Garden Tub Vs. Jacuzzi Tub

Garden Tub

Garden tub is the common name for a tub designed for soaking. Garden tubs are deeper than traditional bathtubs, and generally have curved or arched sides that follow the contours of the human body, allowing bathers to fit comfortably inside the tub.

Many garden tubs have contoured arm rests or built-in head and neck support. These tubs can be freestanding or built into the bathroom with a shelf surround designed to hold bath products, towels or decorative items.

While most traditional garden tubs do not have whirlpool or jet functions, you can purchase adapter kits or deep tubs with these functions.

Jacuzzi is the brand name of a specific line of tubs. Perhaps best known for manufacturing hot tubs, Jacuzzi also sells several types of tubs for the bathroom. While it manufactures a line of jet-free, garden soaking tubs, Jacuzzis generally have massaging jets or bubbles to add an additional level of relaxation to the bath.

Depending on the model of Jacuzzi tub you purchase, Jacuzzis may have multiple jets to massage various points on the body, or air jets that release bubbles to create whirlpools and relaxing waves.

Jacuzzis offer several advantages over traditional garden tubs. The massaging jets and relaxation benefits of a jetted tub are hard to argue with, and some Jacuzzi models offer additional relaxation features, such as underwater lighting and the option to use bath salts or oils.

Since Jacuzzi is a popular name brand, installing this high-end whirlpool bath can increase the value of your home.

While Jacuzzi tubs have some benefits over garden tubs, the non-jetted garden tubs also have their own advantages. First and foremost is the issue of price. A simple, non-jetted garden tub can cost significantly less than a Jacuzzi tub, sometimes thousands of dollars less, because of installation costs.

Garden tubs are easier to clean. The jets in Jacuzzi tubs need to be cleaned on a regular basis to ensure that algae and other materials don't build up and affect the performance of the jets, while garden tubs generally only need basic cleaning. With a garden tub, you're not limited to the types of bath products you can use, while your favorite bubble bath may be off limits in a Jacuzzi tub.

The greater capacity of garden tubs and Jacuzzis requires more hot water than traditional tubs, and you may need to install an additional hot water heater to serve the tub, depending on the other hot water needs of your home and the actual size of your tub.

Both garden tubs and Jacuzzis can increase your water bills, and Jacuzzis run on electricity, which may increase that bill as well. In addition, both Jacuzzis and garden tubs are heavier than standard tubs, especially when full, and not all bathrooms can handle the extra weight.