Why Does My Tub Button Only Work When I Press Very Hard?

When a button only works with very hard pressure, the button is telling you that its air signal is not reaching the control box cleanly. Ella push controls are pneumatic, and a gentle palm press should be all it takes to send a puff of air down the small tube to the relay in the box. Please do not push hard or deep to compensate, because that can damage the mechanism. The causes are diagnosed in a set order: moisture or debris in the pneumatic line first, then a cracked or tired button bellows, and only then a control box input that is wearing out. The first thing to check is the tube and lock nut behind the button.

Likely Causes

• Moisture or debris inside the pneumatic line, which is why blowing through the hose helps for a while.
• A hose that is loose at the button or at the control box nipple, so most of the air escapes.
• A cracked button bellows that no longer springs back fully.
• Water getting behind a button whose seal has opened, especially after a long soak.
• A control box input that has become less sensitive over time.

What to Check, in Order

1. Work a fine flat screwdriver under the chrome collar, lift it off, remove the button and pull out the black core behind it.
2. Check the lock nut and the hose on the nipple. Reseat the hose fully and snug the lock nut, then push the core back in and refit the button. The push-button hose guide shows each step.
3. Behind the access panel, pull that button's tube off the control box, let the line relieve, blow gently through it to clear moisture, then refit it firmly with a twist-and-push.
4. Press the button with your palm and listen for the click inside the box. A clean click at light pressure means the line is clear.
5. If the button feels mushy or stays partly down, the bellows is tired. A bellows that no longer springs back is replaced, and the touchpad and push control troubleshooting guide covers the checks.
6. If a button keeps sticking after a long bath, reseal it: lift the collar, run a thin bead of silicone around the rubber gasket, refit the button and clean the excess with denatured alcohol.
7. If every hose is sound and the button still needs force, run the control box reset. A box input that stays unresponsive is checked from photos, as described in the control box guide.

When to Open a Ticket

If the button still needs heavy pressure after the hose is reseated and the line is cleared, or if a bellows has cracked, open a ticket with your serial number, a photo of the button with its collar off, a photo of the hose end and lock nut, and a short video of the press and the click, and reach your Ella dealer or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850. The published warranty covers parts rather than labor, so the team ships the button, hose or control box and answers any questions you or your contractor have about the swap.

Related Guides

• How Do I Replace a Broken Push Button and Its Air Hose?

Common Questions