Lower prices are helping put whirlpool tubs in more bathroom remodeling plans: Sales are growing by roughly 10 percent per year. While you can still pay $5,000 for a typical 5-by-3-foot tub, many are closer to $1,000.
You could easily sit in 30 whirlpools without sampling all of the shapes, sizes and models available. Most, however, will fall into one of three types:
¢ Water-jet. In these whirlpools, water is drawn into a pump and forced through jets on the sides and ends. The result is a vigorous and concentrated massage. A drawback of water-jet whirlpools is that you can't use bath salts or oils in the tub, since they can coat and block the pumping system. Also, pumps on some models can be damaged if run with an empty tub. Expect to pay from $500 to $3,600 for most models.
¢ Air-jet. This type is best for those who want a subtler, more enveloping massage than that provided by a water-jet whirlpool. With air-jet models, air is forced through tens or hundreds of pinholes along the tub walls and bottom or through mushroom-shaped caps on the bottom. Using bath salts and oils is OK, since water doesn't contact the pump. However, air-jet whirlpools tend to splash more and make more noise than water-jet models, and ones we tested lost heat more quickly. Cost: $1,200 to $3,600 for most.
¢ Combination air/water. These allow you to run water or air separately or together, combining water's targeted massage with the enveloping effects of air-jets. Because they incorporate both types of pumps, combination whirlpools tend to cost the most ($1,300 to $5,200). This type also uses the most energy. When the pumps are run together, combination air/water include the same drawbacks for water- and air-jet models, and require two electrical connections for their two pumps.
Our tests to compare the three major types focused on six commonly sized acrylic tubs from leading brands. All six mount against a wall and replace a typical tub. All but the two combination models had side-mounted controls you can access without reaching behind your back.
Among water-jet whirlpools, the Kohler Devonshire K-1357 ($750) delivered as satisfying a soak as models costing many times as much. Our tub testers liked its well-placed jets and upright seating, scoring it slightly higher than the Jacuzzi Cetra 536 N880 ($1,500).
A Kohler air-jet model, the Devonshire BubbleMassage K-1357-G ($1,200), outperformed the air-jet Jacuzzi Cetra 536 T840 in several respects - especially in massage quality, and the feel of the tub and jets. The Jacuzzi has been discontinued since our tests, but a similar model - the $2,500 Cetra 536 BF90 - is available.
At $5,125, the Waterworks Classic Tub 3 CLAW 30 is the most expensive whirlpool we tested, and the better of the two combination models. It received excellent marks for massage and seating. The American Standard 2748.428W ($2,700) turned in mostly good scores, but we found fiberglass walls thin enough to see through disconcerting on a model this expensive.
Drop-in tubs like those we tested come without sides, allowing for a customized surround (about $1,000 or more). You also can buy tubs that come with one, two, or three sides. Look for removable sides that allow access to the pump and motor. Also, we found that models with more air jets along the sides, rather than at your back, tend to create a better, bubblier massage.
You'll need a water heater that can heat the equivalent of 75 percent of a whirlpool's volume - roughly 50 gallons for a typical 70-gallon tub. You also might need added floor support: likely for a 400-pound cast-iron tub; possibly for a lighter acrylic tub if you're changing the tub's location.
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