Harmony Wave Bath Lift

The Harmony Wave Bath Lift is a battery powered seat that lowers you into the bathtub and raises you back out, built for people who can no longer step over the tub wall or lower themselves to the tub floor safely. It carries 310 lbs, lowers the seat to 2.4 inches above the tub floor, reclines the backrest through 95 to 140 degrees, and runs entirely on a rechargeable lithium ion battery: no wiring, no plumbing, no change to the tub. Westin Healthcare delivers across Brampton and the Greater Toronto Area and ships across Canada.

It is the bath lift from Harmony Wellness Group of Barrie, Ontario, the same distribution house behind the Harmony 8199 home care bed line we carry, and it folds flat for storage or travel.

Who the Wave Bath Lift is for

The Wave is for a person who can still sit and move sideways across a seat, but cannot safely manage the two hardest moments of a bath: stepping over the tub wall and lowering down to, then up from, the tub floor. That is the most common bath safety problem in aging in place, and it is why families end up staring at a bathroom renovation they do not want.

It solves three problems at once. For the bather: the lift does the lowering and raising, so a real soak in the existing tub stays possible instead of becoming a shower-only routine. For independence: the waterproof hand control runs the whole cycle, and the manual encourages the user, not an assistant, to operate it. For the caregiver: nobody lifts anybody. The transfer is a seated slide, not a hoist, so a spouse or daughter helps with balance only, not with dead weight. It is equally the right answer through a recovery stretch, when hip or knee surgery or a stroke has taken the leg strength but the sitting balance is still there.

Who it is not for: anyone over the 310 lb rating, anyone who cannot sit unsupported for the length of a bath (a rolling shower chair or bathing system is the safer category), and anyone who cannot make a seated transfer from the tub edge. Never stand or kneel on the lift. If the need is a smaller assist rather than a powered one, a AquaSense Multi-Adjust Bath Safety Rail or a folding bath seat costs less and does that job honestly.

How the Wave Bath Lift works

One cycle, four moves, all from the hand control. Raise the lift to its top height so the seat sits level with the tub rim. Sit on the wide side flap from the tub edge, slide across to the middle of the padded seat, and swing both feet into the tub. Press the down triangle and the seat lowers you smoothly to 2.4 inches above the tub floor, the deepest seat drop of the three bath lifts we carry. Bathe. Press the up triangle and the seat raises you back to rim height, then stand or transfer out as you would from a chair.

The backrest reclines through 95 to 140 degrees from the touch of the control, so a longer soak can be a genuinely comfortable one, and the wide padded seat carries transfer flaps that bridge the gap to the tub edge. Safety is built into the controls: the buttons work only while pressed (jog control, so the lift never runs unwatched), the round emergency stop halts a descent instantly, and after a stop the down button stays locked until the up button is pressed first. A textured button face helps visually impaired users find the controls by feel, and the backrest locks itself to the seat whenever the lift is raised so it can never fold under you at the top.

Will it fit my bathtub?

Measure before you order; this is the question the manual answers most carefully. The Wave is built for standard bathtubs, and Harmony's own manual says some non-standard or specially customized tubs may not be suitable. The numbers that decide fit, from the manufacturer's documents:

• Overall width: 27.5 inches across the deployed seat and side flaps. The flaps are meant to rest against the two tub walls when the lift is raised, so the tub's inside width has to accept that frame.
• Folded width: 14.17 inches. The base that sits on the tub floor is the narrower of the two widths, and the unit folds to 14.17 by 28.66 inches for storage.
• Overall length: 42.17 inches, so a short or curved-end tub needs a look before ordering.
• Tub floor: it must slope less than 5 degrees with no step in it, and all six suction cups must sit in full, flat contact with the floor. Strongly curved or ridged tub bottoms are the usual deal breaker.
• Clearance behind the backrest: faucets, shower heads and fittings must not sit where the reclining backrest travels.

