Why Did the Drain Elbow Crack and What Replaces It?

If your drain elbow cracked and drips, the usual story is that the plastic 90 degree fitting under the tub was overtightened during installation and a hairline crack opened up later. The first thing to check is where the water actually appears: at the elbow body, at the union nut and gasket where the PVC meets the brass drain, or where the PVC elbow joins the ABS house line. A cracked elbow is a replacement part, and a drip at the gasket is often a gasket seated upside down. Standard 2 inch PVC fittings work under an Ella tub, and replacement elbows and drain assemblies are available, including for older drain styles.

Likely Causes

• The elbow or drain shoe was forced down with a wrench and cracked at the threaded assembly.
• The rubber gasket at the PVC to brass connection is upside down. It has two faces, and only one seals.
• The joint between the tub's PVC elbow and the ABS house line was fitted poorly.
• Water that shows only while the jets run usually comes from a union at the pump or heater, not the drain.

What to Check, in Order

1. Dry the area under the tub, then fill and drain once with the jets off. Watch the elbow while the tub drains.
2. If water beads at the union nut, loosen it, pull the gasket and look at both faces. Flip it so the sealing face sits against the brass, then hand tighten only.
3. If the elbow body or threaded shoe shows a crack, stop tightening. Forcing it widens the crack. Photograph it and plan on a replacement elbow fitted snug, not forced.
4. If the drip is at the PVC to ABS joint, your plumber can cut and rejoin with standard couplings. The drain pipes under the tub are ordinary PVC, as leak at the drain elbow or drain pipe explains.
5. If the drain stays dry and the drip appears only with the jets running, inspect the unions at the pump and heater and the air fittings, following water under the tub, finding the source.
6. On an older tub, or if the plastic 90s look different from the current style, send a photo and your serial number so the team can match the current equivalent. See parts for older and discontinued Ella tubs.

The video shows the two oversized 2 inch drains feeding four port T type bodies under the tub, with the house connection made on one side and the unused ports sealed, which is exactly where the elbow and its gasket live. Port choices are covered in plumbing and drain configurations. Watch: Fastest Dual Drain Technology for Walk-In Tubs with chapters and a full transcript.

When to Open a Ticket

If the elbow, drain shoe or threaded assembly is cracked, or you cannot find the source, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with a close photo of the fitting, a wider shot showing which side and port it sits on, your serial number from the label behind the magnetic access panel next to the door, and whether you are the original owner. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 confirms whether you need the elbow alone or more of the assembly, and confirms compatibility for older drain shoes from the serial.

Related Guides

• Is the Flexible Drain Hose Still Available? The PVC Elbow That Replaced It
• How Do I Fix a Leaking Union Gasket at the Pump or Heater?

Common Questions