Whirlpool heater yes or no?

16 years ago

We're remodeling are bathroom and are picking out a tub. We're looking at the Kohler Bancroft whirlpool. You're given the option of having a heater or not. Do most people find this to be a necessity? I have no experience with whirlpools so I don't know if it's needed or not. The one with a heater is almost double the price of one without. If you don't have a heater how long will the water stay warm?

Featured Answer

sean_m

16 years ago

Get the heater... Not sure how large your water heater tank is nor how long you like to bathe, but in my experience it's well worth it.

I have 2 Aquatic spa-tubs, both with heaters. Each holds 75 gallons. These are installed in a condo, so I'm stuck with a 40 gallon water heater. So, without the additional heater, I wouldn't ever have a nice, hot bath. On top of that, it's a beautiful thing to not have the water cool down. Keep in mind that you're not only dealing with the water naturally cooling off, you're also adding increased circulation and room temperature air into those water jets which will cool it off even faster.

15, 20, 30 minutes and it's still hot.

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Comments (6)

green-zeus
16 years ago
I have a whirlpool with no heater. If you like LONG soaks with a glass of wine, a heater would be very useful to you.
Jim Peschke
16 years ago
We have a whirlpool now with no heater. I don't like it. To use it I have to fill it with water that is too hot and then while I'm in it it gradually cools down to lukewarm (read cold). I've never had one with a heater, but it was our plan to get one. None of the ones we looked at showed anything like a doubling of price though. Is that the only difference? Maybe some heaters are more effective than others?

- Jim
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lee676
16 years ago
In whirlpools without a heater, we're always running the hot water tap adding new water to stay warm, and the jets still feel a bit cool. Get the heater.
mattt19
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the replies.

If you use it without the heater how long will it stay warm? 15 minutes, 20, 30.... I checked the price again and it's about $400 more for the heater. It's not that much, but the whole budget is starting to creep up as the project gets underway. My wife will be the main user of the tub and she doesn't recall if the ones she's used in the past had heaters or not.

(typo-it should be our not are in the first sentence up above)
MongoCT
16 years ago
You can add a heater afterwards.

Originally my jacuzzi tub was installed with no heater. My wife takes loooonnnnggg soaks, so several years afterwards I added an after-market heater.

Run the circuit and install the outlet for it today so you have the option of adding it tomorrow. Took me about 15 minutes to install.

Mongo