Name: Safe Step Walk in Bathtubs
Brand: Safe Step

Safe Step Walk-In Tubs

Safe Step Walk-In Tubs are equipped with standard features that are often considered optional upgrades when compared to other tubs of this type. That’s the reason we rated Safe Step the “Great for Arthritis and Joint Pain” winner in our walk-in tub buyers guide. Because every home is different, each Safe Step tub is customized to meet the size and design needed for the project. The company’s tubs are manufactured in the United States, come with a lifetime warranty, and according to company representatives are the #1 choice by sales volume for the product category.

Safe Step Review

Safe Step walk-in tubs are an investment in the comfort and safety of the homeowner. The company was reluctant to share prices with us, because like any construction project, costs will vary depending on the size and scope of the project. As a point of reference, most Safe Step models start at $10,000 for the walk-in tub, including shipping and installation. After deciding to purchase a Safe Step tub, the Safe Step team handles everything from delivery to installation and hauling away your old tub or shower. Safe Step makes all the arrangements for their customers, who do not need to hire additional plumbing or electrical laborers to complete the project. Up front fees may be required to start construction.

Pros

Full-service installation and removal
More features than other tubs
Installation usually takes a day
Limited lifetime warranty on product

Cons

May charge up front deposit

Safe Step Walk-in Tub Features

While the size and shape of Safe Step walk-in tubs often vary, many of their tubs have the same standard features. Because Safe Step can customize their product to fit what customers need, homeowners rarely need to change the size or layout of their bathroom. Therapeutic devices are standard on all tubs, including the Dual Hydrotherapy Massage System and Chromotherapy System.

Safe Step products have an extensive list of features to provide a safe bathing experience for anyone with mobility issues. Users get into the tub using a side door, shut the sealed door, then fill their bath without having to worry about falling while getting in. The heated seat keeps users warmth while they wait for the tub to fill.

Safety and comfort are two of the most important features you should consider when choosing a walk-in tub or shower. These benefits are the reason why people buy Safe Step walk-in tubs:

Walk-in Tubs	Walk-in Showers
Wide, safer doors	Streamlined look
Quick-release drain	Controls are easy to reach, quick on/off shower button
Easy to reach controls	Extra-long safety bar
Anti-slip floor and seat	Low-entry step
Built-in grab bar	Commercial grade anti-slip flooring
Safe Water cleaning system	Built-in folding chair
Mold resistant gel-coat	Anit-scald faucet
Anti-scald faucet	Pads support up to 350 lbs
10 massaging jets
17-inch high heated anti-slip seat
Handheld shower wand
Right or left door
Low-entry step

Safe Step Pricing

As noted earlier, Safe Step Walk-in Tub Co.’s products are an investment, with the cost of the tub or shower unit, modifications to the bathroom, electrical and plumbing, and installation included in the price. Safe Step avoids quoting general prices since nearly every project is unique. To help make the cost more manageable, the company offers a financing plan with approved credit. Before choosing a payment plan, be sure to check interest charges and compare with other credit based options.

The company also offers a “Helping Hands Rebate” of up to $1,500 to help offset the lack of Medicare coverage, and discounts for military veterans. Getting an exact quote for a Safe Step tub in your home is free, but you’ll need to request an estimate by completing a form on their website. For guidance on what to look for in the price of a walk-in tub, visit our walk in tub guide.

Safe Step Warranty

The Safe Step Walk-in Tub Co. covers their products with a lifetime warranty on parts and labor for the original purchaser as long as a company representative completed the job. According to the Safe Step, this warranty covers the tub (including manufacturing defects), door seal, faucets, water pumps, heaters, and blowers. Specific exclusions may apply, and coverage may not pay for all service or labor costs for every repair. There is a two-year warranty on caulking.

Safe Step Customer Service

Safe Step provides customer service via toll-free number at (800) 346-6616 or via chat on their website 24 hours a day. For those interested in buying a tub, a rep will return your call within an hour or two, or you can schedule a time to see one of the many showrooms in the U.S. Those who have already purchased a tub have access to the customer service line from the moment they pay their initial deposit until they are satisfied with the tub installation. This same number will connect them to a representative for any ongoing troubleshooting or warranty claims that may come up.

Source: Safe Step

What do Safe Step Reviews say?

