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Does Ella Install Walk-In Tubs, and How Do I Choose an Installer?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. What Ella Does, and What Your Installer Does
  2. Two Ways to Find an Installer
  3. What to Look for When You Choose
  4. When to Choose the Installer
  5. After the Tub Is in
  6. Related Guides
  7. Related Videos
  8. Common Questions

No. Ella's Bubbles manufactures walk-in tubs and does not install them, so a licensed local contractor, plumber or electrician does the measuring and the installation work. You can use your own installer or ask the team at (800) 480-6850 to check its installer network for a professional near your installation address, and either way Ella supports that person with free technical support by phone, email and video. How Ordering a Walk-In Tub Works When Your Contractor Is Involved shows where the installer fits into the order.

What Ella Does, and What Your Installer Does

Ella builds and tests every tub to order, ships it by freight to the delivery address you provide, and backs it with a Lifetime Limited Warranty on parts. When a part is verified as defective, the replacement ships to the original customer's address at no charge. What Ella never does is perform or charge for installation, send a technician to the house, or warrant the plumbing and electrical connections. The published warranty excludes labor, installation and removal, and it states that Ella is not responsible for warranties or representations made by dealers, retailers, distributors or contractors.

Your installer does everything on site: measuring, moving the tub in, connecting the drain and supply lines, running the dedicated electrical lines, leveling, testing, and refitting the access panels and trim. Technical support is free to that person, with manuals, spec sheets and live video help, and the team answers an installer's questions directly. The labor side of any future repair is a separate agreement between you and the installer, which is why Labor Coverage Comes From Your Installer recommends settling it in writing before the tub goes in.

Two Ways to Find an Installer

  • Your own licensed plumber and electrician. Any licensed installer can put in an Ella tub, and no certification from Ella is required. Many customers use a contractor they already trust, and the team supports that person the same way it supports a network installer.
  • The Ella installer network. Give the team your full installation address, and it checks whether a network installer is available near you. When one is, the team confirms the installer's availability, exchanges contact details between you, and the installer reaches out to set up next steps. Some network installers work from photos you email and give an estimate by phone, while others come to the house to measure. A site visit is the more reliable choice.

What to Look for When You Choose

The installer's paperwork and habits matter more than anything else, because both the warranty activation form and the warranty itself depend on the job being done properly.

  1. Licensed and insured. The warranty activation form asks for the installer's electrician license and insurance information, so choose someone who can hand those over without hesitation. Improper or negligent installation is excluded from warranty coverage.
  2. Willing to visit before the order. A good installer measures the bathroom space, every doorway and hallway on the path in, and locates the house drain. That visit decides which door side to order, because the door and the drains sit on opposite sides of an Ella tub: a right-side door puts the drains on the left and a left-side door puts them on the right, as you face the tub.
  3. Comfortable with the electrical requirements. The pumps, heaters and other components plug into dedicated GFCI-protected outlets, the tub cannot share a circuit with any other appliance, and the breaker box must use GFCI-protected breakers. The more pumps and accessories the tub has, the more dedicated lines it needs. The video on this page walks through those requirements and where to find the line and outlet count for each jetting package.
  4. Reads the spec sheet and calls support. Share the spec sheet before anything is ordered, since it lists the exterior dimensions, door swing and the technical requirements your plumber and electrician need. An installer who is willing to call (800) 480-6850 from the tub during installation gets faster answers than one who guesses.
  5. Puts labor coverage in writing. Ask for the scope (plumbing connections, electrical work, leveling, reinstalling access panels and trim), how long the labor coverage runs, what a return visit covers, whether the installer will come back to fit a warranty part such as a door seal or a pump, and confirmation that the access panels stay reachable.
  6. Completes the installer half of the activation form. The second page lists 16 checks the installer initials, including a level tub with every leg touching the floor, a dedicated GFCI breaker, the thermostatic control valve operated on both hot and cold, the locking nut tightened on both drain stoppers, and a door seal confirmed watertight after a 20 minute fill.

When to Choose the Installer

Choose before the order is confirmed, and ideally before the fit check, because the installer is the one who confirms the tub fits your bathroom and tells you which door side to order. The sequence runs in a simple order: choose a model and therapy options, get the spec sheet, have your contractor measure, confirm the door side, choose your installer, place the order, then take delivery. The delivery address is settled with the installer before the order is confirmed. Ella tubs are built and tested to order, so the team confirms current timing for your specific order.

