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Can you take a shower in a walk-in tub?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. Showering Seated with the Hand Shower
  2. Adding a Shower Column for an Overhead Shower
  3. Where the Shower Water Goes
  4. If You Would Rather Have a Walk-In Shower
  5. Related Guides
  6. Related Videos
  7. Common Questions

Yes, you can shower in an Ella walk-in tub. The Ella 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucet sets come with a hand shower on the tub deck, so you can rinse while seated on the built-in seat, and a shower column kit can be added when you want a shower head above the tub. Ella's Bubbles also builds walk-in showers for anyone who prefers a shower-based bathing option, as described in Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tubs: A General Overview.

Showering Seated with the Hand Shower

The simplest shower in a walk-in tub is the hand shower that ships with the Ella fast-fill faucet set. You sit down, lift the hand shower from its receptacle on the deck and rinse. The Ella waterfall faucet, shown in the second video, takes this further. Its extendable multi-function hand shower has four settings and rests on a shower column that adjusts up and down and side to side, and the attachment is reversible so the hand shower can sit wherever you see fit. The waterfall faucet is available in chrome, brushed nickel and matte black.

Adding a Shower Column for an Overhead Shower

When you want a shower head over the tub, the shower column kit is the upgrade to ask about. The first video shows how it goes onto a walk-in tub deck: the existing hand shower is removed, the shower column base attachment is installed in the vacant receptacle, the water supply line is replaced, and the new one-half inch supply line is attached to the diverter on the 2-piece or 5-piece fast-fill faucet set. The column is fed by the diverter on the tub's own faucet, so the faucet you already have controls the shower.

Ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 about the shower column kit for your tub and faucet set. Ella ships the kit, and a homeowner or a local licensed plumber fits it.

Where the Shower Water Goes

Shower water leaves the tub the same way bath water does. Ella walk-in tubs drain by gravity through 2-inch drains rather than a pump, and once connected to a proper 2-inch drain line a tub typically empties in two minutes or less. Drainage and Fill Time covers the drains and the faucet fill rate in more detail.

If You Would Rather Have a Walk-In Shower

Some bathers prefer a shower to a tub altogether, and Ella's Bubbles offers that choice. The company builds walk-in showers alongside its walk-in tubs, including acrylic shower walls and shower bases, and ships both nationwide through its dealer network. What Products Does Ella's Bubbles Offer? lists the line. The online Shower Builder Tool lets you scroll through the options and put together a custom design, and a contractor then visits your home to measure the space and finalize the installation details.

Watch: Easy Shower Column Installation for Your Walk-In Tub | Ellau2019s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introducing The Waterfall Faucet The video introduces the Ella waterfall fast-fill faucet, which delivers water in a soothing cascade.
  2. 0:12 Extendable Multi-Function Hand Shower The waterfall faucet includes a new extendable multi-function hand shower with four settings.
  3. 0:37 Available Faucet Finishes The Ella waterfall faucet is available in chrome, brushed nickel, and a matte black finish.

Watch: The Luxurious Walk-In Tub Upgrade You Need - Waterfall Faucet |Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Install Shower Column Base The technician removes the hand shower and installs the shower column base unit into the pre-drilled hole.
  2. 0:40 Connect Shower Column Feed Line The technician connects the shower column feed line to the bottom of the shower column and the faucet.
  3. 1:14 Install Riser Tube And Wall Mount The technician installs the riser tube and secures the brass wall mount with a chrome collar and gasket.
  4. 1:33 Attach Upper Mounting Bracket The technician attaches the upper mounting bracket, ensuring the shower riser is vertical, and inserts the column's mounting arms.
  5. 1:54 Connect Hand Shower Hose The technician attaches the adapter nut to the shower column and connects the hand shower hose to the adapter nut.

Common Questions

Do I have to fill the tub to use the hand shower?
No. The hand shower on the Ella fast-fill faucet set runs from the faucet's diverter, so you can sit on the seat and rinse with the tub empty. Water that lands in the tub drains away by gravity through the 2-inch drains.
Which faucet sets does the shower column kit connect to?
The shower column kit connects to the Ella 2-piece or 5-piece fast-fill faucet set. The kit's supply line attaches to the diverter on that faucet set, as the installation video shows. Confirm the kit for your tub with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.
Does the waterfall faucet include a hand shower for showering?
Yes. The Ella waterfall fast-fill faucet comes with an extendable multi-function hand shower that has four settings. It rests on a shower column that adjusts up and down and side to side, and the attachment is reversible. The faucet comes in chrome, brushed nickel and matte black.
Does Ella make walk-in showers if I do not want a tub?
Yes. Ella's Bubbles offers walk-in showers, acrylic shower walls and shower bases in addition to its walk-in tubs. They ship nationwide through the Ella dealer network, and the online Shower Builder Tool helps you put a design together before a contractor measures your space.
Will the tub drain fast enough while I shower in it?
Ella walk-in tubs use gravity-driven 2-inch drains, so water flows straight down and out without a pump. When the tub is connected to a proper 2-inch drain line, it typically empties in two minutes or less.
Who installs the shower column kit on my tub?
Ella ships the shower column kit and does not send technicians. A homeowner or a local licensed plumber installs it by removing the existing hand shower, seating the column base in the vacant receptacle and connecting the new supply line to the faucet's diverter, as the video shows.

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