Drain Kit Compression Washer or Gasket Looks Missing: Where to Look First

Before you request a replacement, have your installer look at the drain pipe itself. The compression washer for the Ella drain kit ships already seated on the outside of the drain pipe, not loose in the hardware bag, so installers who lay out the loose parts sometimes report it missing when it is already in place. The rubber drain gasket ships the same way, pre-assembled over the fitting it seals against. Often the part is found on the pipe and the installation continues without waiting for a shipment.

Where the Washer and Gasket Ship

Ella's drain kit arrives partly assembled. The compression washer is slipped over the outside of the drain pipe at the factory so it sits in the correct orientation when the compression nut is tightened down. Because it fits snugly, it can look like a molded ridge on the pipe rather than a separate part. The drain gasket is likewise fitted over its mating drain part before packing, so it does not appear in the bag of loose hardware. If your installer counted the loose pieces against the packing list, both will seem absent even though the kit is complete.

What to Check Before Requesting a Part

1. Look at each drain pipe. Find the compression washer on the outside of the pipe near the threaded end where the nut goes on. It may be pushed up tight against the fitting.
2. Look at the drain fittings. The gasket should already be seated over the drain part it seals. Leave it in place.
3. Compare with the exploded drawing in your installation document. Pre-assembled items are numbered in the parts list even though they are not packed separately.
4. Take a photo. If the part truly is not there, photograph the drain assembly and the pipe so support can see exactly what is missing.
5. Contact support with your serial number and the photo. Missing parts ship under the parts warranty, and a clear photo speeds that up.

Newer Drain Plugs Have No Backnut

Older exploded drawings show a backnut on the drain plug stud. Current drain plugs have a threaded stud only, and no backnut is required. If you are concerned about the plug loosening over time, a thread locker on the stud threads is acceptable.

If You Need a Substitute in a Hurry

When the bathroom is torn apart and a part genuinely is missing, installers sometimes want to source a match locally rather than wait for a shipment. Ella staff have described the drain gasket as a gasket about 3/16 inch thick that fits inside the PVC elbow nut. A plumbing supply house may have an equivalent, but send a photo to support first so they can confirm the correct size, and let them ship the factory part as well so the tub is finished with the intended gasket. Keep in mind that the drain compression fitting is a different part from the overflow compression fitting. If water drips from the overflow while the tub drains, see this guide to overflow fitting drips. Faucet hose and grab bar washers are also different parts, covered in this article on matching washer replacements.

Related Guides

• Leak at the Drain Elbow or Drain Pipe: Overtightening, Standard PVC Fittings and Replacement Assemblies
• Why Do the Rubber Gaskets on My Drain Plugs Keep Coming Off?
• Replacing Drain Elbows, Nuts, Gaskets, Drain Covers and Plunger Parts on a Walk-In Tub

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.