Adjusting the Door Handle Lock Nut, and Why the Hinges Are Not the Fix for a Door That Is Hard to Close

Adjusting the door handle lock nut is the fix for most handle complaints on an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub. The chrome handle is held by a lock nut behind the front apron, and the Chrome Door Handle Adjustment video shows how to loosen it to reduce handle tension or tighten it to increase tension. A door that has become hard to close, rubs the jamb, or sits low after someone leaned on it is a different problem, and it is not corrected at the hinges. The correct fix is to lower the leveling legs until every foot is firmly on the floor, as shown in the Proper Door Alignment video, and then check the seal and the latch.

Adjusting the Handle Lock Nut

1. Remove the front apron to expose the back of the door handle mechanism. If the apron will not come off entirely, prop it open against the frame near the handle. Put masking tape on the apron edge first, since the plastic can be sharp.
2. Locate the lock nut behind the handle.
3. Loosen the lock nut for less handle tension, or tighten it for more.
4. Adjust in small steps, test the handle, and replace the apron when the handle moves smoothly and still holds the door firmly against the seal.

A handle that is hardly able to be moved, on a door that is very difficult to open and close, is the classic case for this adjustment.

Symptom Map

• Handle stiff but the door swings freely. The lock nut is too tight. Loosen it a little at a time until the handle moves easily but still holds the door firmly against the seal.
• Handle loose and the door does not pull into the seal. Tighten the lock nut until the handle locks with a positive feel.
• Door hard to close, rubs the jamb, or the gasket does not touch on the lower handle side. The leveling legs are not all firmly on the floor, so the tub has warped and the door contacts the jamb. Level first. See why the door is so hard to close and fixing tub bow with the leveling legs.
• Door closes but the seal is not compressed enough on the latch side. After leveling, the team may suggest adding a shim to the door latch and testing the door again.
• Door sits low after someone leaned on it. Do not touch the hinges. Level the tub, check the seal, and contact the team with photos.

Why the Hinges Are Not the Fix

The door is designed to carry its own weight and nothing more. The door and seal warranty is valid only when the tub and door are aligned correctly and the alignment has not been changed by a bather's weight on the door. Explain to family and caregivers that the open door is not a grab bar; the deck and wall grab bars are the handholds. If someone has leaned on the door, tightening, bending or repositioning the hinges is not the remedy. On the U-shape outward-swing family, the hinges should not be adjusted at all. Doing so voids the warranty and is likely to cause additional problems. Jamming the tub tightly into an alcove can make the same symptom worse, but if the leveling legs are not on the floor, the tub will warp and the door will contact the jamb regardless.

What actually moves the door back into alignment is the frame under the tub. Follow the leveling guide and the Proper Door Alignment video. Reach the legs through the rear access panel or behind the apron, and lower each one until every foot is firmly on the floor, paying attention to the leg under the door. On some models there is also a horizontal bolt with two locking nuts behind the small access panel on the hinge side of the door. Loosening both nuts pushes the door toward the opposite jamb, away from the faucet side, which can resolve a leak on that side. Use that bolt only after leveling is confirmed and with the team's guidance. If the door has been kept closed at all times, leave it open between baths so the seal can reform. A door that leaks on one side is covered in a gap on one side of the door, and Transfer owners with an L-shape door should see door pins and the striker plate.

Check the Seal

If the seal has come out of its groove, reseat it as shown in the Proper Door Seal Maintenance video, which covers both inward and outward swing doors. If the team advises re-adhering it, use a clear kitchen and bath silicone.

Finish with a Fill Test

1. With the tub level and the seal in good shape, close and lock the door.
2. Fill until the water level is just above the bottom of the door and watch for leaks.
3. Keep adding water in stages until the door leaks or the tub is full.
4. If it leaks, photograph the water level and the leak point and send both to the team.

Related Guides

• How Do I Fix a Walk-In Tub That Is Not Level?
• How do I water test my walk-in tub door after adjusting it?
• Do Walk-In Tub Doors Leak Through the Seal Over Time?
• How Do I Reach the Leveling Legs When the Apron Is On?
• How Do I Adjust the Door Latch So the Door Seals Without Forcing?

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.