For an alcove or slab installation, order the drain side that gives your plumber a clear path to the drain connections through the front of the tub, and have the dual drain line built to the house drain before the tub is set in place. On every Ella walk-in tub the door and the drains sit on opposite sides, so choosing the drain side also fixes the door side. Confirm both on your invoice before you approve it, and share the spec sheet with your installer so the drain positions are known ahead of time.

How the Drain Side and the Door Side Relate

Ella walk-in tubs are built as either a left-hand or a right-hand configuration. A tub with the door on the right has its drains on the left, and a tub with the door on the left has its drains on the right, with sides described as you face the tub. That means the door side that works for the room and the drain side that works for the plumbing have to be decided together. The basics are covered in what door side means on a walk-in tub, and choosing door, drain, and faucet side walks through the trade-offs. When your order is written up, the item description on the final invoice states the hand of the tub, so read it carefully before you confirm.

What Arrives on the Tub

The tub ships with its dual drain installed and four open ports, ready for your plumber to connect. The two drains sit on either side of the tub's center line, and the exact positions are dimensioned on the spec sheet for your model, so your plumber can locate the house drain connection before delivery. Motors and pumps are fully installed on the tub at the factory, so there is nothing to mount in the field. There is only about half an inch of clearance under the tub for the drain line to fall toward the house drain, so on a slab a shallow trough in the concrete is worth considering even where it turns out not to be strictly necessary. See where the drain sits for a slab installation for that layout.

Choosing the Side That Keeps Access

In a three-wall alcove the side walls are closed off once the tub is in, so the only way to reach the drain connections afterward is through the front of the tub. Pick the drain side that puts the drain ports where they can be reached from the front, underneath the pumps, so the final connections can be made and checked without moving the tub. Existing rough-in plumbing does not have to dictate the choice; installers often move the supply and drain lines to the side that gives the best access and the right door swing for the room. If a side wall stays open, or the tub stands free on one end, access is easier and either configuration can work, as described in freestanding and exposed-side installations.

Prebuilding the Drain Line

1. Ask support for the spec sheet, installation manual, and electrical diagram for your exact model and send them to your installer.
2. Mark the drain port locations on the floor using the dimensions on the spec sheet and the hand of the tub you ordered.
3. Build the line from the dual drain ports to the house drain with proper slope, then dry fit it before the tub arrives.
4. Set the tub and make the final drain connections from the front.
5. Fill and run the tub to check for leaks before the apron and any panels go back on.

If the tub is shorter than the alcove, an extension panel closes the gap; see will it fit my alcove.

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.