Are walk-in baths any good?  In post-work discussions with industry colleagues, some from Mobility Compare, some from other manufacturers, there is a feeling that walk-in baths can be a pain in the behind.  Not literally of course, that would defeat the object of getting one.  But concerns persist.

The problem?  People will carefully choose a walk-in bath yet not realise the plumbing needs to be up to scratch.  This is a particular problem in the UK where there are, at the last count, 500,000 old listed buildings.

Here’s the dilemma.  Walk-in baths, because they allow you to walk-in rather than step over the side, must be filled with the person already inside.  Now, if the taps and plumbing are old, you can look forward to either a scalding hot or icy cold few minutes as you adjust the incoming water temperature, followed by a long wait for the bath to fill. On a cold winter’s day it’s about as much fun as a poke in the eye.

That’s why mobility compare wrote a buyer’s guide for people thinking of getting a mobility walk-in bath.  Key advice? Make sure you check your plumbing is fit for purpose and you don’t install your walk-in bath in a Grade 3 listed building with 200 year old lead piping alongside a water pressure that would make a leaky tap appear like Niagara Falls.

With that out the way, and assuming that the plumbing is OK, I’m occasionally asked what walk-in bath I would recommend.  Well, there are many excellent manufacturers out there, but one of my picks is the Affinity from Bath-Knight. 

affinity bath

What I like about it is the locking mechanism on the door, as well as the levers and the taps. The door opens inward, forming a water tight seal when you close it. So, it is safe to assume that grandma won’t be flooding the bathroom floor when she decides to take a shower or falls asleep in the bath.

The two drainage lines on two sides of the bath make emptying easy, another key plus on a cold winter’s day when you want to get out of the bath as quickly as possible. Other features include the non-slip floor and additional grab rails – this is certainly one of the safest walk-in baths out there.

Yes, the Affinity walk-in bath is small and certainly not suitable if you want to feel like you’re sprawled across an Olympic-sized swimming pool.  But for smaller bathrooms and tighter spaces, it’s nigh on the perfect walk-in bath.

My favourite function is the Affinity walk-in bath’s unique, optional hydrotherapy spa which helps the body relax completely. It does cost quite a bit extra to have it included, so make sure you really need the feature before you ask for it.  But it’s worth the extra cost.  It feels like your body is being caressed by a gentle, loving mermaid.  And on that thought…..

mermaid