Customers report being pleased with the responsiveness of the service team in resolving issues with leaks or answering questions that arise over time. Buyers describe Safe Step walk-in tubs as a luxury home bathing experience without sacrificing safety. The perks of owning the bathtub come up frequently from customers with mobility issues, with some reporting a significant relief of pain symptoms from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) rates this company with an A+, its highest rating. Safe Step has earned this mark by being responsive to customer questions and complaints in its nine years in business. Many of the reviews left by customers are specific to the experience they received at a particular Safe Step dealer and may not be a reflection of service at another location or the brank.

The most common complaint received by customers is that the tubs and showers can leak soon after install. It’s not uncommon for a newly installed walk-in tub to need adjusting after some use. Almost all of the verified Safe Step reviews have displayed promptness and professionalism in getting service providers back to the home to make these adjustments under the original lifetime warranty.

A few of the complaints by users were related to unclear pricing guidelines. Some customers felt pressured to buy when a representative visited their home to measure the bathroom for appropriate fitting, and some said that figuring the total cost of various models and options was confusing. Most of the verified reviewers that mention price, however, seem satisfied by their overall purchase and refer to the higher-end tubs as a worthwhile investment for their health and well-being. Most of the verified reviewers that mention price, however, seem satisfied by their overall purchase and refer to the higher-end tubs as a worthwhile investment in their health and well-being.

Finally, these walk-in tubs can use more water than a standard bathtub, often requiring an upgrade in the hot water system to accommodate the volume. For those reviewers who may not have known this up-front, the extra cost to install the heater was a surprise. Most were able to justify the inconvenience with the perks that a deeper tub can provide, including additional spa jets for a relaxing bathing experience. Customers compared the step-in tubs to having a private hot tub in their bathroom.

Safe Step Q&A

My home doesn’t have a standard-sized tub. Will my bathroom have to be remodeled to accommodate a walk-in tub?
It’s possible that some remodeling will be necessary. Safe Step will determine which tub is best suited for your bathroom, including size, plumbing and electrical needs, fixture placements, and aesthetics. Their trained team members will recommend the appropriate tub or shower for your needs after an inspection of your tub area.
Will my existing tub or shower need to be removed first?
Yes. The Safe Step team will handle this for you. Their professionals are trained in proper removal and clean up, which is included in the cost.
How much are the additional plumbing or electrical charges required for installation?
All additional installation tasks that may include additions to your plumbing or electrical systems come bundled in the price and are included in your custom quote. The Safe Step team has membership in the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), and professionals have received extensive training on how to ensure your systems are treated appropriately upon install.
Does Medicare or Medicaid cover the cost of a walk-in tub or shower?
Currently, no. These programs will only cover the cost of durable medical equipment, which does not include walk-in tubs.
What kind of warranty comes with my product and installation?
Safe Step guarantees its products and the quality of installation for a lifetime against manufacturer’s defects and performance of the tub, door seal, faucets, water pumps, blowers, and heaters.
What else should I know about Safe Step?
Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. is based out of Nashville and has been providing walk-in tubs and showers since 2009. They have several showrooms across the United States and Canada, and their professional sales reps are trained to work with customers to find the right walk-in tub or shower with their existing bathroom floor plan. The company only sells to homeowners and has received the Arthritis Foundation Ease-of-Use Commendation after having their products independently tested.

Conclusion on Safe Step

While you’ll need to schedule a home visit to get the exact details on which model of walk-in tub is right for you, this will lead to getting the right fit for your home. Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. developed a product line to fit almost all budgets. Customers who value American-made products will also love that each tub is made in Tennessee and representatives are available nationwide to assist in your purchase. Call or use the online chat feature on their website to schedule a visit or be directed to one of their many showrooms. If you’re interested in a walk-in tub from Safe Step, call 888-653-9934 or check out their website.

Safe Step Reviews

Recent Reviews

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Featured Review

June 07 2021 5:18AM

Safe Step seemed to have a better warranty. It said a lifetime. I dealt with their sales agent, representative and the actual installer. The interactions were all affable.

Installation went fine except we had to wait some time before getting everything in. When they got it in, there was one part that I had requested that they were not able to install.

I requested the glass enclosure and they determined that it could not work in my situation. So, they had to make an adjustment. There was a discount of about $100 because I was not sure what the component cost.

There was no itemization. I requested the jets, rain shower and glass frame. I did not get the individual cost for those items. I got the cost of the whole group. Then, when I had to change from the glass to the curtain, there was a reduction of $100.

They gave me everything they had except the glass frame. I have the water jets, the air jets, the heating and the handrails. I had handrails, but they took them off and they inserted their own.

I'm happy with my Safe Step the way I expected to feel. I am used to getting a soak in water because I have very serious arthritis. So, it is very soothing when I get in there.

