Safe Step Walk-in Tubs Review
Best Warranty
As a top-rated walk-in tub company, Safe Step includes lifetime warranties on all its products to ensure customer satisfaction. If a Safe Step walk-in tub needs part replacements, the company covers the repair, parts and labor in full. Most other companies don’t cover labor, and their warranties are only in effect for one year.
The Safe Step Walk-In tub is one of the best walk-in tubs for seniors, providing safety and convenience and allowing them to remain in their homes longer. Safe Step also offers therapeutic features such as a hydrotherapy system, an aromatherapy option and chromotherapy, which may help relieve pain, improve sleep and increase mobility.
Pros:
- Generous limited lifetime warranty includes labor and repair or replacement for parts
- Hybrid tub gives bathers flexibility to soak, shower, or enjoy both at the same time
- All tubs have a 4” step height, which is one of the lowest in the industry
- Certified, fully-insured dealers and contractors handle all installations
Cons:
- Pricing not available online or via phone, so you must schedule a free in-home consultation with a Safe Step specialist
- Doors only swing inward, which can make getting situated in the tub difficult for some seniors
Overview of Safe Step
A few advantages to purchasing a Safe Step Walk-In tub include a handheld showerhead, easy-to-close levers, hydrotherapy water jets and a heated seat. The Safe Step Hybrid Walk-In Tub provides bathers with the ability to soak in the tub, use the shower only or experience both simultaneously. The 4-inch threshold or step height makes it one of the lowest steps among walk-in tub manufacturers.
How Much Does a Safe Step Walk-in Tub Cost?
Safe Step offers a free in-home consultation with a specialist, during which they’ll provide all the walk-in tub information and options, including how installation works. Pricing is not available on the company’s website or by calling and talking to a representative. However, the average prices for basic walk-in tubs range from $2,000 to $5,000.
For feature-packed walk-in tubs that include upgrades such as hydro-massage, the price increases to $5,000 and up to $10,000. Safe Step offers a “Helping Hands Rebate” for customers with Medicare. The $1,500 rebate offsets the price since Medicare does not cover walk-in tubs under most circumstances. The company also provides military discounts.
Additional costs come from installation, and the Safe Step specialist will discuss this with customers before buying. The average installation cost is around $5,000 and includes removal and disposal of the existing bathtub. A basic installation could become more expensive if unforeseeable complications arise, such as moving the drain location, rerouting plumbing, removing surrounding bathroom fixtures or replacing flooring and tiles.
Full Review of Safe Step’s Features
Although all walk-in tubs have similar functions and designs, some tubs are better suited for specific users. Style, size, budget and the user’s mobility limitations help determine what features are needed. Safe Step includes several deluxe features on its walk-in tubs, including an external towel bar on the door, a rare option. Users can switch the swinging door between a right or left installation, and all tubs include a jet air system with aromatherapy capabilities and colored lights for chromotherapy.
Numerous Safety Features
Safe Step’s walk-in tubs are acrylic and finished with a sanitary non-slip gel coat. The floor and 17-inch heated seat are also non-slip, and each tub has two built-in grab bars. Anti-scald technology prevents burns or heat exhaustion from overly heated water, and a Quantum® quick drain allows faster drainage so the bather can get out of the tub quickly. The No-Strength locking handle ensures bathers are safe in the tub, avoiding accidents as the tub fills and empties, and the floating remote control is waterproof. All controls are within easy reach to prevent the bather from falling.
Customized Sizes
When you meet with a Safe Step specialist, they’ll measure the bathroom where the walk-in tub will be installed and recommend the best fit. Safe Step tubs aren’t limited to set sizes. Each walk-in tub is custom-made to meet the bathroom’s dimensions and size. The company’s Tennessee plant manufactures all its tubs. The precise measurement ensures homeowners don’t have to change the bathroom’s size or layout unless it’s already too small.
Therapeutic Benefits
While safety and comfort are the top reasons for wanting a walk-in tub, Safe Step meets and exceeds therapeutic benefits. The basic walk-in tub and hybrid walk-in tub include the following therapeutic features:
- Aromatherapy: Safe Step provides an air jet system that includes aromatherapy functions.
