After using non-heated and even some of the cheaper heated foot baths, this foot bath has been just wonderful! All of the controls are intuitive enough that I didn't have to use the instructions to get it going. I love that it is deep enough to fully cover my ankles and even a few inches above them, and that the heat goes higher than some other models (display shows up to 118 degrees but I tend to use it at 105-108). When I'm starting with clean water, I put it into the bath already hot from the tap at about 105 degrees to reduce pre-heating time, and this unit keeps it at whatever temperature I set. You actually don't have to empty it between uses if the water is still clean and you are going to use it frequently (I sometimes use it 3 times a day due to an old injury). The dust cover keeps the water from getting debris when not in use. It also helps the water heat up more quickly if you leave it on while waiting for the water to come to temperature. When the water is cold (usually 78 degrees on the display is room temperature in my house), it takes about 25 minutes to heat it to 108 degrees. I add a couple of tablespoons of medicated epsom salts to clean water and run the massager function for a few minutes to dissolve before I put my feet in. If your feet are cold you may want to start at a lower temp or pre-warm your feet before sticking them into the heated water, or it will seem hotter than it really is. The shower feature should be used to test the heat of the water before dunking your tootsies all the way in. The shower stream can be moved up or down depending on where you want it to flow. If you are wondering about temperature control, consider that this unit is not meant to cool the water down if you heat it too high for your sensitivity. If you've heated it too high, just scoop a few cups of hot water out and add cold water or ice. That being said, it does an excellent job at heating the water up and keeps it at your chosen temp. When the unit is on, the temp display shows the actual temp of the water when you turn it on, and then the water temp you've chosen when you press the -+ for the temp setting. If you press the timer button, the display shows how many minutes are left on the timer. You can then press again to add time in increments of 10 minutes for a max of 60 minutes. When the unit is off but plugged in, the display reads 'OF.' There are small red lights where my heels rest, I'm not sure what they are for or whether they are effective -- they can be turned on or off just like all of the other features but usefulness or comfort are definitely not impacted either way. The instructions mention that the massager function should be run for about 15 minutes then turn the massager feature off for a bit to let it rest before using it again. The foot massager works pretty well. I'm able to move my feet around onto different areas of the pad to get an effective massage during the foot bath. Also, the foot massager pad can be taken out completely and it adds another inch of depth to the tub, or you can take it out for thorough cleaning. I'm very happy with this footbath, and would definitely recommend it over one of the cheaper more shallow units out there.