Start with who actually does the work
Walk-in tubs reach homes in a few different ways. Some companies sell and install with their own crews. Some sell the tub and send the installation to a subcontractor. National brands often run the sale centrally and hand the job to a local installer. None of these is wrong, but you should know which one you are dealing with, because it decides who answers the phone if something goes wrong.
Ask plainly: Who will be in my home on installation day, and who do I call afterward? Get the answer in writing.
Licenses: what Colorado and Denver require
- Plumbing. Colorado requires plumbing work to be done by plumbers licensed through the State Plumbing Board, part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Connecting a walk-in tub's drain and supply lines is plumbing work.
- Electrical. Tubs with heated seats, jets or inline heaters often need a dedicated circuit. Electrical work in Colorado is licensed through the State Electrical Board, also under DORA.
- Contractor licensing in Denver. The City and County of Denver requires contractors to hold the appropriate license to work in the city. Other cities and counties in the metro set their own rules.
You can look up a Colorado plumbing or electrical license on DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations website by name or license number. Ask the installer which license numbers cover your job, then check them yourself. It takes a few minutes.
Insurance
The Federal Trade Commission recommends asking any contractor for proof of insurance. If a worker is hurt in your home or your property is damaged and the contractor is not properly insured, you could end up dealing with the cost. Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and confirm workers' compensation coverage for anyone who will be on site.
Permits
Whether a walk-in tub needs a permit depends on the city and on what changes. Swapping a fixture like-for-like is treated differently from moving plumbing or adding an electrical circuit. Whatever applies, the installer should handle it. If a company suggests you pull the permit yourself as the homeowner, ask why, because a homeowner permit can make you responsible for the work meeting code. Our installation guide covers what Denver's own permit pages say.
What a written quote and contract should spell out
Consumer protection agencies give the same advice again and again: get it in writing, and make sure the writing is specific. For a walk-in tub, that means:
- The exact tub. Brand, model, size, door side and direction, and every option you are paying for.
- Removal and disposal of the old tub and surround.
- Walls and surround. What goes on the walls around the new tub, and how far up.
- Plumbing and electrical. Any new circuit, valve or drain work, and who does it.
- Surprises. How damage found after the old tub comes out (such as a soft subfloor) will be handled and priced.
- Permits and inspections, and who arranges them.
- Schedule. Expected delivery and installation dates.
- Total price and payment schedule. When each payment is due and what triggers it.
- Warranties. The manufacturer's warranty and the installer's workmanship warranty, as separate documents.
For comparing the line items on two quotes, see the cost guide.
Paying for the work
The Colorado Attorney General's office advises homeowners to pay in stages as work is completed rather than paying everything up front. Tying payments to milestones, such as delivery and completion, keeps both sides on track. Be cautious with any company that insists on full payment before work begins or will only take cash.
Pressure tactics to walk away from
- A price that is “only good today” or only if you sign before the salesperson leaves.
- An in-home presentation that runs for hours and will not end without a decision.
- Refusing to leave a written quote so you can think it over or show family.
- Vague answers about who installs, what license covers the plumbing or how warranties work.
Know the three-day rule. The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel a sale of $25 or more made in your home, and the seller must tell you about that right and give you cancellation forms. There are exceptions, so read the FTC's summary if you think it applies.
Checking reputation
Look the company up on the Better Business Bureau and read both the reviews and how complaints were answered. Read Google reviews with the same eye: look for detail and for how the company responds when something went wrong. Ask for references from customers in the Denver area whose work was done recently, and ask the installer how long they have been doing walk-in tubs specifically.
For what it is worth, Aging Safely Baths & More has been installing in Colorado since 2012, is a BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating, and gives a free written quote with no deadline to decide. Check our BBB profile and hold us to everything on this page.
After installation day
- Have the installer show the bather, and anyone who helps, how to work the door, controls and drain.
- Fill and drain the tub once while the installer is still there and check for drips around the door.
- Register the warranty with the manufacturer if required, and keep the paperwork together.
- Write down who to call for service.
If something goes wrong
Start with the company, in writing. If that does not resolve it, you can file a complaint with the BBB, and you can report suspected fraud to the Colorado Attorney General through Stop Fraud Colorado at 800-222-4444 or StopFraudColorado.gov. If the problem involves an older adult being pressured or exploited, the agencies on our Denver-metro resources page can help.
Installer questions
Does a walk-in tub installer need a license in Colorado?
The plumbing and any electrical work must be done by people licensed through Colorado's State Plumbing Board and State Electrical Board. Denver and many other cities also license contractors who work within city limits. Ask which licenses cover your job and look them up on DORA's website.
Should I get more than one quote?
The FTC suggests getting written estimates from several companies. Make sure each quote covers the same tub size, door style, features and removal work, or the lowest number may simply be the smallest job.
Can I cancel if I signed during an in-home visit?
Often, yes. The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule generally gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel a sale of $25 or more made at your home, with some exceptions. The seller is supposed to give you cancellation forms at the time of sale.
Sources
- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations, State Plumbing Board. dpo.colorado.gov
- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, Division of Professions and Occupations, State Electrical Board. dpo.colorado.gov
- City and County of Denver, “Contractors.” denvergov.org
- Federal Trade Commission, “Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help.” consumer.ftc.gov
- Federal Trade Commission, “How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam.” consumer.ftc.gov
- Colorado Attorney General, home repair fraud consumer alert (October 2020). coag.gov
- Colorado Attorney General, Stop Fraud Colorado. stopfraudcolorado.gov
Last reviewed 2026-10-12.