4 Clear As Day Signs That You Need To Replace Your Bathtub

If you were to ask 10 people to name three permanent or semi-permanent bathroom fixtures, chances are the bathtub would make most lists. Despite the importance of bathtubs in day-to-day living, however, for many people, a bathtub isn’t something you notice. It’s just there.

And while it’s essential for keeping yourself clean, it’s also not the type of fixture you notice first as you’re walking through your front door. So without further ado, here are four signs that your bathtub may need to be replaced sooner rather than later. 

1. You’re Struggling to Get In and Out 

As our bodies age, it’s only natural that the things you need from your household appliances and furniture may change as well. 

The CDC found that 40.7 million adults aged 18 and over live with some form of problems with their physical functioning. And in a 2002 landmark study called “The Most Expensive Medical Conditions in America”, it was estimated that millions of Americans were suffering from back pain and hypertension. If you fall under either of those categories, then you’re in good company and an accessible, joint-friendly bathtub design may be a viable option for you.

And that’s before we get into how sometimes a bathtub might not fit right from the beginning. 

If getting in and out of the shower is quickly becoming the lowlight of your day, a new bathtub could be the answer you didn’t know you were looking for.

2. Your Bath Water Keeps Draining Even When You Haven’t Pulled The Drain 

When a bathtub is in its final stages, the massive pools of water leaking outside of your bathtub are nearly impossible to miss. 

But what happens when your bathtub can hold water better than swiss cheese but is on its way to wearing down? Is there some way to spot leaks and cracks early?

As it turns out, all you have to do is watch your bath water levels.

If at the start of your bath the water is comfortably reaching your shoulders but 30 minutes later you’re lucky if it reaches your ankles, that could be a sign that your tub is starting to leak. And while your bathtub may not yet be a crisis-in-the-making, it won’t hurt to start exploring your options once you start noticing that your tub can’t maintain a steady water level.

3.  That Freshly-Cleaned Appearance Requires More Cleaning 

This is an indicator that’s probably easier to see on a white bathtub, but is nonetheless difficult to ignore on any color. The truth is that any bathtub can sometimes acquire that dingy and used look. People are washing off dirt and grime every day and some weeks are just messier than others.

But if lately you’ve been cleaning the tub on Saturday and feeling like the tub could use a wash on Sunday, your tub’s protective coating could be wearing down. And once that happens, it’s a lot harder to defend your tub from mold and mildew buildup.

So while no one expects magazine-worthy cleanliness from a bathtub at all hours, a tub that’s failing to stay clean for no discernible reason could be reaching the end of its lifespan.

4.  The Color is Getting On Your Nerves 

For many people, bathroom decor is ultimately about how you accessorize. While it’s true that shower curtains, sink accessories, and bathroom rugs are able to transform the entire look and feel of a bathroom, changing out a fixture can be just as transformational.

If you’ve been a minimalist since before it was cool and you’re not a fan of bright colors in a space, a yellow or green bathtub might not get it done for you. That being said, your issue doesn’t have to be that glaring. It’s possible for you to feel like the different whites in your bathroom are clashing. 

And that would be perfectly fair. 

Just because a bathtub is harder to take out than a shower curtain, doesn’t mean that it has to stay if it’s a bad fit for your decorating vision. More and more suppliers are willing to sell various bathtub styles and sizes at affordable prices while big names like Sam’s Club are making it easy to get professional bathtub installations done at reasonable prices. Sometimes getting a tub that matches your styling sensibilities just makes sense.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, bathroom renovations walk a fine line. You want the end result to look good, but you also need your changes to be practical. As a result, it’s not always easy to recognize when a bathtub can or should be replaced. 

Whether you’re picking an entirely different style or you’re simply upgrading, a new bathtub can give a bathroom a much-needed facelift. And while you may not need to make any changes today or tomorrow, there are still certain key signs to watch for when it comes to your bathtub.

You may not know when that replacement will become necessary, but you can always be prepared.