Harmony prints no single minimum tub width, so measure the inside width of your tub at the floor and at the rim, the inside length, and the depth, and call us at (905) 451-7743 with those numbers before ordering. We check fit on every bath lift we sell, and we would rather lose a sale than ship a lift that does not sit safely in your tub. Walk-in tubs and shower stalls without a tub floor are not this product's job; that conversation starts with our bathroom safety equipment hub.

Battery, hand control and charging

The battery lives inside the hand control, which is the whole power system: there is nothing mounted to the tub and nothing to wire. To charge, unplug the hand control from the lift, carry it to any household outlet (the charger takes 100 to 240V, so it travels), and plug in. A normal charge takes about 2.5 hours; the first charge out of the box takes 12 hours because lithium cells ship partially charged.

The three-colour indicator tells you the truth before it becomes a problem: green is sufficient, blue means charge soon, red means charge now, and the lift sounds an alarm rather than running on a near-empty pack. The manual's protection control manages operation when charge is insufficient, and the standing rule is simple: never start a bath on a red light. For storage, keep the battery between 40 and 60 percent and give it a charge-and-discharge cycle every six months; battery wear is a consumable and is excluded from the warranty, which is why the charge discipline matters.

A power outage during a bath changes nothing, because the lift never depends on house power: it runs on its battery alone. The battery question that actually matters is charge level, and that is what the lights, the alarm and the protection control watch.

Installation: no tools, no tub changes

Two pieces and no tools. The backrest hooks onto the base's guide bar and presses down until the side hooks click home; the manual shows the one right way the actuator clevis must seat, and the lift is assembled. Set it in the tub, press the six suction cups down so each holds full contact, connect the dry hand control, and run it up and down once empty before the first bath. At 31 pounds in two carry-apart pieces, most households position it without help, though the manual sensibly suggests asking for assistance placing it if the tub is hard to reach.

Wave Bath Lift specifications

Manufacturer figures from the sell sheet and the owner manual's technical appendix; the specification tab holds the stored values.

• Weight capacity: 310 lbs (specified load 1400N)
• Overall dimensions: 27.5"W x 42.17"L x 28.5"H
• Folded dimensions: 14.17"W x 28.66"L
• Seat height, base to top of seat: 2.4" to 19" (60.5mm to 482.5mm)
• Backrest recline: 95 to 140 degrees
• Product weight: 31 lbs (14.06 kg)
• Battery: 14.8V 2.2Ah lithium ion, built into the hand control
• Charger: 100-240V, 50/60Hz, max 0.8A; about 2.5 hours to full
• Waterproof rating: IP68, fully waterproof except the charger
• Base: 6 suction cups
• Operating temperature: 5 to 40 degrees C
• Warranty: 3 year limited; battery products 1 year
• Expected service life: 5 years
• Made in: China
• Distributed by: Harmony Wellness Group, Barrie, Ontario

Safety rules from the manual

The Wave is a medical device, and its manual is blunt in a way worth repeating. Do not overload the 310 lb rating. Never stand or kneel on the lift; it is a seated device only. Sit in the middle of the seat, back against the backrest, and keep hands and feet clear of the scissor frame while it moves. It is a single-user device. When the user has a disability, an attendant or an alarm device should be nearby. Avoid operating other electrical appliances or a mobile phone while the lift is moving (the lift passed EMC testing; this is the standard caution). Have the lift inspected or repaired by an authorized dealer every 12 months, which our service and repairs department handles.

Care and maintenance

Rinse the lift with warm water after each bath and let it dry; wipe the seat and frame with a cloth rather than abrasives. Do not use detergent or disinfectant on the hand control or the actuator, and never immerse them; a barely damp cloth is their limit. Every three months, disinfect the surfaces with 75 percent medical alcohol and let them air for an hour. Keep bath oils and salts moderate; heavy concentrations age the frame and slip the cups, and the warranty says so. Store the lift dry, indoors, away from heat and direct sunlight, with the battery between 40 and 60 percent.

