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Does Ella Offer Auto Fill or Emergency Lowering Features on Walk-In Tubs?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. What These Checklist Terms Usually Mean
  2. How an Ella Tub Fills
  3. How the Bather Gets Out
  4. Features That Do Match the Checklist
  5. Related Guides
  6. Related Videos
  7. Common Questions
  8. Still Need Help?

No. Ella's Bubbles does not offer an auto fill feature or an emergency lowering feature on any walk-in tub. Ella tubs fill through a faucet that the bather or a caregiver opens and closes, and they empty by gravity through a drain the bather opens from inside the tub. If a facility specification or grant checklist lists auto fill and emergency low as requirements, those two items cannot be met with an Ella tub. Hydromassage, automatic sanitizing and a shower can be met, and this article explains how.

What These Checklist Terms Usually Mean

Auto fill and emergency low typically appear on specifications written around powered bathing systems, where a control fills the tub to a preset level on its own and a powered seat lowers or raises the bather. Ella walk-in tubs are built around a fixed seat and a low step-in threshold instead. There is no preset fill control and no lowering function.

How an Ella Tub Fills

Ella tubs fill through a deck-mount fast-fill faucet. The 2-piece faucet flows 16 gallons per minute and the 5-piece faucet flows 18 gallons per minute, both with 5-foot supply lines. Fill time depends on the tub size and your home's water supply. For a set water temperature without adjusting the handles each bath, tubs equipped with an Ella thermostatic faucet package include a built-in thermostatic control valve that mixes hot and cold to the temperature you choose. That valve carries a 1-year limited warranty, and an inline filter or mesh must be fitted and cleaned periodically to protect the cartridge. Heated seat and backrest options keep the bather comfortable while the tub fills.

How the Bather Gets Out

The bather opens the drain from inside the tub and the water leaves by gravity through 2-inch drain ports with an overflow. There is no pump drain to fail in an outage, and the door opens once the water is out. Seat height, soaking depth and threshold height vary by model, and you can compare several models in the Ultra, Standard, Flow and S-Class video tour.

Features That Do Match the Checklist

  1. Hydromassage: the Ella Standard and Standard60 ship as hydromassage tubs with 18 hydro jets, and other models offer hydro and air packages.
  2. Automatic sanitizing: the ozone sterilization generator runs whenever the hydro system runs. On air systems, Auto Purge starts on its own 20 minutes after the air pump is turned off and runs for 120 seconds to blow residual water out of the air lines.
  3. Shower: the 5-piece faucet includes a pull-out hand shower. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm shower column options for the model you are considering.

For other fit and feature questions, including soakers without jets and door choices, see common model selection questions.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Choosing Your Walk-In Tub Faucet We discuss the importance of selecting the right faucet for your Ella's Bubbles walk-in bathtub.
  2. 0:21 Customizing Your Bathtub Order We explain how each Ella's Bubbles bathtub is custom-drilled and installed with your selected faucet and features.
  3. 0:39 Competitor Faucet Limitations We highlight that other brands typically offer limited or no faucet options for their bathtubs.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Install Two-Piece Faucet Unit The technician inserts the two-piece faucet unit into the pre-drilled hole, ensuring the gasket is seated correctly.
  2. 0:18 Secure Faucet with Locking Plate The technician installs the metal locking plate and foam gasket, then hand screws and tightens the attachment bolts and locking nuts.
  3. 0:43 Connect Hot and Cold Supply Lines The technician attaches the hot and cold supply lines, ensuring the gaskets are seated correctly and tightening them with a wrench.
  4. 1:10 Install Hand Shower Receptacle The technician places the hand shower receptacle into its pre-drilled hole, ensuring the gasket is seated correctly, and tightens the locking nut.
  5. 1:32 Attach Shower Hose Line The technician threads the shower hose line through the receptacle, attaches the adapter nut to the brass connector, and tightens it with a wrench.

Common Questions

Does any Ella model fill itself to a preset level?
No. Every Ella walk-in tub fills through a faucet that is opened and closed by hand. The fast-fill faucets keep the wait short, and a thermostatic faucet package can hold a set temperature, but the level is always controlled by the bather or caregiver.
Is there a lift seat that lowers the bather in an emergency?
No. Ella tubs use a fixed seat with a low threshold rather than a powered lift. The bather sits down, closes the door and fills the tub, then drains it and steps out through the door.
Can the tub keep the water at a set temperature?
Yes, when the tub is ordered with an Ella thermostatic faucet package. The built-in thermostatic control valve mixes hot and cold to the temperature you set. It carries a 1-year limited warranty and needs an inline filter that is cleaned periodically.
Does an Ella tub sanitize itself automatically?
The ozone generator runs with the hydro system, and air systems purge their lines automatically 20 minutes after the air pump is turned off. A monthly vinegar flush of 2 cups of white vinegar mixed with 2 cups of water, run for 10 minutes with the water one inch above the highest jets, completes the routine.
Can I get hydromassage and a shower in the same tub?
Yes. Hydromassage tubs can be paired with the pull-out hand shower on the 5-piece faucet. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm which shower accessories fit the model you are considering.

Still Need Help?

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

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