The Costs of Converting a Bathtub to a Whirlpool

DIY Kits

• Assembling the various pieces of a whirlpool tub can become fairly costly. A whirlpool tub needs jets, water pumps to circulate the water, and heaters to regulate water temperature. Buying all of these pieces separately can become expensive. Heaters costs more than $100 for those with 12 amps of power. The jets, which are commonly sold in packs of four, six, eight or more, range from $200 to $600, depending on finish. Plastic jets are much more affordable than metal jets. A do-it-yourself conversion kit may be more cost-effective than purchasing the necessary parts piecemeal; the price for a kit will begin at $300 and may come with an instructional video or installation guide to make the project easier.

Professional Conversion Costs

• Professional conversion of an existing bathtub into a whirlpool will cost more than doing the conversion yourself. A professional company may charge less for materials, because they do not pay retail prices on such items, but they will charge you for labor. The labor costs alone may be hundreds of dollars, but a professional will complete the conversion efficiently and will increase the likelihood of a good-looking finished project. Homeowners who are uncomfortable with doing their own conversion should look to professional plumbers and/or contractors to get the work done.

Whirlpool Energy Costs

• Whirlpool tubs have heaters, jets and pumps, parts that require energy in order to function. But whirlpools are not more expensive to operate than any other household appliance. Running a whirlpool will add only marginally more cost to your energy bills, unless you are using the tub for several hours a day.

New Whirlpool Costs

• Brand-new whirlpool bathtubs have a starting price of approximately $1,500, though they may easily cost twice or three times as much depending on how many jets and features they have. The cost of installing a new tub can be astronomical; there is a lot of demolition and finishing work included in the final bill. Tile must be ripped out, then new tile must be installed. The overall project may cost several thousand dollars.