benefits of a walk-in bathtub. They will go through a step-by-step home evaluation and

paint the picture on how the tub will look. Many of these companies are notorious for

high-pressure sales tactics and pricing that is not affordable for most people. These

companies often times have tremendous marketing and advertising budgets that drive

their pricing to extremely high levels.

Showroom/Local Distributor – This is becoming a more popular way to purchase a

walk-in tub because local distributors and showrooms will often times have the tubs on

display for consumers to see before purchasing. These distributors can be plumbing

supply houses, kitchen & bath showrooms, DME stores, stair lift and ramp distributors,

van conversion companies and local general or plumbing contractors to name a few.

Online Retailers – This is by far the most popular way to purchase a walk-in tub. There

seems to be hundreds of companies selling walk-in bathtubs these days. Some of these

companies focus exclusively on walk-in bathtubs while others have walk-in tubs as part

of a larger product offering. The Internet is a great resource for researching one

company from the next, but it seems that the overall focus of these companies is to

directly compare themselves to one another and talk down to one another. As a

consumer, it is most important to work with someone you feel comfortable with over the

phone (and via email) and utilize all resources to ensure you’re working with a legitimate

business (i.e BBB) You’ll find that pricing fluctuates all over the board with online

retailers and it may become difficult to delineate one from the other. Keep in mind that

online retailers are battling for position with the search engines (like Google, Yahoo,

MSN etc) and are primarily price driven. You will probably get lower pricing via the

Internet but sacrifice seeing the product first hand.

Big Box Retailers – some of the big retailers have begun offering this product

category. Usually they are sold as “web only” products but some may have a tub on

display in certain stores. The advantage to these companies is that they are well-

established brands and you can buy with confidence. They may have better return

policies and you may like and trust these stores. The downside is that they may not

possess the same product knowledge as the other types of companies listed above.

The big box retailers sell hundreds or even thousands of products and are not

necessarily knowledgeable about each item.

Certifications

BBB accreditation for a business is important as you research a walk-in bathtub.

The BBB exists to:

o Creating a community of trustworthy businesses

o Setting standards for marketplace trust

o Encouraging and supporting best practices

o Celebrating marketplace role models, and;

o Denouncing substandard marketplace behavior

http://www.bbb.org/us/

Approvals, Accreditations & Certifications

Walk-in bathtubs should have certain approvals including IAPMO, UL & ETL. Some

states will not allow a walk-in bathtub to be installed without these approvals.

Here are links to each of these companies:

o UL – Underwriters Laboratories – http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/

o IAPMO – International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials –

http://www.iapmo.org/Pages/splash.aspx

o ETL – http://www.intertek-etlsemko.com/portal/page/cust_portal/ITK_PGR/

Fiberglass vs Acrylics

Walk-in bathtubs are built with either fiberglass or acrylic molds. Roughly about 90% of

all walk-in tubs are manufactured with fiberglass. Fiberglass tends to be less expensive

than acrylic. When we’ve investigated this topic different positions were taken by

different manufactures and they were always in support of the materials they use.

Fiberglass manufactures feel that the strength and rigidity of fiberglass is a better choice

due to the fact that you have a moving part (the door) and this is not a traditional type of

bathtub. Most utilize a triple gel coat epoxy that prevents discoloration (which is a

traditional knock on fiberglass) “Think about what boats are made from” we heard from

some as well.

Acrylic manufactures speak about the one piece, solid surface construction and the

non-porous nature of acrylic. They feel it’s easier to clean and maintain and will never

fade of discolor. They do however still use fiberglass to reinforce the tub mold.

Additionally, they feel that the longevity of acrylic far surpasses the higher cost.

We’ve actually found manufacturers that make both acrylic and fiberglass tubs which

makes it hard to know which tubs they truly favor. It is also almost impossible for one to

tell them apart from each other.

We don’t judge a company by there material just their customer satisfaction.

