Can Hydro or Air Jets Be Added to an Ella Soaking Tub Later?

No. Hydro jets, air jets and the microbubble system cannot be added to an Ella soaking tub after it is built. Every Ella therapy system is built into the shell at the factory, and a soaker is molded without jet openings with nothing installed under the tub. The wider list of what can and cannot be changed after the sale is in Can I Add Air Jets, a Heater or a Heated Seat to My Tub Later?, and this page looks closely at the soaking tub.

Why a Soaker Cannot Be Converted

It is natural to picture jets as fittings that could be attached later, like a new faucet handle. On an Ella tub they are part of how the shell itself is made. A soaking walk-in tub keeps the same door, seat, faucet, hand shower and drain hardware as the jetted version of the model, but its interior is smooth, with no jet holes at all.

A jetted tub is a different build from the start. Each therapy package comes with its own dedicated pump, plumbing and switches built into the shell. For air massage, that means small brass jets set into the seat, the base of the seat and the footwell floor, all fed by a three-speed blower through lines that run under the tub. The typical air pump is a 4.5A 500W three-speed blower. Hydro massage has its own pump and its own plumbing loop. None of that exists under a soaker, and there are no openings in the shell for it to connect to.

The rule runs in both directions. Jets cannot be added later, and a jetted tub cannot be turned into a soaker, because the package is part of the shell. It also applies between therapies: air jets cannot be added to a hydro only tub, and extra jets in a specific spot, such as the lumbar area, cannot be added to a tub that is already built.

Microbubble, Heater, Lights and the Other Extras

People who own a soaker often ask about one specific feature rather than a full jet package. Here is how each one stands.

• Microbubble. Air jets, hydro jets, extra jets and microbubble are all factory installed with dedicated pumps, plumbing and switches, so they are not added after the sale. This is the answer for a tub you already own as well.
• In-line water heater. The in-line heater is part of the hydro system. It cannot be added to a soaking or air only configuration, because there is no hydro loop for it to heat.
• LED chromatherapy light. Because a soaker has no jets, the LED chromatherapy light is not included. It comes only with the multi-therapy packages.
• Ozone sterilization and Auto Purge. Both belong to the hydro and air systems, so a soaker has neither, and does not need them.
• Bidet jets. Bidet jets are air jets at the base of the seat and come with the air massage package. Hydro-only tubs and soaking tubs do not have them, and they cannot be added after the tub is built.

The one electrical item a soaker can have is the optional heated seat and backrest, which runs on its own keypad and needs a 15A 120V GFCI-protected line. It is an option chosen at order time, so it belongs in the same conversation as the therapy package, before the tub is built.

If Your Tub Has Not Been Built yet

This is the moment when everything is still open. Ella walk-in tubs are assembled and tested to order, so if you are leaning toward a soaker but think you may want massage one day, tell your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 now, so it is included in your order. A few points help you choose well.

• Most models can be ordered either way. Soakers are available on the Elite, Petite and Royal with the stainless inward-swing door, the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile and Lounger with the U-shape outward door, the whole Transfer family (Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL) and both LayDown sizes. The model list is in Soaking-Only Walk-In Tubs: No Jets, No Pumps, No Electrical.
• Some models are always jetted. The Ultimate, Deluxe and Ultra, the Big4One and ShaK with their digital Air plus dual Hydro package, the Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow hydro platforms, and the two-seat tubs always include at least one massage system.
• Air on its own is limited. Air-only is offered on the LayDown tubs. Seated walk-in tubs pair air with hydro, and there is no air-only Transfer32, Transfer30 or Monaco. If gentle bubbles are what you want, What Are Air Massage Jets on a Walk-In Tub? explains how the system feels and works.
• Space under the shell matters. Some smaller tubs lack room under the shell for Hydro plus Foot plus Air together, so on those models the choice is Hydro plus Air or Hydro plus Foot.
• Clearance and fixed units stay as configured. Units such as the Deluxe are sold as configured and are never modified.

Soaking tubs are built in smaller runs, so check availability with your Ella dealer or the team when you decide.

If You Already Own a Soaker

A soaker has real advantages that are easy to overlook when you are thinking about jets.

• The drains work by gravity, so a plain soaking tub needs no dedicated electrical circuit and no outlet, unless it has the heated seat and backrest.
• There is nothing to switch on, which makes it the quiet, simple choice.
• It is the easiest Ella tub to care for. No monthly vinegar flush is needed because there are no jet lines, and bath salts and oils simply rinse away with the drain.
• Everything structural matches the jetted version: acrylic shell on a stainless frame, door and seal, grab bars, textured floor, fast-fill faucet and hand shower.

Keep the door open when the tub is not in use to protect the seal, and clean the acrylic with approved non-abrasive cleaners. If massage becomes important to you later, the path is a tub built with the therapy package you want, not a change to the one you have.

How to Confirm What Your Tub Was Built with

If you are not sure whether your tub is a true soaker or a jetted tub with a package you have not used, your order is the first place to look, because it shows exactly what the tub was built with. A smooth interior with no jet faces and no therapy buttons on the deck is the sign of a soaker. For a firm answer, send your order details and, if the tub is already installed, a photo of the control cluster to your Ella dealer or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850. The team confirms from your order what is included and, on a tub that has not yet been built, what can still be chosen. Have your model, serial number, door side and whether the heated seat is fitted ready, so they can go straight to the right schematic.

Related Guides

• Does a Soaking Walk-In Tub Need Electrical Wiring or Keep the Water Warm?
• What Is a Heated Seat and Backrest on a Walk-In Tub?
• What Is an In-Line Water Heater on a Walk-In Tub?

Common Questions