Many consumers discover during actual use that the hot water in a porcelain bathtub cools down quite rapidly, requiring them to constantly add more hot water if they wish to soak for any extended period. Acrylic soaking tubs, on the other hand, demonstrate superior performance in terms of heat retention.

Based on a fundamental definition, a standard bathtub typically refers to an embedded, wall-mounted, or skirted bathtub unit. A freestanding soaking tub, conversely, is a bathtub product designed to stand alone without relying on or attaching to any walls.