Air Bath Buying Guide: Bubble Massage & Heated Air
Discover how air tubs work, the different air systems offered & learn which air features and options will be best for your air bathtub.
Explore Air Tub Features & Options | Find the Perfect Air Bath
An air tub creates thousands of warm bubbles that caress the skin. The bubbles stimulate the skin's light touch receptors, producing an overall calming effect. Shop Air Tubs →How Does an Air Bath Work?
An air bath system uses a quiet blower to push warm air through thousands of tiny holes in the tub. This creates a gentle, effervescent "champagne" effect that caresses the skin. Unlike the vigorous deep-tissue massage of a whirlpool, an air bath provides a soft, full-body sensory experience. The blower heats the air to ensure the bubbles don't cool the water, and the intensity can be adjusted from a low simmer to a vigorous boil.The "Wind Chill" Effect: Why Heating Matters
It is a fact of physics: moving air across wet skin creates a cooling sensation due to evaporation—similar to how you feel stepping out of a shower. Standard air blowers can make bathwater feel cold quickly.To combat this, high-quality air systems heat the air by approximately 30°F before it enters the tub. While the bubbles may still feel brisk to sensitive bathers, this pre-heating prevents the water from cooling down quickly, keeping your bath warmer for longer. For those highly sensitive to drafts, we recommend a Perimeter Air System (see below), which injects air from the sides rather than directly under the body.Advanced Heating: Air Baths with In-Line Heaters
Keep Your Water Hot Indefinitely. While the standard heated blower prevents the air bubbles from cooling the water, it cannot actively reheat the bathwater once it starts to cool. For those who enjoy long soaks (30+ minutes), top brands like MTI, Hydro Systems and Hydro Massage offer an optional In-Line Water Heater.This secondary system works independently of the air blower. It uses a whisper-quiet recirculation pump to draw water out, pass it through a heater, and gently return it to the tub—maintaining your temperature within 1-2 degrees of your setting.
Installation Note: Because this system uses a separate pump and heater, it typically requires a second dedicated 15-20 amp GFCI electrical circuit.
Features of the Perfect Air Tub
Key Features to Consider Choosing the right air bath involves more than just size. We recommend focusing on these four critical components:• Jet Style: Perimeter (Injector) vs. Bottom (Channel) systems.
• System Type: Understanding check-valves and hygiene.
• Blower Location: Integrated vs. Remote mounting.
• Service Access: Planning for future maintenance.
Jet Style
Not all tub companies put their air jets in the same location. Some are perimeter systems (just above the tub floor, around the sides of the bathtub), some are across the bottom and some include jets on the back. Some offer an option of perimeter or bottom, some have all. With a perimeter system the air blows horizontally in to the bath. It pushes the water at the bather, the air not hitting the skin directly. When the system is on the bottom, air comes up directly under the bather, bubbles hitting the skin, giving a more vigorous massage. The technical sheet for the bath will give more information on air location.
Perimeter Air Jets
Bottom Air Jets
Hygiene & Design: How the Air Gets In:
Air Injectors: Individual ports plumbed with "check valves" that prevent water from entering the air lines. This is the most hygienic modern standard.
Air Channels: A hollow channel built around the tub shell with drilled holes. Water enters the channel but is pushed out when the system runs.
The Automatic Purge Cycle:
Regardless of the system, all our air baths feature an Automatic Purge Cycle. Approximately 20 minutes after your bath ends, the system will turn itself on for 1-2 minutes to blow dry the air lines, ensuring your system stays clean and dry.
Blower Location:
The blower is usually located behind the tub's back slant. Access can be through a front skirt, behind the backrest or the back wall (the last two especially if a closet is located there). The technical sheet for each tub will show the location, if the blower fits underneath the tub and if there are optional locations.
Planning for Maintenance Access
While high-end air blowers are incredibly reliable, codes require that you provide access to the motor for potential service. Do not tile over the blower location!
Requirement: A removable access panel (typically 14" x 16" or larger) is required.
Location: Consult your tub's technical specification sheet. Common locations include behind the backrest, through a closet wall, or via a removable front skirt.
Should You Remote Mount the Blower?
Standard Mounting: The blower is mounted directly to the tub or within 2-3 feet. This ensures maximum air pressure and heat retention. Modern blowers from brands like MTI and Hydro Systems are quiet (often quieter than the bubbling water itself).
Remote Mounting: The blower is placed up to 15 feet away (e.g., in a nearby closet or vanity).
• Best For: Freestanding tubs with limited space under the shell, or for bathers seeking absolute silence.
• The Trade-off: Requires running a 1.5" air hose and control cable through walls or floors. Distances over 15 feet can result in heat loss and reduced bubble pressure.
Options
The list of options can be lengthy. Installation options like skirts, tile flanges and drain are covered in the article Choosing a Bathroom Tub →
Set the Tone with Underwater Lighting
Many of our air baths can be customized with lighting systems to enhance relaxation.
Standard Mood Lights: A cost-effective way to add color. These systems typically use a single light source with a set of interchangeable colored lenses (caps). Simply snap on the color you desire—Blue, Red, or Clear—to change the ambiance of the bath.
LED Chromotherapy: The advanced digital option. These systems utilize multi-color LED bulbs embedded in the tub wall. With a simple button press, you can cycle through the full color spectrum or pause on a specific hue (like Turquoise for serenity or Red for energy) without having to manually change a lens.
Tub Sizes and Installation Style
We have sorted all of our tubs by size to help you with shopping. You will find these links below. Before you head there, we do offer more information on finding the perfect bath tub. Our article Choosing a Bathroom Tub → gives thoughts on the different things to consider like installation styles and tub sizes.
Ready to Shop? Browse Air Tubs by Style
We have organized our extensive catalog by installation type. Select your preferred style below to view all available air bath models, sorted by size.
Leading Air Tub Companies
We are very proud of the companies we carry. They create air bathtubs from the highest quality of acrylic, heavy-duty fiberglass backing, excellent motors and powerful jets.
Why do we carry so many brands? Each company provides a different mix of sizes, jet locations and air systems. Providing multiple choices allows you to find the perfect bath for your needs. How do you choose from so many? The simplest way is to give us a call - 866-380-0303. Tubz.com is here to help you sort through all the tubs to pick the best air tub to fit your needs and budget.Helpful Bathtub Information:
• Bathtubs - Features to Consider when Purchasing a Bathtub
• Spa Tubs | Which System is Best?
• Contact the Tubz.com Bathtub Experts