Warranty and service

The Wave carries a 3 year limited warranty (36 months from sale, home or personal use only), matching the sell sheet and the manual. Two honest exclusions: the hand control and its battery are covered for 1 year as battery products, and the suction cups and seat cushion are consumables outside the warranty entirely. The warranty also voids on private modification, unauthorized repair, third-party chargers or hand controls, and damage from improper climbing on or off the lift. Westin Healthcare is your service point: warranty or not, the service and repairs technicians come to the home across our delivery area.

Bath lifts and funding in Ontario

No, Ontario's Assistive Devices Program does not cover bath lifts: ADP is a mobility devices program (wheelchairs, scooters, wheelchair seating, eligible walkers), and bathroom safety equipment is not one of its categories, so there is no ADP grant and no authorizer visit that changes that. OHIP does not buy this equipment directly either.

Routes that can genuinely help, depending on the buyer's situation: Veterans Affairs Canada Treatment Benefits for veterans, WSIB when the purchase ties to an allowed claim, private and extended health plans (many want a prescription or preapproval, check the plan), and March of Dimes' Home and Vehicle Modification Program, which funds barrier removal such as tub cutouts rather than the lift itself. At tax time, the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit and the federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit can help, though the federal credit is for permanent installations such as grab bars, not a portable lift.

Westin's staff work these programs every week. Read our funding page or call (905) 451-7743 before you buy and we will tell you plainly which route, if any, fits your case.

The Wave beside our other bath lifts

Westin carries three battery bath lifts and each has an honest job. The Medline EZ Bath Lift is the value build: a 300 lb lift with a fast-charging battery and a simple, proven frame. The Wave is the capacity and comfort build: 310 lbs, the deepest seat drop at 2.4 inches for a true soak, the reclining backrest, and an IP68 waterproof rating. The Bellavita Auto Bath Lifter is the premium comparable: the lightest frame in the class at about 20 pounds, easiest to lift in and out of the tub between users or for travel. Choose the Wave when capacity, seat depth and recline matter most; choose the Bellavita when the lift will be moved often; choose the Medline when budget leads.

Related bath safety at Westin

The lift rarely works alone. A AquaSense Multi-Adjust Bath Safety Rail bolted beside the tub gives a steady hand for the last step of every transfer. A folding bath seat or an adjustable bath stool serves the shower or a second bathroom where a powered lift is more than needed. A portable bath step helps at the bathroom door threshold. The full range, including what ADP does and does not cover, is on our bathroom safety equipment hub and in the bath lift category.

Who makes it

Harmony Wellness Group Ltd. is a Barrie, Ontario distribution company behind several home medical lines sold across Canada, including the Harmony bed line we carry (the Harmony 8199 home care bed among them). The Wave Bath Lift is manufactured in China to Harmony's specification and distributed and warranted in Canada through Harmony's dealer network, with Westin Healthcare as your local dealer and service point. French-language sell sheet and manual exist for customers who want them; ask and we will provide the PDF.

Delivery across Brampton, the GTA and Canada

Westin Healthcare serves Brampton and the Greater Toronto Area in person, and the folded lift travels well: at 14.17 by 28.66 inches folded and 31 pounds in two carry-apart pieces, it ships by standard ground across Canada (the territories excepted). Remote and rural addresses are quoted first; the details are on the shipping policy.

In Toronto and the GTA, ask about White-Glove Delivery on eligible products: our specialist brings the lift in, sets the backrest on the base, places it in the tub and confirms the suction cups and the hand control with you, then takes the packaging away. To book a delivery or see the Wave in a store first, call (905) 451-7743.

Frequently asked questions

Will the Wave Bath Lift fit my bathtub?

It fits standard bathtubs, which is what it is designed for; Harmony's manual says some non-standard or specially customized tubs may not be suitable. The deciding numbers are the 27.5 inch overall width, the 42.17 inch length, a tub floor sloping less than 5 degrees with no step, full flat contact for all six suction cups, and clear space behind the reclining backrest. Call us at (905) 451-7743 with your tub's inside measurements and we will confirm fit before you order.

How wide does my tub need to be?