At first, I wasn't used to adjusting the jets. They were very powerful at first and I thought they were a little too much, but they showed me how to reduce the pressure. So, it's working okay now.

I haven't been able to thoroughly enjoy everything though because there's still something wrong with the aroma. I haven't been able to use it because it's become unglued.

They need to do something to have it work. Safe Step sent someone here about a week ago who tried to fix that, but it hasn't been fixed yet.

It took me two years to decide to get the Safe Step, and I had to wait about six weeks to get the equipment in, and I paid down on it. I still had to wait a week to get the shower curtain.

I have to call the representative now because she went out and bought a curtain and rods because they had not sent it.

When she bought the curtain and rods, they did not have enough rings for the curtain. So, I complained and told them there were two missing rings, and I had to wait a little while.

There was a little bit of confusion or delay in the request. So, she felt compelled to buy it here and bring it to me instead of waiting for the delivery from the factory.

There was a little timing issue in the communication between the factory and delivery here because she wanted to let me have the curtain rods because I couldn't take a shower without that. She went out and ordered it someplace.

The request for everything I asked for came but because of the problems they had in putting in the glass frame, we had to change.

Waveney B.

Washington, DC

September 13 2021 9:09PM

Worst Customer Service in the world. Don't try to call and get an answer EVER. The salesman ordered the completely wrong shower and they tried to turn it around and say that it was my fault.

They now have a $3000 deposit of mine that I don't know how to get back. Very unprofessional company. Guess I've been scammed out of $3000. STAY AWAY!!

LAUREL D.

SUFFERN, SELECT A STATE

September 09 2021 6:52AM

The door to our Safe Step walk-in tub leaked, so the guy repaired it today. I'll recommend Safe Step. It's just that the guys that installed it had to cut the door jam out.

They're not very experienced to put door jams back. I told them, "Just let it go and I'll put it back," but they went ahead and put it. Other than that, everything's all right.

Merton W.

Colchester, IL

September 09 2021 2:39AM

We've seen Safe Step before and I thought it would be the best tub. I liked their sales representative. She was very informative and helped us walk through the process.

I was not that happy with the installation, though. The first group of guys that came out were fantastic. They walked me through the tub before the installation.

They put it on the driveway and had me get in it to make sure that I would fit in it. I'm a big guy and I barely fit in it, but I got in it. It was a little tight, but I figured I could use it so we went ahead with it and they did their thing.

We had a couple issues that we talked about that we worked through. At that point, we had a plumbing issue they could not resolve. I had to get a plumber out here, which I resolved in a day. I had the plumber out here on a Monday. He got done on a Tuesday.

I wanted the installers to come back out Wednesday to get it done. When I talked to the lady that coordinates the service, she said they couldn't come out. They would have to come back out a week later.

I understood that. But it was two different guys that came out. They had no idea what the other guys had done. I was not happy about that. It was like starting new with two different guys.

Those guys were professional but they had their own way of doing things. They installed the tub and did a wonderful job. They did not do what the other guys were going to do. They did it the way they thought they needed to do.

The problem that I had was that the first guys tore my door out. I have an older home and it has a metal frame. The second guys that came out did not install the door that Safe Step said they would replace if they removed the door. So, I was left with no door.

We had to go out and buy a door frame and install it ourselves. With me not having mobility, it was left for my wife, daughter and son-in-law to do. We just got the door. I just finished getting the frame molding on the outside. We have not got it done on the inside.

Also, as far as the tub, there was a panel missing. They were going to bring that out and get it replaced as soon as they came in.

Some young man called me. He wanted to bring it out early in the morning at eight o'clock. I don't get up at eight o'clock in the morning. It's very hard for me to get up. He called and woke me up and said, "I want to come out and put it on right away."

I said, "No. Let me wake up first. If you can come at 10 o'clock, I'll be up and moving. Any time after 10, I'll be up and awake. Please come out then." He never came.

Then a couple of days later, some gentlemen called and they brought one out. So they put that up, but we noticed that when they put it up, it was modified. They had cut a piece off of it, going around the top of it, like they were trying to make an air gap.

You can notice it was modified. For a $20,000 tub, it didn't look nice. So, I took it, flipped it around and put the cut piece on the bottom so it still had the airflow and you don't notice it. Other than that, they fixed the issue with the drain. The guy was very nice about that.

The only other thing about the Safe Step tub is the door latch. When you close the door latch, with being a bigger guy and having limited mobility with that, your legs hit that latch.

When you're sitting there, until the water gets up where you can get buoyancy, your legs still hits that thing a little bit. It's just a little bit uncomfortable.