After the Tub Is in

Complete the two-page warranty activation form, signed by both you and the installer, and return it with a copy of the sales receipt and the installer's license and insurance details. What Is the Warranty Activation Form for an Ella Walk-In Tub? explains each check. There is no published deadline and no published clause that an unregistered tub is void, so complete it now if it slipped past install day. Keep a copy with the receipt and a photo of the serial label, which is behind the magnetic access panel next to the door. If a part ever fails, Ella ships the replacement under the parts warranty and your installer or a local licensed plumber or electrician fits it.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Electrical Components Clearly Marked The video explains the electrical requirements for installing an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub, showing how components are clearly marked and accessible.
  2. 0:31 Dedicated GFCI Protected Outlets The contractor connects the tub to the home's power supply, emphasizing the need for dedicated GFCI protected outlets and breakers.
  3. 0:57 Finding Electrical Requirements Online The video directs viewers to the Ella's Bubbles website to find detailed electrical requirements based on their specific tub model and jetting packages.
  4. 1:28 Plug In and Enjoy After proper installation, the tub is ready to be plugged in, and technical support is available for any questions.

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Proper Electrical Installation For Your Walk-In Tub with chapters and a full transcript.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Pre-Installation Checks and Tips Before installation, the video emphasizes checking tub dimensions, inspecting for damage, and leak-testing the tub with water.
  2. 1:34 Dual Drain System Installation The video demonstrates how to install Ella's exclusive dual drain system, showing various configurations and recommending a two-inch house drain.
  3. 3:09 Leveling and Door Alignment The technician levels the tub, ensuring proper door alignment for a leak-proof seal, and advises leaving the door unlocked when not in use.
  4. 3:53 Water Supply and Electrical Connections The video shows connecting fast-fill faucets with three-quarter inch supply lines and emphasizes using GFCI-protected outlets and breakers for electrical connections.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Preparing for Your Walk-In Tub The video shows the removal of an old tub and the preparation of the space for a new Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub.
  2. 0:31 Unboxing and Leveling the Tub The installer removes the tub's panels to prevent damage and then levels the tub using its adjustable leveling legs.
  3. 1:00 Ella's Dual Drain Technology The video explains Ella's dual drain system and shows different drain configurations for efficient water removal.
  4. 2:03 Water Supply and Electrical Connections The video highlights the importance of shutoff valves, proper supply lines, and dedicated GFCI circuits for the tub.
  5. 2:31 Designing for Easy Access The video recommends incorporating access panels into the bathroom remodel for convenient future servicing of the tub.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella Standard Walk-In Tub Overview The video introduces the Ella Standard walk-in tub, highlighting its size and design for average bathers.
  2. 0:27 Fitting Tub Into Alcove Tips are provided for fitting the tub into a 60-inch alcove, including trimming the apron or using the standard end piece.
  3. 0:49 Hydro Massage System Features The tub's 18-jet hydro massage system is described, including its intensity control dial and inline water heater.
  4. 1:14 Drainage And Adjustable Frame The oversized two-inch drain and adjustable frame with access points for door adjustments are showcased.

Common Questions

Does Ella's Bubbles install walk-in tubs in my home?
No. Ella is the manufacturer and does not perform or charge for installation. A licensed local contractor, plumber or electrician does the measuring and the installation, and Ella's technical support is free to that person by phone, email and video.
Do I have to use an installer from the Ella network?
No. Any licensed installer can put in an Ella tub, and no certification from Ella is required. The network is there if you do not have a contractor; give the team your full installation address and it checks for a professional near you.
When should I choose my installer during the ordering process?
Before the order is confirmed, and ideally before the fit check. The installer measures the room, the doorways and the drain location, tells you which door side to order, and agrees the delivery address with you before the order goes to assembly.
Does the installer I choose affect my warranty coverage?
The parts warranty is Ella's, but improper or negligent installation is excluded from coverage, and Ella is not bound by promises made by contractors or dealers. Choose a licensed, insured installer who will initial the 16 checks on the activation form and put labor coverage in writing.
Who covers the labor if a part fails after installation?
Ella ships the replacement part at no charge once the defect is verified, and the labor comes from your installer's own agreement with you or from a local licensed plumber or electrician. The published warranty excludes labor, installation and removal, which is why that agreement belongs in writing before the tub goes in.
What does the installer need to sign after the tub is installed?
The installer initials the second page of the warranty activation form, a list of 16 installation checks, and provides electrician license and insurance information. You sign the first page, attach a copy of the sales receipt, and submit it online at ellasbubbles.com/warranty-activation or by returning the printed form.

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