Before finalizing your bathtub purchase or calling a bathroom designer, make sure you know and understand the different bathtub terminologies. We don’t want you to be buying products that don’t match your needs. We want you to make only informed buying decisions for your home. 

Here’s your complete A-Z guide to bathtub part names, bathtub brands, bathtub features and other bathroom and bathtub-related jargon. Be a wise shopper and make your smart purchase today. Enjoy your online bathtub shopping!

A

Acrylic

A commonly used bathtub material that is lightweight and more flexible than cast iron. Acrylic is warmer than most other materials used in making bathtubs. See our line of acrylic bathtubs from American Acrylic.

Acrastone

A material consisting of layered acrylic with an ABS Backing and a stone/resin compound. This material is known to be lighter, stronger, and more durable than cast iron. Read more about Acrastone...

Air Bath

This bathtub type has several holes under it through which millions of bubbles are released. A gentle massaging experience can experienced from an air tub, unlike whirlpool tubs that use powerful jets for gaining the same experience. Air bathtubs are also known to use thermo-air massage.

Apron

Also known as a skirt, apron is the front side of a bathtub in a 3-wall or alcove installations. Apron front tubs are often purchased by homeowners with apartments or compact bathrooms because of its space-saving structure. 

Aromatherapy

This refers to a process wherein fragrances and scents are released to generate a kind of therapeutic reaction or response. Aromatherapy tubs are different in that they release essential oils of your type to help you relax during bath.

Audiotherapy

This refers to a process wherein music and sounds are used to generate a kind of therapeutic reaction or response. The built-in sound system in the bathtub’s shell helps in distributing the sound evenly and thereby helps generate a unique bathing experience.

B

Bathing Well

Refers to the inside region of the tub where one sits during a bath.

Blower

The engine that is used with air baths for passing warm air inside the tub.

C

Cast Iron

A common material used in making bathtubs. During the construction of cast tubs,  liquid iron is poured into a mold that is in the shape of a tub. Cast-iron material is said to be one of the most durable bathtub materials available. 

Chromatherapy

This refers to a process wherein colored lights are used to generate a kind of therapeutic reaction or response. The colored lights incorporated in the Chromatherapy tubs helps you relax while taking a bath.

Clawfoot Tub

A clawfoot tub refers to a freestanding bathtub that comes along with four “feet”-like structures. This tub is different from the ones that are enclosed in a tile structure or an alcove.

Controls

This refers to knobs or handles that are fitted on a filler or a tub faucet used for adjusting temperature and water flow. However, in advanced bathtubs, controls may refer to a remote control that is used for operating and adjusting jets, aromatherapy, blowers or other features. It could also refer to buttons in some tubs. Bathtubs like walk-in tubs typically have ergonomic and sophisticated controls especially engineered for people with arthritic hands.

D

Deck

It usually refers to lip (or horizontal perimeter) of the tub. However, it can also refer to a drop-in bathtub or an undermount.

Drop-In Tub

Drop-in bathtubs refer to tubs that are “dropped into” an alcove or a pre-built tub surround. Most of these tubs come along with a finished top edge.

F

Filler

These are specially constructed for filling bathtubs with water. Fillers can either be or wall-mounted, deck mounted or free standing.

Freestanding Tub

As the name suggests, freestanding tubs are not attached to any walls but they are installed on the floor directly. An example of freestanding tub is a clawfoot tub. However, not all freestanding tubs have clawfoot design; some tubs don't have feet at all like the pedestal tubs

Full Immersion

These bathtubs are deeper than others; allowing the water to stand up to the shoulders of the bather. A good example of bathtubs that provide full immersion are the extra-deep soaking tubs, specifically the Japanese soakers. 

H

Hydrotherapy

It refers to processes that use water to help relax the body. Air baths, Whirlpool and Soaker offer different types of hydrotherapy.

I

Infinity Edge

The design of this tub is such that water can be filled to its top edge as in an infinity pool. The excess water that overflows can be collected in a gap between the outer and inner walls of a tub.

J

Jet (or Jets)

These mechanisms are typically employed in tubs that enable pressurized water to massage the body. Jets are commonly seen in Whirlpool tubs. The smaller jets are seen in Air baths where they are required to produce less pressure, or as some call it: soft-tissue massage. 

L

Lift and Turn Drain

Lift and Turn Drain refers to a drain that can be kept in the open position by lifting and turning from its initial position.

M

Maximum Fill

Maximum Fill refers to the maximum gallons of water that a bathtub can hold.

O

Overflow

A mechanism wherein excess water is drained after it reaches a certain height in the tub. This mechanism is found in the inside wall of the tub and is useful in preventing flow of water from the tub. A few drains are also controlled by overflows.

P

Pump

An engine that is used with whirlpool jets for pushing both air and warm water into a tub.

S

Shower Panel

A shower panel is a shower unit that includes jets, showerheads, volume controls and temperature controls in one area so that it can be used easily for targeting specific regions of the body.

Skirt

Skirt refers to the front side of a tub in 3-wall installations or in an alcove. It is sometimes called as an apron too.

Soaker Tub

Soaker tub is exclusively designed for soaking. This tub is devoid of any advanced features, including whirlpool or air jets.

Spec Sheet

Spec sheets are documents that normally include measurements and various features of a product. These sheets may also include installation instructions and product diagrams.

Surround

Surrounds refer to a platform or a structure made of natural stone slab or tile that surrounds a bathtub. Since surrounds cover a majority portion of a tub they give an indication of a tub being “built into” the surrounding stone or tile.

T

Tile Flange

Tile Flange is a perpendicular lip or edge seen in some tubs whose purpose is to create a water-tight seal across 3-wall installations or an alcove.

Tip Toe Drain

Tip Toe Drain is also commonly called as Toe Top Drain. This drain can be activated by bather’s foot.

Tub Surround

See “Surround”

Tub Filler

See “Filler”

U

Undermount Tub

An Undermount Tub is also called as an Underdeck Tub. These tubs are typically constructed beneath an already existing tub surround. An Undermount tub is so designed that its top edge remains hidden by a natural stone slab or tile. A number of Undermount tubs are also often used as drop-in tubs.

W

Whirlpool Tub

A Whirlpool tub is the one that uses water powerful jets in order to massage the body as intended.