In their process, if they could move that latch up just a little bit higher, that would give the end user the ability to reach the latch better, and it would keep it off of the legs and it wouldn't hit the body so much. It doesn't affect the use of the tub though.

Ray B.

Las Vegas, NV

September 08 2021 7:39AM

The sales people and the installation team from Safe Step were professional. They were very nice and they explained everything. The workers did everything perfectly putting my house back together. It was wonderful. I like everything about my tub.

Alwyn J.

Las Vegas, NV

September 07 2021 1:00AM

I started having pain in my knee and my back a little bit when I'm going in the tub before I changed over. I decided to look into getting a walk-in tub. I'm getting older too.

My daughter will bathe me if I can't bathe myself, but when I looked into the Safe Step tub, it has a door. I can just walk and step in. So, when I want to take a bath, I don't have to have somebody so long as I have the strength to do it.

Safe Step's representatives were good. The first lady that visited me was very pleasant. The installation was good, too. I just had some problem with the electrical part of it.

The young man that came here fixed the tub but he didn't do the wiring. They said that my electrical box was full, so they have to come and make another one to connect to the tub.

When the young man came and fixed the lights for me, he didn't show me how to connect the tub. There's a part at the tub where before you go in, you gotta take it apart and plug it in. That wasn't explained to me. But after they explained and they came out to fix it, everything was good.

The tub is great! I love it. The first time I went in there, it was only for 15 minutes but that was really good on my old bones. That night, I slept like a baby. It was wonderful. I also like the shower. I like the massage it gives you. I like all that stuff it has.

Jeanette B.

Henderson, NV

September 06 2021 12:44PM

I've got back and knee problems, and buying the Safe Step was for therapy. I like the tub and all of its features.

Janie F.

Van Buren, AR

September 06 2021 3:19AM

I'm thoroughly enjoying my Safe Step tub. The sales reps were very efficient and quick. The installers were fantastic. They were very professional. I went into the bathroom, and they were almost done installing.

I asked them a question about a gap between the tub and the floor. They said, "Don't worry, we're gonna cover this." I've already informed other people about Safe Step.

Mike P.

West Bridgewater, MA

September 05 2021 5:23AM

Safe Step is very good for people who have issues with backaches or arthritis, and it's enjoyable. I like the jets.

My husband just has a little trouble getting in and out because of the doo, but he's bigger than I am. He has to lift a Ieg to get around the door. Other than that, our experience has been very satisfying.

The sales representative from Safe Step was wonderful. He was extremely polite and he seemed very knowledgeable about the product. The install team seemed very professional and did the job quickly.

Patricia H.

Belleville, IL

September 03 2021 10:23AM

The salesman from Safe Step was wonderful. He was very personable. He answered any questions I had. It's just that he has never called back since the tub has been installed.

The installers were very courteous, quick and cleaned up after themselves. So, I did enjoy working with both the salesman and the two young men that came out to take care of the tub.

I like the water jets. I like that it lights up. I have this vision of being able to sit in the tub with the jets going and I'll be reading a book. But that doesn't happen because it kind of sprays all over the place. It only lasts 20 minutes, and then it automatically shuts down.

There is one major flaw. I can only use it on the days when my back is good. I bought it for the days when my back is bad. The door goes inward and my legs come out too far. I can't shut the door or open it when I'm sitting.

Also, contorting my back to get out of it, it hits my belly, and I go into back spasm. That's a big deal.

My tenant is much heavier than I am but she's shorter, so her knees don't go way out when she's sitting. So, she's able to open and close it easily.

I wish there was an option for them to come in and change the door so it goes out instead of in. I don't want it pulled out because they had to pretty much pull everything out of our wall.

Safe Step should have a showroom somewhere locally, where one could go and just sit in it, and try and shut the door. For $16,000, I don't want to have to go into contortion to get it. Other tall people who are very slender have gotten in it to try it, and there was no problem.

Another very heavy lady has gotten in it, but she's much shorter, so she had no problem. It's not a question of reaching. The door handle is on the inside, so when you unlock it, the door folds inward instead of outward.

I don't even dare get into the tub other than to take a shower but even to take a shower, I have to shut the door. When I get into the tub, in order to shut the door, I have to get it by my belly. So, I stand in a crooked way.

I get one foot on one side of the door and I have to kind of semi-kneel with the other foot. Then I have trouble getting it by my belly to shut it. It's the same thing on the way out. Everything is in the wrong place for this tub.

Cheryl F.

Fall River, MA