(See Reviews)

Hydrotherapy Walk In Tubs

Therapeutic Massage Jets Most walk in bathtubs includes therapeutic spa massage

jets. These jets are often referred to as whirlpool jets or hydrotherapy jets, spa massage

and other such references. Some companies will offer dual Spa or both jets and some

companies will not offer any. Please understand that there is a difference between the

different jetting options. The first simple question to ask is whether or not they are

offering Water or Air Jets. That is the simplest way of determining if they are Whirlpool

(Air) or Hydrotherapy (Water) jets. Once you know that you the next step is whether or

not you want the therapeutic jets. The jets do cost extra money but they are usually

worth the additional fee. ($500-$1500) Hydrotherapy involves the use of re-circulated

water in the tub to push out water for pain-relief and treating illness. It is known as the

water cure commonly used to alleviate pain associated with arthritis, blood circulation,

fibromyalgia, rehabilitation of broken bones or replacements along with general pain

relief. These jets are more aggressive and could be too aggressive for the elderly

clientele with sensitive skin. Whirlpool jets (air) is the suggested spa therapy

recommended by most companies and physicians due there softer jetting system and

the fact that they do not re-circulate the water. Due to its softer pressure it can be used

for a longer duration which should also help to eliminate ailments pain ailments. Air and

water jets should include a purging system to clean out the jet streams. It is important to

ask the name of the pump/motor of the jetting system to confirm that it is UL approved

and has a purging system. The purging system is an automatic cleaning cycle that

pushes out any remaining water in the jet stream to eliminate buildup, calcification and

bacteria from forming. Stay away from any pump that is not UL approved or that does

not have a company that you can research. The pump should be manufactured in the

US, UK or Canada. Walk in bathtub companies do not manufacture there own pumps

for the jets so they are buying them from someone and you deserve to know who.

Installation of Your Walk in Tub

The great news about walk-in bathtubs is that there are no special licenses or

requirements to have one installed. Your local plumber or general contractor can do a

complete installation for you. Usually this includes removal and disposal of an existing

tub, cleaning up the plumbing and pipes, installing the new walk-in tub, setting up all

faucets and running power for the jetting system(s) if applicable.

Some of the companies you speak with offer installation as part of the package and

some can recommend a plumber they have worked with in your area. Some of the

companies you speak with will demand that they have to do the installation to honor the

warranty. We’ve found little evidence of this being the case but it may be true. What if

your family member is a plumber and you just want the tub? Find a company who will

sell the tub direct without an in home evaluation.

US vs Import: Which Is Right for You

This is a major question brought about by customers seeking out quality construction of

the walk in bathtubs as well as tub companies comparing one tub from the next to justify

their cost.

The first thing to remember is that there are several different countries that make tubs

and there are several components that make up the tub and can be from different parts

of the world.

The fact is that many products we use in our daily lives are made overseas and typically

from China. When it comes to the walk in bathtubs it is no different. There are definitely

different grades of quality that come out of China and it is just as important to research

the walk in tub company and their BBB standing to check their quality service and

complaints. Many walk in bathtub companies will claim to assemble their tubs in the U.S

and they are actually bringing the tubs in from overseas and warehousing them in the

U.S. Most companies do this and will still state that they are U.S made. The important

factor is if they institute a quality control system and if they have a water testing facility

for the door seal and jets. (Ask for pictures of their facility.) There is virtually no other

way to tell the difference between a product assembled in the U.S or overseas. In fact

some companies importing tubs overseas will have better quality standards in the states

than U.S manufacturers.

The Therapeutic massage jets should ONLY be manufactured in the U.S, UK or

Canada. This is verifiable and you should ask for the name of the manufacturer of the

jet system.

Another important thing to ask for is UL approval as well as IAPMO approval and again

we can’t stress enough the BBB rating.

These certifications are given by 3rd party control companies to make sure that these

components adhere to the strictest form of quality and craftsmanship.

Certifications:

o UL-(Underwriting Laboratories) Electrical certification

o IAPMO certification -International Association for Plumbing and Mechanical Organization.

(Plumbing code)

o Some states will require these codes in order to install. (M.A, W.A)

o CSE( Canadian Approval)

o CE & ETL both covered under IAPMO certification.