Is There a Lock on the Walk-In Tub Door, and How Do I Stop Hand-Shower Splashing?

Ella walk-in tubs do not have a door lock, and that is deliberate. A lock could keep a bather from getting out during a medical emergency, so the door is held closed by its latch mechanism and gasket and is simply not opened until the tub has drained. Splashing from the hand shower is a separate matter, and the answer there is the wall-mounted 4-fold tempered glass shower screen, or a plain shower curtain when you want full-length coverage.

Why There Is No Door Lock

The door on an Ella walk-in tub closes with a gear-and-shaft latch and an integrated gasket. There is no separate locking mechanism, and Ella's Bubbles does not offer an add-on lock, because anyone inside the tub must always be able to open the door if they need help. The safe habit is the same on every model: close and latch the door, fill and bathe, then let gravity and the drain do their work and wait until the water is fully out before touching the latch.

The 4-Fold Shower Screen

The 4-fold tempered glass shower screen measures 44 inches wide by 42 inches high and comes in a chrome finish. It was designed and sized for walk-in tubs in tight alcove or corner installs as an alternative to a regular shower curtain. It mounts to the wall, ideally into a stud, rather than to the tub. A rubber seal along the bottom keeps water inside the tub. The screen runs from the back wall of the tub toward the grab bar at the front, crossing the door, so it covers the entire seating area where most showering happens. Details on the screen itself are in What Is the 4-Fold Shower Screen?, and placement on the deck is covered in where the screen should sit on the tub deck.

Why It Does Not Run the Full Length

The screen is 44 inches rather than the full tub length because one size has to fit every Ella tub. On a 60 inch tub that leaves an opening of about 16 inches at the standing end. The screen normally starts from the wall at the seat end, and starting it at the standing end may not be possible because the grab bar can be in the way. Because the screen covers most of the area where the spray is aimed, there should not be much splashing at the standing end. On the LayDown72 the bi-fold screen likewise covers about 44 inches from the plumbing side of the tub, which is where people stand to shower.

When a Curtain Is the Better Answer

Households that add a standing shower column often use a regular shower curtain from any home and hardware store instead of, or in addition to, the screen. A curtain covers the whole length of the tub and slides out of the way when the shower is not in use. The folding screen is the only glass screen Ella's Bubbles offers; see which glass screen fits your tub before ordering.

Ordering and Receiving the Screen

1. Contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 with your tub model and which side the seat is on.
2. Confirm there is a stud or solid backing on the wall at the seat end for mounting.
3. The screen is lightweight glass and can break in transit, so keep all packaging, inspect the carton on delivery, and report any damage within 48 hours of receipt at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850.
4. Install per the instructions supplied with the screen so the bottom seal sits correctly. If it sprays at the seal, see why the screen gasket has a gap.

For other causes of spray leaving the tub, start with why water sprays out when using the hand shower.

Related Guides

• Caring for Your Door Seal: Cleaning, Reseating, and Replacing the Gasket
• Water at the Door: What to Check First and Why You Should Never Lean on the Door
• Can I Shower in a Walk-In Tub? Hand Showers, Shower Columns, and Screens

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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.