How the Access Panels Attach and What the Suction Cup Tool Is For

The access panels on current Ella walk-in tubs attach with magnets, and the hook-shaped suction cup packed with your tub is the tool for pulling those magnetic panels off. There are no clips to pry and no screws to back out. If you found the suction cup in the box and could not find it in the manual, it is not a plumbing part and it is not a pillow mount. It is simply a grip for lifting the panel away from the tub without digging your fingers under the edge of the finish.

Every Current Model Uses Magnets

All Ella access panels now attach with magnets, which hold the panel firmly against the frame while still letting it release with a straight pull. The Flow was previously the only model that shipped with velcro strips, because it is the smallest tub in the lineup, and it has since moved to magnets as well. Inward-swing and outward-swing door models use slightly different magnet configurations because the frame around the door differs, but both configurations hold the panel equally well. To learn what sits behind the panel and why it needs to come off during service, see what an access panel is on a walk-in tub.

The Suction Cup Tool

The suction cup looks like a small cup with a hook on the back. It is included so you can grab a smooth acrylic panel that has nothing to hold on to. Press the cup flat against the panel so it grips the surface, then pull the panel straight out. To free the cup afterward, turn or pull the hook to the horizontal position. That lets air back inside the cup and releases it. That one motion is the part most owners miss when the cup seems stuck to the panel.

Removing and Replacing a Magnetic Panel

1. Wipe the panel so the cup can seal against a clean, dry surface.
2. Press the suction cup flat near the center of the panel until it grips.
3. Pull straight out, away from the tub, until the magnets let go. Do not twist or lever the panel against the frame.
4. Set the panel aside face up so the finish is not scratched.
5. Turn or pull the hook horizontal to release the air and free the cup.
6. To reinstall, line the panel up with the frame and press it home until the magnets grab all the way around.

If a panel will not stay put after it is reinstalled, start with why a tub's front panel keeps popping off. The full front apron is a different piece from the small access panel and is covered in how to remove and reattach the front apron.

Not the Same as the Pillow Suction Cups

The removal tool is often confused with the small suction cups on the back of the headrest pillow. Those cups hold the pillow to the tub wall and are a wear item. If yours will not hold, see attaching pillow suction cups securely and getting replacements. The panel removal cup is a single larger cup with a hook, and it belongs in your toolbox rather than on the tub.

Related Guides

• How to Refit a Magnetic Access Panel That Will Not Seat in the Corners
• How Do I Get a Replacement Access Panel for My Walk-In Tub?
• What Should I Check Before Filing a Walk-In Tub Warranty Claim?

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.