Is anyone taking baths anymore?

In a country of habitual showerers, it's a question some pros might be asking. High-end shower sales are on the rise—as are the options for spa-like vertical systems—and some tub manufacturers admit they've seen customer interest slowly draining away. But it's not time to pull the plug on the tub just yet.

In fact, the latest upscale tub models are differentiating themselves from high-end showers with features based on what they provide best: luxurious relaxation. "Now the tub doesn't have to be a shower as well," explains Gray Uhl, director of design for American Standard.

Many Americans are installing separate showers and tubs in their master bathrooms, manufacturers say, for better resale value and to accommodate a couple's different preferences. Showering allows busy homeowners to quickly get ready for their day while taking a bath requires more of a time commitment, points out Brad Smith, COO of Kimbel Mechanical Systems, a plumbing contractor in Springdale, Ark. Larger, retreat-like master bath suites also have led to separate and more specialized bathtubs. "People are building bigger bathrooms," says Tawnya Quiet, marketing director for Aquatic. "People are incorporating very relaxing spaces for their tubs that incorporate a beautiful view."

Water Therapy

Pros can select from a range of bathtub types and styles to accommodate every budget and design preference. A whirlpool, for example, provides deep-tissue massage, while a soaking tub gives a more peaceful experience, says Shawn Oldenhoff, senior product manager for bathing at Kohler.

Whirlpools, which push water through jets for a more targeted muscle massage, are still the most popular choice of jetted tubs, but they're not the only option. Air baths blow warm air from a series of holes around the side or the bottom of the tub, creating a light massage all over the body. "Air baths have been around, but we continue to see growth in that product segment," Quiet says.

Indeed, air baths are the fastest-growing sector of the bathtub category, manufacturers say, although whirlpools outsell them by about two to one, experts estimate. Quiet says air baths are particularly popular among women. "Women tend to like them because of the all-over, champagne-like massage." While a number of manufacturers, such as Kohler, offer air baths for the same prices as whirlpools in several lines, some companies charge twice as much for them.

For couples who can't decide, combination tubs offer both functions in one unit. "The client understands the therapeutic values of both systems," says Jim Rennolds, national sales manager for Neptune. "To have both these therapies is a beautiful thing."

Functional Features

To help their products compete with luxury showers, manufacturers are loading up their tubs with standard and optional features that can further promote health, relaxation, or ease of use. Many companies offer an entry-level soaking tub for around $200 or a jetted tub for less than $1,000; a middle price point, up to about $5,000, with the most popular features (perhaps a maintenance heater and specialized or additional jets) standard; and luxury tubs offering one-of-a-kind experiences (with features like massage, chromatherapy, sound, infinity edges, or other specialized jetted amenities) for as much as $15,000.

Kimbel's Smith says in-line maintenance heaters are the most desired feature among his clients. Available on air bath, whirlpool, or soaking tubs, heaters circulate warm air or water into the tub to maintain the water temperature. Aquatic's HotSoak, for example, incorporates a heater and pump but with virtually no water movement, allowing for a therapeutic soak.

Bathers also can relax with integrated sound, music, or light sensations. Chromatherapy through colored LED or fiber-optic lights used to be a pricey option, but is now available in mid-price points, manufacturers say.

Neptune's Neptuner function turns the tub into a speaker that can connect with the TV, Rennolds says. "You can be sitting in a tub watching Oprah and thinking Oprah's right there with you."

Those specialty features will become easier to use with the introduction by several manufacturers of more consumer-friendly controls to manage program settings, lighting, and other tub functions, predicts Andy Stokely, marketing manager for Jacuzzi, which introduced a new control system at the Kitchen/Bath Industry Show this year. He says controls will have expanded features with full-color LCD screens, menus, saveable settings, and more, rather than the simpler controls on many current tubs. "I think you're seeing huge advances in that technology," he says, adding that the advanced controls on Kohler's DTV shower system, released in April 2006, woke up the tub industry. "Five years from now you'll see controls looking very different."

Green Hygiene

Homeowners and builders have been concerned for years about bacteria in the pipes of their whirlpool baths. A study by Rita Moyes, a microbiologist at Texas A&M University, found that 100 percent of whirlpool bath water samples tested contained microbial growth. Moyes writes that "biofilm" made up of body fluids, dirt, soap scum, and other materials can build up inside inaccessible air and water piping and, combined with stagnant bath water, can provide an environment for infectious bacteria to breed.

To combat those health concerns, green builder Ross A. Rains uses pipeless tubs with removable and cleanable jets. "Sanijet is the only tub we recognize as a truly positive hygiene tub that's out there," says the partner of Energy Smart Solutions, which is based in Flower Mound, Texas. Sanijet's "pipeless spa baths" propel water within contained motors, meaning the tubs have no air or water pipes that could contain bacteria. "You can start with a clean tub every time," he says.

Other manufacturers are taking a different tack for easier maintenance and cleaner tubs. Some offer optional or standard ozone generators that release ozone gas to sanitize the water in the pipes, while others use an antimicrobial agent in the piping and jets, or systems that blow water out of the pipes after a bath. Jacuzzi, for example, asserts that its PrO3 ozone cleansing system kills most of the known bacteria found in a tub's plumbing system. American Standard uses self-draining air jets and a blower system to keep standing water out of the air lines and AlphaSan antimicrobial agent in the circulation system to fight mold and mildew. After all, worrying about germs is no way to finish a relaxing bath.