- Chromotherapy: Enjoy a choice of colored lights to illuminate the water, providing chromotherapy benefits.
- Personal Hygiene Bidet: Use this feature for personal care.
- 16 Air Bubble Gentle Jets: This option increases circulation and provides thorough skin cleansing.
- 10 Hydro Massage Jets: This feature massages aching muscles and joints due to arthritis or injuries.
- MicroSoothe® Air Therapy System: The system oxygenates the water and infuses aromatherapy into the water.
- Safe Water Ozone Cleaning System: This option keeps water free of bacteria or contaminants.
Two Types of Tub Models
Safe Step’s hybrid tub is almost identical to the basic walk-in tub but has a rainfall showerhead mounted above the bather’s head with height adjustments. A handheld shower wand and an overhead showerhead allow you to use both simultaneously without losing water pressure. The hybrid model lets bathers enjoy a warm bath while using the showerhead above to wash their hair or just soak in the warm water.
Who Should Consider Safe Step’s Walk-in Tub?
Seniors with Mobility Issues
People who live with limited mobility, especially seniors, benefit from the easy way walk-in tubs work. Instead of trying to lift their legs over a bathtub’s 2-foot wall, bathers can open the tub’s door, navigate a short threshold only a few inches high, secure the latch and enjoy a relaxing bath.
People with Prosthetic Legs
Those who endured amputation of one or both legs will find it very difficult to get into a standard bathtub. A walk-in tub provides the freedom to enjoy a warm, comforting bath without the hassle of trying to climb into the tub safely.
Those Who Have Frequent Dizziness or Vertigo
Dizziness caused by health conditions may come on at any time, making getting into a standard bathtub very dangerous. Vertigo, a condition involving the inner ear, may come in waves, causing a sense of spinning, dizziness and feeling off-balance. These dizzy spells are also sporadic and could happen during a bath. The bather would have difficulty getting in or out of a standard bathtub while experiencing vertigo.
What Are People Saying About Safe Step’s Walk-in Tub?
Reviewers shared great satisfaction with their Safe Step walk-In tub installation citing politeness, cleanliness and helpfulness from the installers. Numerous customer feedback comments included their appreciation of the installer’s willingness to show them how to work the controls and operate the tub. Many reviews also spoke about how helpful the Safe Step specialists were with choosing the right-sized walk-in tub and helping them understand the finances and discounts.
A common thread among reviewers was how much they loved the jets and therapeutic features of Safe Step’s tubs. Many expressed their experience of reduced pain from the ability to soak in the swirling water as it massaged their joints and muscles. One reviewer said the air bubbles and the pulsing massage were a treat because of his back issues, and another wrote in her review that she felt so safe in her Safe Step tub that she could do some arm and leg exercises while sitting.
FAQs
Can I Have a Walk-In Shower or Tub in a Small Bathroom?
Walk-in showers take up less space than walk-in tubs, which require room for door clearances. Be sure to have your bathroom fully evaluated before making a purchase. Click here for our full answer to this question.
Can You Add a Shower to a Walk-In Tub?
Yes, KOHLER’s Belay Walk-In Tub has a full shower head and a bath screen kit may be installed. Click here for our full answer to this question.
Are Walk-In Tubs Comfortable?
Yes and no. The user must wait for the bath to fill after entering the tub and wait until all the water has drained. This is when extras such as heated backrests and rapid drain technology can make a big difference. Click here for our full answer to this question.
Does a Walk-In Tub Add Value to a House?
The value that is added to a house depends on whether the user who installs the walk-in tub intends to remain there. For resale, a return to a more standard setup may be recommended by many real estate experts. For the current occupant, the value lies in increased comfort and security. Click here for our full answer to this question.
What Is the Average Cost of a Walk-In Tub?
Most walk-in tubs cost between $2,000 and $15,000 depending on features and upgrades. Altering plumbing or electrical configurations can result in a higher price tag. Click here for our full answer to this question.