Hi Monica, The BU catalog lists the Thalassa as having one heated backrest. As the salesperson told me, the heated backrest means that the tubing runs up and down the back area. There is no heating mechanism, only the heat from the water in the tubing.

Are you happy with the size and design of the Thalassa? I am planning on using this same model in our new MB. From all the posts I have seen here, water temp seems to be an issue with all these tubs.

Thank you for your reply tucgran. So according to the salesman, there are tubes behind the backrest that WATER flows thru? And I suppose it's just the tub water temp, not heated in any other way? I wasn't aware that there was any water involved in the tubing/duct work of an air tub. As for the size, it's a good size. The arm rests and handles take up some of the width. I'd like it a little wider as I'm a "little wider" :o It's nice and deep tho!! I would really like to ad an in line heater to keep the water from cooling down.
Monica

My understanding (I'm no Bain guru) is that it's the flow of air through the tubing that warms the backrest.

The higher the speed of the turbine, the warmer the air that the turbine will output. So on a low speed setting, the warming may be negligible.

I've never put an inline heater on an air tub, but I put them on almost every jetted/whirlpool tub. They run about $200 for he heater itself and take about 10 minutes to install.

Sorry I can't be more definitive.

Mongo

Here is a diagram from the Bain Ultra owner's manual. one double heated backrests of the Amma series (maybe others too, I'm not sure) it shows air heaters. This is what caused David to wonder if we could add an in line heater to the Thalassa.
Monica

I was in the plumbing supply house this morning, so I asked the counter guy...an old crusty ex-plimber...who wasn't positive...but his ideas pretty much reflect mine.

The back and neck heater is effected by heating air, which is then circulated through the air channels in the tub. More air movement means more heat output, or faster heating. The water is not heated directly, but might be indirectly due to the warmer air being circulated through the water.

As to a whole tub warmer, a "direct water" warmer isn't offered, as that sort of defeats the theory of the air tub, which is isolating the water from the tub's plumbing. Plus there would need to be a pump for circulating water, a heat exchanger of some sort, he thought that it would be cost prohibitive to incorporate a maintenance-free water heating and circulating system, and that even if they did that, it might still muddle the theory behind the air tub, being that water is held in the tub and not circulated through the plumbing, so you can use oils, salts, etc.

He thought that a "whole tub" air warmer wouldn't make economic sense because of the size of it. The air heaters for the back warmer are 700w, so he theorized that an air warmer for the whole tub would have to be 2-3 times that size, and would bump it up into the 220v range for electrical supply. Along the lines of an electric clothes dryer or an electric oven.

So...not sure if that help, as it's more his ideas than straight talk from someone who actually knows the answer.

Mongo

Fair enough Mongo :) Thanks for your time.
Monica

I wonder why specs on the Thalassa show that it has a heated backrest. Specs indicate the same heated backrests for the 2-person tubs. But, from what I can tell, 2 person tubs actually HAVE heated backrests (heated by air heaters) but single person tubs don't have air heaters that heat the backrests. Deceptive advertising (unless I'm misunderstanding something)
Monica

I have the Thalassa 55. When I first tried it, I didn't feel the heated backrest either. But now after the tub drains (and I am waiting for what I like to call the "auto dry" session when the drying cycle turns on)I can feel that the backrest is indeed heated. I think I didn't feel the heat because I already had very hot water in the tub and I'm a bit short (it seems like the heat is concentrated in the shoulder area). In response to tucgran's comment, I love the size and design. Ours is used as a shower/bath combo so the flat bottom, as opposed to the raised seat, was the way to go. I'm 5'5" and we have the 5'5" model. It's almost too long, but I really wanted to put in as much tub as I could. The water temperature hasn't been too much of an issue for me. I can read a whole book in the tub, so I am used to refilling. I just keep in mind that it's not a hot tub and some day, I'd really like a hot tub!