Does Hiring My Own Contractor Void the Ella Walk-In Tub Warranty?

No. Hiring your own licensed contractor does not void the Ella's Bubbles warranty, and you may even install the tub yourself. The warranty looks at the quality of the work and the condition of the tub, not at who was hired to do it, so coverage is protected by installing to the manual and returning the signed activation form once the tub is in. Who Installs My Walk-in Tub? Hiring a Licensed Contractor and How Ella Supports Them explains how your installer choice relates to the warranty, and this page goes through the specific things that can and cannot cost you coverage.

What the Warranty Does and Does Not Depend on

Ella's Bubbles manufactures walk-in tubs and never performs or charges for installation, and you are never required to purchase installation from anyone. Any licensed plumber and electrician can install an Ella tub by following the installation manuals, and certification by Ella is not required. Because of that, the published warranty is written around the tub and the work, not around a particular installer.

• The Lifetime Limited Warranty is a parts warranty. It covers the shell, frame, door, door seal and finish, and the supporting equipment such as pumps, motors, electronic controls and the faucet.
• Installation, removal and labor are never covered, whoever does the work. Ella ships the replacement part under the warranty, and a local licensed plumber or electrician does the labor.
• Improper or negligent installation, alteration and modification are excluded. This is the clause your contractor choice touches, because a problem created by the installation is not a defect in the part.
• Coverage belongs to the first purchaser at the original installation address and is nontransferable.
• Ella is not bound by warranty promises made by dealers, retailers, distributors or contractors, so the published terms are the terms no matter who installs the tub.

Put simply, the warranty never asks whether your contractor came through Ella. It asks whether the tub was installed the way the manual describes and whether anything was altered afterward.

Installation Choices That Can Cost Coverage

Our own team's answer to this question lists the mistakes that actually come up. Share them with your contractor before the work begins, and if you have a specific question about your plan, call (800) 480-6850 before anything is cut, drilled or set.

1. Leveling. The installer sets the tub level, with every leg touching the floor, before the connections are finished. If the tub is not leveled properly and the door alignment changes as a result, that door problem is excluded, because it came from the installation rather than from the part.
2. Drilling. Drilling new holes for a faucet or an accessory counts as a modification. Tubs can be ordered pre-drilled, so settle the faucet and accessory choices before you order, and ask the team before anyone drills.
3. Altering panels. An altered apron is one of the installation choices listed as affecting your warranty, so trimming or cutting a panel to make something fit should be discussed with the team first.
4. The electrical connection. Each powered component plugs into a dedicated outlet on a GFCI protected circuit. This is the one step that always goes to a licensed electrician, even on a self installation.

The Activation Form Your Contractor Signs

Activation is what puts the warranty in force. The activation form must be completed and signed by both you and your installer and returned to Ella's Bubbles, and the online version is at ellasbubbles.com/warranty-activation/. The form asks for the installer's license and insurance information and includes a 16 item installation checklist that the installer initials, covering checks such as the tub being level with every leg touching, the dedicated GFCI breaker, the 20 minute fill test of the door seal, and running the hydro and air pumps.

If you installed the tub yourself, enter your own name and contact details in the installer section, and if a licensed plumber or electrician made the water or electrical connections, add their name, license and insurance information alongside yours. I Installed the Tub Myself. Who Signs the Installer Part of the Warranty Form? goes through each field. Attach a copy of your sales receipt and have the serial number ready; it is on the label behind the large magnetic access panel next to the door. If the online form will not accept your entry, photograph the completed pages and send them through a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support.

What Ella Provides Your Contractor

A contractor who has never installed an Ella tub is not at a disadvantage, because the work is ordinary trade work and the support behind it is free for the life of the tub. Does a Walk-In Tub Need Professional Installation, and How Complex Is It? describes the job itself: the plumbing side is a faucet supply and a drain connection, the electrical side is a set of dedicated GFCI protected circuits sized to the pumps and heater, and the rest is leveling and reinstalling the access panels. Ella marks all electrical components clearly and labels the electrical lines at the production facility, so the installer is matching labeled cords to outlets rather than wiring components from scratch.

• Complete installation manuals and specification sheets for every model on each product page's Downloads tab, plus a one page installation requirements checklist.
• Free lifetime technical support by phone and email for you and your contractor.
• Live video chat with the technical support team on request, so your installer can be shown the tub live and pointed in the right direction.
• An installation videos library arranged in the order an installation actually happens.

Why Planning Before Installation Matters

Most coverage problems trace back to decisions made before the crate arrived. Have the installer confirm that the tub fits the room and the path into it before the order is placed; some network installers work from photos you email and discuss the job by phone, but a site visit is the more reliable choice. Decide on the faucet and any accessories so the tub can be ordered pre-drilled. Have the electrician confirm the home can provide the dedicated GFCI protected circuits the tub needs. Ask the installer to keep the removable front panels reachable, because the model and serial label sits inside one of them and the support team asks for the serial number on every request.

If You Would Rather Have a Referral

If you do not already have a contractor in mind, the team at (800) 480-6850 can connect you with a local company through Ella's nationwide installer network, which includes Angi Pro. Getting Installer Referrals and Leads for Your Walk-In Tub describes what happens next: Ella sends the recommended installer your contact information, the tub specifications and the electrical diagrams for your model, and the installer contacts you, visits the home to measure, and gives you an estimate. A referred installer works under the same warranty terms as any other, since labor is warranted by the contractor who performs it and not by Ella. Whoever you choose, ask for written estimates, because labor pricing is set by the contractor.

Related Guides

• What can void my Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub warranty?
• Does Drilling Holes for a Faucet or Grab Bars Void the Ella Warranty? Pre-Drilled Holes, Reinforced Walls and Choosing an Installer
• Labor Coverage Comes From Your Installer: What to Ask For in Writing Before the Tub Goes In

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