“Transforming a bathroom into your personal retreat.”

DATELINE: DORCHESTER, MA…
What was once the most utilitarian room in the house is now being transformed into a sumptuous personal retreat by many homeowners who are willing to knock down walls and expand their horizons to accommodate the latest in bathroom trends.

It hardly seems adequate to call it a “bathroom” anymore with the addition of such amenities as entertainment centers, home spas, heated floors, subdued lighting and artistic touches including designer spigots and concave sinks.

As the experts at Hub Plumbing and Mechanical in Boston point out, new advances in technology have made all of this possible. Without going overboard, even the average homeowner can jump on the bandwagon with the addition of several high tech, high touch components.

From Whirlpools to Spas
For most homeowners, relaxation begins with the addition of a whirlpool bath. Today’s whirlpools take many shapes and forms, ranging from a small corner unit to an elaborate sunken haven for two. Soft bathtubs, made up of layers that provide a soft cushioned surface, provide the ultimate in comfort. Their high-density foam core absorbs the noise and vibration of the whirlpool pump and motor, and their thermal insulation provides high-energy efficiency, keeping the bath water warmer for a longer period of time.

Separate showers and baths have also become de rigueur in many households. Showers have morphed into vertical spas, delivering hydro massage through a series of whirlpool jets arranged vertically in a shower-like enclosure where water is propelled through the air, rather than through the water as in a traditional whirlpool. Add adjustable-jet showerheads, separate body spray nozzles, or handheld wands to customize your personal spa experience.

The use of multiple showerheads is also growing in popularity, often with multiple sprays for each head. In addition to the traditional European-style hand-held showerhead, newer types of heads include the oversized rain showerhead, delivering the experience of a soft rain shower, or a rain bar with a strip of multiple jets that can be installed vertically or horizontally with multiple body spray heads.

Shower components are often set on telescoping arms that are easily adjusted to accommodate users of different heights or to direct the jets to different parts of the body. Control valves have also become more sophisticated to meet the demands of multiple showerheads, including separate controls to adjust the thermostat and the volume.

Steam shower rooms are also gaining in popularity. They are usually self-enclosed units that function as a regular shower but also use a humidifying steam generator to produce an warm aura of relaxing water vapor.

Just a flush away
If you’re concerned about using all that water in the shower, new toilet technologies will keep you from literally flushing too much water down the toilet. In 1995 the National Energy Policy Act mandated that new toilets in the U.S. use no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush (GPF). New water efficient dual flush toilets have been introduced that allow a half flush (.8 GPF) for liquid waste and a full flush (1.6 GPF) for solid waste resulting in an additional 26% water savings when compared to the current 1.6 GPF toilets. You simply press a button to choose the appropriate water flow.

Bidets, long a commonplace accoutrement in European bathrooms, are also increasing in popularity in the U.S. Many new alternatives to the traditional separate European style bidet fixture abound. Toilet seat bidets integrate the hygienic cleansing and comfort of a traditional bidet within a single toilet fixture. Adjustable water temperature settings, heated seat settings, multiple water jets, and quick drying airflow components combine technology with convenience.

Automatic sensors on faucets and toilets, a hygienic a staple of many public restrooms, are now also finding their way into residential use.

The Penultimate Experience
If cost is no objection, complete your personal retreat by including a heated tile floor, as well as a towel warmer to keep those fluffy Turkish towels close at hand to wrap yourself in luxury as you depart your lair. However, be forewarned, you may not want to leave your personal spa at all, especially if you outfitted it with a fireplace and an entertainment system for the ultimate in personal comfort!

About Hub Plumbing
Hub Plumbing & Mechanical takes the plumbing industry to the next level, utilizing a professional, friendly, customer-centered approach. In addition to protecting your floors with red carpet, Hub’s experienced plumbers also cover their work boots with stain-resistant boot covers, wear ID badges for security purposes, and arrive on time and smartly dressed in crisp, clean uniforms.

The company does not charge by the hour, but by the specific project. Hub Plumbing & Mechanical is available 24 hours a day and 7 seven days a week to provide immediate access and peace of mind. Live receptionists manage and dispatch emergency calls in house, not via an answering service or third party, to streamline the service.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical was established in 1999 and now includes a staff of 12 full time employees. This full service plumbing company assists residential and commercial customers with code violations, sewer/drain clogs, garbage disposals, water heaters, water filtration, steam and hot water boilers, thermostats, leaky faucets, tub valves, gas pipes, appliance installation, and outside hose faucets.

Hub Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. is located at 1444 Dorchester Avenue, Boston, MA. Hub Plumbing & Mechanical can be contacted at 1-866-HUBPLUMBING (482-7586) and online at www.hubplumbing.com.