Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Peoria, Glendale & Goodyear
Time to retire that original tub.
Many West Valley homes still have the tub they were built with. Here is what changes when you swap it for a walk-in tub or a roll-in shower, by the age of your home.
Direct answer: Walk In Tubs Arizona, an Aging Safely Baths company, replaces original tubs with walk-in tubs and roll-in showers in Sun City, Sun City West, Sun City Grand in Surprise, PebbleCreek in Goodyear, Peoria and Glendale, often in as little as one day. Most homes are single-story, which keeps the job simple. Quotes are free and written, with no in-home sales pitch. Call 1-888-779-2284.
Why now
The tub you have always used is the riskiest spot in the house
It is easy to overlook the bathtub. You have stepped over that wall thousands of times. But the bathroom is where many falls happen, and most of them happen in or near the tub or shower. A wet floor, a high wall and a slippery tub bottom add up.
The West Valley is home to some of Arizona's best-known retirement communities. In Sun City West, the median age is about 75. That means many neighbors are asking the same question you are: is it time to change the tub before it causes a fall?
For more on the whole bathroom, from lighting to grab bars to the floor, read this guide to bathroom safety and aging in place from our parent company.
Sources: CDC MMWR on bathroom injuries; Sun City West median age via World Population Review.
81%
of nonfatal bathroom injuries were falls.
37%
happened while bathing, showering or getting out of the tub or shower, where injury rates were highest.
By the age of your home
What we usually find behind the old tub
West Valley homes were built over several decades. The age of yours gives a good hint of what the install will involve.
| Where and when | Typical bathroom | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Sun City, 1960s and 1970s homes | Smaller baths, steel or cast-iron tubs, original tile | More effort to remove the old tub, likely new drain parts, some tile repair around the new tub |
| Sun City West, 1980s and 1990s homes | Fiberglass tubs, tub and shower combos, some shower stalls | Usually a straightforward swap in the 60-inch tub space |
| Sun City Grand and PebbleCreek, late 1990s and 2000s homes | Larger primary baths, separate shower and tub in many plans | More room to choose between a walk-in tub and a roll-in shower, sometimes both |
| Peoria and Glendale, mixed ages | Everything from older ranch homes to newer builds | We check photos of your plumbing and doorways before quoting |
Single-story living
Ranch layouts make the job easier
One thing works in your favor out here. Most homes in Sun City, Sun City West and Sun City Grand are single-story ranch homes. There are no stairs to carry a tub up, and no question about which floor you will live on later.
Halls are often wide enough for a full-size walk-in tub, and many baths have a standard 60 by 30 to 32 inch tub space, which is the size most walk-in tubs are made to fit. If your bathroom is smaller, compact tubs around 48 to 53 inches long are an option.
Many West Valley homes have two bathrooms, which gives couples a real choice. One bath can become a walk-in tub for soaking, and the other a low-threshold or roll-in shower.
A tip for the measuring. Measure your front door, every doorway on the way to the bathroom and the bathroom door, each with the door fully open. Many walk-in tubs are 26 to 32 inches wide. Our Fit Check takes those numbers and tells you what usually fits.
Community rules
Check with your community association first
Each West Valley community runs things its own way. A short phone call before install day saves trouble.
Contractor rules
Some associations ask contractors to show an Arizona ROC license and proof of insurance. Ask your installer, including us, for both.
Work hours and parking
Quiet hours and limits on where trucks park are common. Let us know and we plan around them.
Debris and bulk trash
We haul away the old tub, but some communities have their own rules for anything left at the curb.
Not sure if your installer is licensed? It takes about a minute to check an Arizona ROC license yourself.
Install day
What happens when the old tub comes out
- Floors covered. The installers protect your floors from the front door to the bathroom.
- Water off. They shut off the water and tell you roughly when it will come back on.
- Old tub out. Steel and cast-iron tubs may be cut or broken up to remove. Fiberglass tubs come out in one piece or a few.
- Plumbing checked. If an old drain or valve needs replacing, you hear about it before any extra work is done.
- New tub or shower in. It is set, leveled, connected and sealed, then filled and tested with you.
- Cleanup and haul-away. The old tub leaves with the crew. Many jobs finish in as little as one day.
Learn more about how installation works in Arizona.
Paying for it
Costs and local help in the West Valley
Your free written quote shows every cost up front. Older homes may need extra plumbing or tile work, and that shows up line by line in your free written quote. Read more about walk-in tub pricing.
Veterans can ask their VA doctor about a HISA grant. Maricopa County residents can call the Region One Area Agency on Aging Senior HelpLine at 602-264-4357 to ask about home repair programs. Original Medicare generally does not cover walk-in tubs, but some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited home-safety benefits.
Live closer to the city? See our Phoenix walk-in tub page.
- No in-home sales presentation
- Free quote by phone or from photos
- VA grants accepted
- Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau
- Take all the time you need to decide
Living on your own
Small extras that make a West Valley bathroom safer
Many people in the Sun Cities live alone or care for a spouse. A new tub or shower is the big change, but these small ones matter too.
Grab bars where you reach
Put one by the toilet and one at the tub or shower entry, anchored into studs or blocking. A towel bar is not built to hold your weight.
Light the path at night
A plug-in night light between the bed and the bathroom helps with late-night trips, when many falls happen.
A phone within reach
Keep a cordless phone or a medical alert button near the tub. If you slip, you can call for help without getting up.
A non-slip floor
Throw rugs slide on tile. Choose a rubber-backed mat, or remove loose rugs from the bathroom altogether.
One more habit: tell your doctor if you have had a fall, even a small one. According to the CDC, fewer than half of older adults who fall tell their doctor, and a fall is a useful warning sign. Your doctor can check your balance, your medicines and your vision.
Source: CDC older adult falls.
FAQ
Sun City and West Valley questions
My Sun City home still has its original tub. Is that a problem for a walk-in tub?
Not usually. Original tubs in older homes are often steel or cast iron set into the wall, so removal takes a bit more effort, and the old drain and valve may need replacing. That is normal, and we include it in your written quote if needed.
Do I need approval from my Sun City community association to replace my tub?
Inside work often does not need approval, but each community sets its own rules on contractors, work hours and debris. Check with your community association or HOA before install day. If they ask for a license and insurance, we provide both.
Can a walk-in tub go where my old shower stall is in a Sun City West home?
Sometimes. Many shower stalls are smaller than a 60-inch tub space, so a walk-in tub may not fit there without moving walls. A low-threshold or roll-in shower usually fits the same spot with much less work.
My spouse and I bathe differently. What do couples in Sun City Grand usually choose?
Many homes have two bathrooms, so one becomes a walk-in tub for the person who loves to soak and the other a low-threshold shower. If you only have one tub, the Fit Check helps you see which choice serves you both.
What happens to my old tub after the install?
Our installers remove it and haul it away, so nothing is left at the curb. Let us know if your community has rules about debris or bulk trash, and we will plan around them.
How long will the water be off during my West Valley install?
The water is usually off for part of the install day while plumbing is connected. Our installers tell you when it goes off and when it comes back. Many jobs finish in as little as one day.
Bathe safely again, without leaving home.
Get a free, no-pressure Arizona quote for a walk-in tub or roll-in shower, installed or supply-only.