How Do I Clean Air and Jet Push Buttons That Stick?

A push button that sticks and will not press is almost always residue or foreign material in the spring chamber under the button, and Ella's published push control instructions let you clean it yourself: work the button loose from the housing, clean the debris out, lubricate the core, and snap the outer flange back into place. Once it moves freely again, press it with a gentle push of the palm, because pressing too hard or too deep is what damages the mechanism inside. The key to what each button runs, and why some tubs have no label on them, is in What Does This Button on My Walk-In Tub Do?.

Why a Push Button Sticks

Ella's on/off push controls are mechanical air switches. Behind each button is a small air hose that runs to the control box, and pressing the button sends the signal that starts or stops the pump or the light. Inside the button housing a core rides on an internal spring under an outer flange, and the spring is what brings the button back up after each press. Bath products, soap film, mineral residue and hair can work their way into that spring chamber over months of use. Once the chamber is gummed up, the core drags against the housing and the button sits down or refuses to move, even though nothing electrical has failed. That is why cleaning, not replacement, is the first step.

There is also a habit worth checking. The push controls are designed for a gentle push, and pushing too hard or too deep can damage the internal mechanism. A button that has been jabbed hard for years can stick for that reason alone, so after the clean, change how it is pressed as well as what is inside it.

Cleaning the Button Yourself, Step by Step

1. Work the button loose from the housing, carefully. Once it is loose it springs up, so cup your other hand over it so the small parts do not fly off and get lost.
2. Let the assembly come apart with its internal spring. Lay the flange, the core and the spring out in the order they came off so reassembly is simple.
3. Clean the debris out of the chamber and off the core with a household cleaning solution. Wipe everything dry.
4. Lubricate the core unit with an ordinary lubricant.
5. Set the core back into place and reassemble the flange.
6. Push down on the outer flange with two thumbs or fingers until you hear it snap into place.
7. Test it only with water in the tub. Fill until the water sits at least 1 inch above the highest jets before pressing the Water button or the Air button. Never press a pump button on a dry tub, because a dry run causes permanent damage that is not covered.

If the button moves freely after cleaning but feels stiff again within a few weeks, something is still reaching the chamber. Repeat the clean, and keep to the flush routine below.

Pressing the Buttons the Right Way Afterward

The video on this page shows the on/off push controls in use, and the first thing it shows is how little pressure they need: a gentle push activates each one. A soft push with the palm of the hand works well for bathers with arthritis or limited mobility, and it is the right technique for everyone, because it is the firm jab with a thumb that drives the core too deep. Arthritis and Operating a Walk-In Tub With Limited Grip covers the other controls with sore hands in mind.

The air massage is a three speed cycle on a single button, so a button that seems to need several presses is working as designed. The first press is high speed, the second is medium, the third is low, and a fourth press turns the system off. The hydro massage starts with one touch of the Water button, and the strength of the jets is set with the intensity control dial, not by pressing harder: turning the dial up introduces more air into the jet stream for a stronger flow, and turning it down gives a gentler flow. If the air massage feels too strong, press to the third setting rather than leaning on the button; What Do I Do If My Walk-In Tub Jets Are Too Strong? works through the dial and the foot jet nozzles. The chromatherapy light button is the one exception to the quick press: press once for the full range of colors, repeat a single press to select a specific color, and hold for two seconds to turn the light off. Holding is a light, steady touch, not a hard one.

Keeping Residue from Building Up Again

Residue that reaches the buttons is the same residue the monthly flush is meant to clear from the rest of the system, so keeping to that routine protects the controls as well as the jets. Combine 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water. Fill the tub with water to one inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain. Press the buttons gently with your palm during the flush, the same way you do during a bath. Flushing after every bath is not necessary. Once a month is the published routine, and the same flush is used before first use.

If the Button Still Will Not Work

Once the button moves freely, a press should produce a response, and the symptom tells you where to look next. If the button does nothing and you hear no click, the usual cause is the air hose behind the push button that has popped off the button or the nipple on the control box, which is a reconnect rather than a repair. If you hear a click but the pump does not start, the control box is doing its part, and the pump cord and its outlet are the next check. Troubleshooting Start Here matches each of these symptoms to the first check and the full article. Tubs with the digital touchpad are a different design with no spring chamber; on the pad a single touch starts a system and a two second hold stops it, so a pad that will not respond is covered separately in Why Won't My Ella Digital Touchpad Respond When I Press a Button?.

If a button still will not work after cleaning, or the core or spring is damaged, contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support, with your serial number and a photo or short video of the button. The serial number is on the label behind the magnetic access panel next to the door. The team will arrange the right replacement part. Ella does not send technicians, so the clean and the part swap are done at home or by your local installer.

Watch: Walk-In Tub with Push Controls & Digital Touchpad for Easy, Effortless Bathing | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

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