Does a Soaking Walk-In Tub Need Electrical Wiring or Keep the Water Warm?

A plain soaking walk-in tub needs no electrical outlet, and it has no heater, so it relies on the water you fill it with. Both facts come from the same design: a soaker has gravity drains and no pumps, and the in-line water heater is part of the hydro system that a soaker does not have. The models available as soakers are listed in Soaking-Only Walk-In Tubs: No Jets, No Pumps, No Electrical.

Why There Is Nothing to Wire

A soaking package is the walk-in tub with its door, seat, grab bars and gravity drains, with no jets and no jet holes. Because there are no pumps or controls, there is nothing to plug in. The LED chromatherapy light is not included either, since it comes only with dual therapy packages. The team describes it simply: most Ella tubs come in a soaker, no jets option, and the inward-swing door versions look clean and even modern in a normal bathroom.

The One Exception: The Heated Seat and Backrest

The heated seat and backrest is the only accessory that adds power to a soaker. The published schematic calls for a 15A 120V GFCI-protected line for the heater alone. If you want it, add it at order time and have your licensed electrician plan the line, because Ella does not send technicians and the wiring is done locally. Details for every package are in the electrical requirements by model article.

How Warm the Water Stays

This is the one point the team asks soaker buyers to weigh. A hydro therapy package has a built-in in-line water heater which sustains the water temperature while the hydro system is engaged. A soaker has no heater, so the bath is as warm as the water you fill it with, and it cools the way any bathtub does. If holding temperature through a long soak matters to the bather, a hydro package is the way to get the heater.

What a Soaker Still Includes

Everything structural matches the jetted version: acrylic shell on a stainless frame, door and seal, grab bars, textured floor, fast-fill faucet and hand shower, dual 2 inch drains (single on the Front Entry and Mobile), end panel, and the extension panel where offered. As one example, the Elite soaking option includes a 22 inch wide seat, the 360 degree swivel tray, the 5-piece Ella fast fill faucet, two chrome stainless steel grab bars, 2 inch dual drains with two drain openers, one reversible end panel for a left or right corner installation, and one 7 inch extension panel.

Which Soakers the Team Points to

• Elite (30 by 52 inches, stainless steel inward-swing door): the usual answer when a customer wants a clean look without electronics.
• Capri (30 by 52 inches) and Monaco (32 by 52 inches): the outward-swing door soakers, with no jets, heated seat or lights. The team suggests an outward-swing door for a bather who cannot bend a leg.

The Ultimate always ships with air, hydro and independent foot massage, and the Standard ships as a hydro massage tub, so neither comes as a soaker. Any Ella tub can be installed semi-freestanding, covered on three sides, if you purchase an additional side panel. Soaking tubs are built in smaller runs, so check availability with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.

Adding Jets Later

Therapy systems are built into the shell at the factory, and adding holes to a shell weakens it, so jets cannot be added to a soaker after purchase. If you may want massage later, choose the package now.

Related Guides

• Heated Seat and Back: How It Works, Which Tubs Offer It, and How to Add It to Your Order
• Electrical requirements by model: dedicated GFCI circuits for your walk-in tub
• Does the in-line water heater warm up my bath? What it does and does not do

Related Videos

Common Questions

Does a soaking walk-in tub need any electrical work? A plain soaker has no pumps, heater or controls to wire. Only the optional heated seat and backrest needs a line, a 15A 120V GFCI-protected circuit per the published schematic.

Does a soaking tub keep the bath water warm? No. The in-line heater belongs to the hydro system and sustains the temperature only while hydro is engaged. A soaker relies on the water you fill it with.

Can I add the heated seat to a soaking tub? Yes, at order time. It is the one accessory that adds power to a soaker, so have your licensed electrician plan the dedicated line before the tub arrives.

Which models come as a soaking-only tub? Most Ella tubs, with the Elite, Capri and Monaco recommended most often. The Ultimate and Standard are always jetted, so the Elite or Capri is the usual alternative in a 30 by 52 inch footprint.

Can jets be added to a soaker later? No. Jets and pumps are built into the shell at the factory, and adding holes weakens it, so choose a jetted package now if you think you will want massage.