Harmony prints no single minimum width, so measure rather than assume: take the inside width at the tub floor (where the base sits), the inside width at the rim (where the raised seat's side flaps rest against the walls), and the inside length, then compare against the 27.5 by 42.17 inch deployed frame and the 14.17 inch folded width. We check these numbers with you before purchase.

How low does the seat go, and how high does it raise?

The seat travels from 2.4 inches above the tub floor at the bottom to 19 inches at the top (60.5mm to 482.5mm), which is the manual's own appendix figure. The 2.4 inch bottom is what makes an actual soak possible, and the 19 inch top puts the seat at rim height for the transfer out.

How much weight can it hold?

310 lbs (the manual states the specified load as 1400N). Do not exceed it, and never stand or kneel on the lift: it is a seated device. For a bather over 310 lbs, call us and we will talk through the heavier-duty options honestly, including models that may not be lifts at all.

What happens if the battery runs low during a bath?

The lift warns long before it stops. The hand control's indicator runs green when charge is sufficient, blue when it is running low, and red when it must be charged immediately, and the lift sounds a buzzer alarm rather than running on a near-empty pack; the manual's protection control manages operation when charge is insufficient. The standing rule is never to start a bath on a red light. Battery wear itself is a consumable and is excluded from the warranty.

Does it need to be plugged in while I use it?

No. The lift runs entirely on the lithium ion battery inside the hand control, and the charger never goes near the tub: you carry the hand control to any household outlet to charge it. A power outage during a bath changes nothing because house power was never involved.

How long does the battery take to charge?

About 2.5 hours for a normal charge, and 12 hours for the very first charge out of the box, because lithium cells ship partially charged. Keep stored batteries between 40 and 60 percent and cycle them every six months. The charger takes 100 to 240V, so it travels.

Is it really waterproof?

Yes: the manual rates the lift IP68 (dust-tight, and continuous immersion waterproof), and states the bath lift is completely waterproof except the charger. The hand control is fully waterproof and its large buttons are operable by feel. Only the charger must stay dry and out of the bathroom's wet zones.

Can I install it myself?

Yes. Two pieces, no tools, no wiring, no tub modification: the backrest hooks onto the base and clicks home, the lift goes into the tub, and you press the six suction cups into full contact. Run it up and down empty once before the first bath, and check the cups are tight after any transport.

Can I take it with me when I travel?

Yes, that is a designed-in use. The backrest folds and the two pieces come apart, folding to 14.17 by 28.66 inches at 31 pounds total, and the 100 to 240V charger works on any North American or European-style household supply with the right plug adapter.

Will OHIP or ADP pay for a bath lift?

No. Ontario's Assistive Devices Program covers mobility devices such as wheelchairs and scooters; bath lifts are not an ADP category, and OHIP does not buy this equipment directly. What can help depending on your situation: Veterans Affairs Treatment Benefits for veterans, WSIB on an allowed claim, private or extended health plans (many want a prescription or preapproval), and March of Dimes barrier-removal funding for the tub modification rather than the lift. Our funding page lays out each route, and we will tell you plainly which, if any, fits.

Can I stand on it to get into the shower?

No. The manual is explicit: never stand or kneel on the bath lift, do not sit on the opposite side, and sit centered mid-seat with your back against the backrest. It is a seated transfer device for bathing, not a step or a standing platform.

Does the backrest recline?

Yes, through 95 to 140 degrees from the hand control, so you can settle back for a long soak. The backrest also locks itself to the seat whenever the lift is raised, so it cannot fold while you are transferring.

What is the warranty?

A 3 year limited warranty (36 months, home or personal use). The hand control and its battery are covered for 1 year, and suction cups and the seat cushion are consumables outside coverage. Warranty service runs through Westin's service and repairs department.

How do I clean and store it?

Rinse with warm water after each bath and let it dry; never immerse the hand control or actuator and keep detergents off them; disinfect surfaces with 75 percent medical alcohol every three months. Store it dry and indoors, away from heat and sunlight, with the battery between 40 and 60 percent.