How To Use A Walk-In Bathtub Safely And Comfortably

Learning how to use a walk-in bathtub takes one bath, but getting the order of steps right matters more than most people realise.

Do it wrong and you will sit shivering while the tub fills around you.

Step 1: Open The Door And Sit Down First

This is the step everyone gets wrong on their first attempt.

Open the door, step over the threshold using your grab bars, and sit down on the seat before you touch the taps.

Never fill the tub before you are seated, because you cannot open the door once water is inside.

Take your time crossing the threshold, and always keep one hand on a grab bar as you lower yourself onto the seat.

Once seated, adjust your position so your back rests against the backrest and your feet sit flat on the floor.

Pull the door closed and engage the latch fully before any water runs.

You should feel or hear it seat firmly, not just swing shut.

Check the gasket is clear of hair, soap residue or anything caught in the channel, since debris there is the most common cause of a leak.

If the door resists closing, do not force it.

Open it again, wipe the channel clean, and try once more.

Run the tap briefly and test the water on your wrist or forearm before letting it fill.

Aim for around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which feels comfortably warm rather than hot.

Older skin burns faster and at lower temperatures, often before you consciously notice discomfort.

If your tub has a quick fill faucet, use it, since a faster fill means less time sitting in cooling air.

Wrap a towel around your shoulders while the tub fills if the bathroom runs cold.

Let the water rise to a comfortable level, usually chest height on most walk-in tubs.

Deeper Japanese style tubs will reach your shoulders, which holds heat far longer.

If your tub has jets, wait until it fills above the highest jet before switching them on.

Running jets in shallow water pulls air through the system and can damage the pump over time.

If you are still choosing a tub, the fill and drain speeds are what determine how pleasant this whole routine feels.

Empava Walk in Tub, 54" Whirlpool Bathtub with 12 Air & 13 Water Jets

Its 3/4 inch supply lines and 2 inch drain cut both the fill wait and the drain wait, which are the two moments you spend sitting and waiting.