Sanijet. The Signature collection of pipeless spa baths comes in a variety of styles, including the Bali Moon (pictured) designed by Cary Collier. Pipeless spa baths offer spa-quality massage with variable-speed intensity and pre-programmed settings, according to the maker. The baths use removable jets with no internal piping for water circulation, which reduces the amount of water needed for cleaning the tub by 98 percent compared with piped systems, the company adds. 877-934-0477. www.sanijet.com.

Americh. The Contura bathtub offers a dynamic focal point with sensual shapes and unexpected details, according to the manufacturer. The 72-inch-by-32-inch-by-28-inch product is available as a soaking bathtub or with an Airbath system. Users can select an intensity level, from delicate to spirited, with a single touch control. The tub holds 60 gallons of water. 800-453-1463. www.americh.com.

Mansfield Plumbing. Essence tubs are available in air-massage bath, whirlpool, or regular bath. Based on homeowners' desire to bring a more avant garde look to their homes, yet complement the rest of their décor, the suite offers softer, slightly more current simplicity, according to the manufacturer. Air massage options include three different air jet modes and the MoodScape chromatherapy system, which offers seven healing light settings and a full spectrum sequencing mode. 800-999-1459. www.mansfieldplumbing.com.

American Standard. The Air Jet tub is designed with flat "illusion" jets, which have no bulky covers to sit on and no hard-to-clean crevices. The jets release bubbles across the entire bottom of the tub. The system is easy to keep clean with the maker's EverClean antimicrobial system in the tub's circulation system, the company says. Available in 5- and 6-foot models, both 22 inches deep, the tub has an optional chromatherapy system. 800-899-2614. www.americanstandard-us.com.

Jason. The LS640 is a rectangular bath with a clean and modern shape, the maker says. It is available in three hydrotherapy options: soaking, whirlpool, and combination air-whirlpool. The Signature edition is available with added amenities, including LED chromatherapy lights, ozone sanitation, digital controls, and a built-in sound system with floating remote control. 800-255-5766. www.jasoninternational.com.

Kohler. The transitionally designed Archer suite features 5- and 6-foot models of drop-in and apron-front baths, whirlpool baths, and BubbleMassage baths. Each features Comfort Depth design: a 19-inch step-over height and a narrow front threshold, making it easier to enter and exit the bath, the maker says. A deep bathing experience is created with a 1-1/2-inch-by-9-inch overflow drain positioned near the bath rim that maximizes the level of water in the bath. 800-456-4537. www.kohler.com.

Jacuzzi. The unique form of the Morphosis freestanding bath and its single skin provide a superior level of strength and a spacious bathing experience, according to the manufacturer. The product offers a very smooth surface finish on both the interior and exterior with no unsightly joint lines, the maker adds. The product measures 37.4 inches by 74.8 inches by 23.2 inches on the exterior, and operates at 61 gallons. 800-288-4002. www.jacuzzi.com.

Neptune. The Wind, a 60-inch-by-36-inch-by-20-inch corner tub, features a curvaceous yet minimalist front that resembles a swift leaf descending in mid-air, according to the manufacturer. The tub, which can accommodate up to two people, can be equipped with whirlpool capability, Mass-Air and Active-Air jets, chromatherapy, and surround sound through the Neptuner technology. 450-773-7058. www.neptuneb.com.

Oceania. The Dignité walk-in, sit-down bath, which measures 51 inches by 30 inches by 36 inches, twice the depth of a regular bathtub, allows bathers to easily seat themselves in a contoured 15¼-inch-high seat, seal the water-tight door, and quickly fill the bath with warm water. The bath features the AeroMassage Therapeutic AirBath system, which offers more than 60 EasyClean air jets positioned on the floor and around the lower perimeter of the floor and seat. 877-332-4224. www.oceaniabaths.com.

Toto. The 72-inch-by-38-inch Guinevere Airbath provides 16 jets, placed strategically to target the body's pressure points, according to the manufacturer. Because there is no water to recirculate, bathers can enjoy aromatherapy and essential oils in the 20-inch-deep bathing well while they soak. Chromatherapy functionality also is available. 800-350-8686. www.totousa.com.

MTI Whirlpools. The Deborah tub may be ordered as a soaker or a whirlpool with adjustable point-massage jets and an in-line heater. It also can be ordered as an air bath or combination whirlpool/air bath for a customizable body massage, the maker says. The manufacturer's air bath systems feature aromatherapy diffusion. 800-783-8827. www.mtiwhirlpools.com.

BainUltra. The Origami series blends pure, clean lines with the company's hydro-thermo massage, the maker says. The line's five models each include between 38 and 44 air jets and accommodate one or two bathers. One-button controls provide a simple way for bathers to create their personalized massage. Features include the ability to select varying degrees of air jet intensity, as well as chromatherapy lighting. 800-463-2187. www.bainultra.com.

Aquatic. HotSoak series baths conserve water during longer soaks by using a heater to maintain the preferred bathing temperature, eliminating the need to drain cooled water and refill the tub. The HotSoak pump is 1/15 hp, with a heater rated at 1.5 kW. The baths are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to fit any décor, according to the manufacturer. 800-555-5324. www.aquaticwhirlpools.com.