Why Won't the Air or Pump Shut Off, and Is Flipping the Breaker Okay?

If the air will not shut off and you had to flip the breaker, you did exactly the right thing. Cutting power at the breaker is the correct interim step whenever a pump or blower keeps running on its own, and it protects the pump: a pump that runs with no water above the jets is permanently damaged, and that damage is not covered. Once the tub is safe, the cause is usually a push button stuck down from an air lock, or a relay inside the box that has stuck closed. The first thing to check is the button.

Likely Causes

• A push button stuck down from an air lock in its red air tube, which keeps the signal on.
• A button whose threaded base has broken, letting the hose leak and the switch misfire.
• Water or construction debris inside a button housing.
• An air pump plugged into the wall outlet instead of the control box, so it runs whenever the circuit is live.
• A control box relay stuck closed, or a box that has lost its configuration.

What to Check, in Order

1. Leave the breaker off until you are ready to test, and never let a pump run with the jets uncovered.
2. Remove the front access panel and find the blue control box. A button that stays down on the deck is an air lock.
3. Release it: pull that button's red tube off its nipple at the control box, let the button pop up, then push the tube back on with a twist. The push-button air hoses and ports guide shows the nipples and lock nut.
4. Check where the air pump is plugged in. A pump plugged into the wall outlet rather than the socket on the box runs continuously by design.
5. Restore power with water above the highest jets and press the button once; you should hear a click inside the box, and a second press should stop the pump.
6. If the pump still starts on its own, run the control box reset, then reconnect each labeled line and test every function. A few configurations need the box set to blink three times rather than four; if the box behaves oddly afterward, note the blink count you set and check that the air and water hoses are not swapped on the box.
7. A burst of air about 20 minutes after you turn the air massage off is the automatic purge. It runs for 120 seconds, stops on its own, and is normal even if you are still in the tub. A blower that keeps running past that, or a purge that repeats when the air massage has not been used again, is the control box failing to shut the air pump off.

In the reset, power is disconnected until the green LED goes out, every tube, plug and pump cord is marked and removed, power is restored so the LED flashes four times and holds solid, the config button is held through one, two, three and four blinks, and each labeled line goes back on for testing. Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Control Box Reset with chapters and a full transcript.

When to Open a Ticket

If the button pops up but the pump still runs, or the box will not complete its reset, the control box is a covered part under the Lifetime Limited Warranty on supporting equipment. Open a ticket with your serial number, a photo of the control box showing its green LED, a photo of the stuck button, whether your tub has chrome push buttons or the digital keypad, the blink count you set during the reset, and a short video of what happens when power is restored, and reach your Ella dealer or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850. The control box replacement guide covers the swap.

Common Questions