Scald protection in a walk-in tub comes from two places: the standards plumbing inspectors reference, and the valve on your tub. Inspectors most often mention ASSE 1016, ASSE 1070 and ASSE 1017, along with the CPSC's guidance to set a water heater at 120 F. On an Ella walk-in tub, temperature control depends on the faucet configuration you ordered: tubs with an Ella thermostatic faucet package include a Thermostatic Control Valve (TCV) that blends hot and cold to a set temperature and arrives set at 100.4 F, the ceiling Ella's manuals name for safe bathing.

Why Scald Protection Matters More in a Tub You Cannot Step Out of

In a shower you can step away if the water suddenly runs hot. In a walk-in tub the door stays closed until the tub drains, so a temperature spike from a flushed toilet or a fluctuating water heater is a real safety concern, especially for bathers with reduced sensation or slower reactions. A thermostatic valve holds the blend steady: if the cold supply drops it limits the hot flow, and the reverse. Ella's manuals also ask every bather to check the temperature before entering, whatever valve is fitted.

The Standards Inspectors Mention

Model plumbing codes such as the International Plumbing Code limit the hot water supplied to bathtubs and whirlpool bathtubs to 120 F through a device conforming to ASSE 1070; your state and local plumbing inspector decide which code and edition applies to your home. Read the official guidance: Tap Water Scalds (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission).

What the Ella TCV Is and Which Faucet Packages Include It

The Ella TCV is a deck-mounted valve with its own control handle and governor beside the faucet, blending hot and cold to a set temperature before the water leaves the spout. Not every faucet configuration includes it, and two tubs of the same model can differ because the faucet is chosen at order time.

The HomeCare transfer tub is different: its 80-gallon tank system uses thermostatic mixing valves and pre-fills the tank at the temperature you set. If you are not sure which faucet you have, check your order confirmation, look for the separate temperature handle on the deck, or ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your model and serial number. The TCV explainer and what is a TCV show each faucet.

The Factory Setting, the 100.4 F Manual Warning and How the Two Relate

The Ella TCV arrives set to 100.4 F (38 C). Ella's owner's manuals warn that water in excess of 100.4 F may be harmful to your health and ask bathers to check and adjust the temperature before use. The two numbers match on purpose: the factory setting is the manual's safe bathing ceiling. You can turn it down for comfort; raising it above 100.4 F is not recommended, and Ella's product videos describe the setting as one that can only be raised deliberately, with a push of the button on the dial. The manuals ask anyone with a heart condition, taking medication or pregnant to consult a physician before bathing in warm water, so follow your doctor's guidance on temperature and soak time.

The standards' 120 F is a maximum for hot water delivered to a fixture, meant to prevent scald injury; the TCV's 100.4 F setting is a bathing temperature well below that limit. Ella's published guidance is that with a TCV the water heater can stay at its normal storage temperature while the valve does the blending at the tub; some plumbers prefer to lower the heater as well. Your plumber decides which approach suits your home and local code. See hot water heater requirements for heater capacity and tankless flow.

What Is Not Published, and How to Ask

Ella's published documents describe what the TCV does, its factory setting and its warranty terms, but they do not print an ASSE listing number for the TCV itself. The faucet sets do list certifications on their specification sheets (the Flow's 2-piece fast-fill faucet cites CSA B125.1, ASME A112.18.1 and IAPMO R&T UPC, among others), but those apply to the faucet, not the valve. If your inspector asks for a listing or data sheet for the valve, do not quote a number from another product. Send a photo of the valve, your model and serial number, and the inspector's request to your Ella dealer or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850, and ask what documentation is available for your configuration.

Warranty and Water-Quality Conditions on the TCV

The lifetime limited parts warranty does not apply to the TCV; it carries a 1-year limited warranty that does not cover cartridge malfunction caused by water contaminated with calcium, iron or other heavy particles that make the cartridge stick.

• ☐ The TCV must be protected with a filter or mesh in the water lines, cleaned periodically; your plumber can fit one at installation or add one later.
• ☐ Removal and cleaning of the TCV should only be performed by a licensed and insured contractor or plumber. Ella also offers a cartridge cleaning service; ask your Ella dealer or the team about current arrangements.
• ☐ "Temperature Control Valve operated on both hot and cold settings" is an item your installer initials on the Warranty Activation Form.
• ☐ Non-Ella faucets and their valves are covered by their own manufacturer's warranty, not by the Ella Walk-In Bath Warranty.

A TCV that delivers only hot, only cold, or drifts from its setting usually has a fouled cartridge. See protecting the TCV in hard water for prevention and what cleaning involves, and warranty exceptions for the TCV and faucets for the full published clause.

Related Guides

If the water runs hotter than expected, why is the water too hot walks through the checks for tubs with and without a TCV. Questions about your configuration go to your Ella dealer or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850.

Common Questions