We'll be putting in both a steam shower and an air tub, so I'll let you know in a year how they compare. ;) I have been using the whirlpool and steam at the health club for years. Usually both in that order. The whirlpool is nice to relax for a bit, maybe work out a knot with the jets. But the steam seems to work better for me. The heat penetrates your whole body. Work up a sweat pretty quick. And it really seems to work out the deep knots & cramps. A steam room is much hotter. I can sit a long while in a hot tub, but only 5-7 minutes in a steam. Maybe part of it is it's an enveloping heat. You're literally breathing it in. After the tub I feel relaxed, but after a steam I feel like I've melted. A steam room is more efficient with resources. I'm told a steam shower only needs very little water, like just a gallon, to make a room full of steam. A bath tub takes what, 75-100 gal to fill?

brownish soap scum slowly collects. I try to clean it with Bar keepers friend and soft sponge, but it takes forever. What do you clean yours with without scratching or destroying that is faster, like a spray on wash off?

Just a quick update. I spent days reading material on air tubs and whirlpools and got my decision down to a 36 x 72" Jason and Purebath. To get an outside opinion, I called an online bath dealer in the Richmond, VA area where I used to live (Whirlpooltubs.com, Steve) and after discussing a lot of models, which he sells as well, he steered me to Mansfield, an UN-fancy company that offered a ton of features and everything I was looking for, at a nice price. I ended up with the Baywood 6 Ariance GentleTouch (air bath version) which has back jets with heated neck/back rest, heated silent air (all offer this), included neck pillow, chromatherapy. This combined the features I thought my husband might benefit from (back jets) with the surround air jets, in a quiet system, as we will put the motor on the other side of the wall with insulation. Mansfield offers the Ariance in 3 models: HealthTouch (whirlpool), GentleTouch (air bath) and DualTherapy. I would love to tell you what I think about this bathtub, but we are still building our home and are months' out yet. This dealer was on the ball and very helpful.

Hi Theresa, I wanted to sit in the actual tub and make sure I felt comfortable (I am 5.4”). The showroom had it in the exact size and the matte velour finish which is awesome. They had a whole display for Bain Ultra so I could test the water, etc. I was bummed out on how loud it was but hoping once in my bathroom it might be less. I didn’t want to buy on line since it is expensive. I bought from Splash in Newton MA in October and still haven’t rec’d it yet