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Connecting the Dual Drains in a Tight Space and What the Drain Package Includes

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. What the Drain Package Includes
  2. When There Is Little Room for the Connection
  3. Ways to Tie the Two Drains into the House Line
  4. What Your Plumber Should Check Before You Order
  5. Related Guides
  6. Related Videos
  7. Common Questions
  8. Still Need Help?

Ella walk-in tubs with Dual Drain Technology use two 2 inch four-port T-type PVC drains, and the owner's manual shows the drain connection both above the floor and below the floor. Because each drain body has more than one port, your plumber has a choice in which direction the pipe leaves the tub, and that flexibility is what makes tight installations work. The tub does not ship with P-traps or the tee, wye or reducer that joins the drains to the house line. Those are standard 2 inch PVC parts your plumber supplies based on the space under and around the tub.

What the Drain Package Includes

The spec sheet for an outward-swing model such as the Capri lists two 2 inch 4-port PVC drains with 2 end caps, 2 overflows and 2 stainless steel operated openers. The four-port wording describes the T-type drain body under the tub, not four separate drains, so a Dual Drain tub has two drain bodies and each one is a multi-port body. The owner's manual contains an exploded diagram of the 2 inch T-type dual-port floor drain along with above-floor and below-floor installation drawings, and the 4-port T-type drain article walks through the body itself. For the background on why there are two drains, see what Dual Drain Technology is.

When There Is Little Room for the Connection

The ports you do not use stay closed with the supplied end caps, so your plumber opens the port that faces the direction the pipe needs to travel and leaves the rest capped. The installation drawings show the connection made from the front of the tub or from the back, and the two positions do not land the same distance from the wall, so measure both against your existing floor drain before you decide which door and drain side to order. Doors and drains sit on opposite sides of an Ella tub: a right-side door puts the drains on the left, and a left-side door puts them on the right as you face the tub. If your current drain sits close to the wall, tell the team the distance so the drawings for your model can be checked against it before the tub is ordered.

Ways to Tie the Two Drains into the House Line

  1. Give each drain its own P-trap and run both into the main drain line. This drains the tub fastest and is the layout the team recommends whenever the space allows it.
  2. Combine the two drains into one using a 2 inch tee or wye before a single P-trap, then continue into the main drain line. This is the common choice when only one connection point is available.
  3. Convert to a larger drain pipe after the tub wherever there is room. More pipe capacity after the tub allows more drain flow into the house line.
  4. If the house line is 1.5 inches, combine the drains with a wye and add a reducer to 1.5 inches for a single connection. The tub still drains, only more slowly than through a full 2 inch run. See connecting the 2 inch drain to 1.5 inch plumbing and whether a 1.5 inch house drain will work.

What Your Plumber Should Check Before You Order

Have your plumber confirm where the existing floor drain sits relative to the wall and the tub footprint, how much clearance there is for a trap, and whether the connection can come from the back or must come from the front. Ella drains are gravity drains, so a clear, properly sized and vented house drain is what makes them fast, and nothing stops working if the power goes out. The installation manual shows the drain position and the above-floor and below-floor options, and the team is glad to send the drawings and spec sheet for your specific model so the plumber can lay out the run before the tub arrives. Your existing supply plumbing is used for filling as well, since the deck-mount faucet connects to your hot and cold lines with the supply lines included with the faucet.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Dual Drain Technology Overview The video introduces Ella's Bubbles dual 2-inch, four-port drain system and its connection to a house drain.
  2. 0:20 Live Drain Demonstration A live demonstration shows water flowing through the dual 2-inch, four-port drains.
  3. 0:39 Drain Setup Images Actual images display a drain setup before and after the installation of the dual drain system.
  4. 1:01 House Drain Connection Options The video explains recommended house drain connections and how installers determine the best setup.
  5. 1:27 Easy Turn Drain Handles The easy turn drain handles are shown, which also function as dual air vents to maximize water outflow.
  6. 1:40 Single Drain and Gravity Driven System Some tubs feature an oversized single drain with emergency pull chain, and the gravity-driven system is highlighted.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Dual Drain System Overview The video introduces the independently operated two-inch drains with large dial openers and adjustable floor drain covers.
  2. 0:23 How Dual Drain Technology Works Ella's dual drain technology uses gravity-driven T-type 4-port dual 2-inch drains with overflow protection and a vent system.
  3. 0:47 Drainage Speed And Factors Field tests show drainage completes in 52 seconds, but actual drainage time depends on home drain conditions and piping.
  4. 1:36 Contact Ella's Bubbles Customers can call Ella's Bubbles or visit the website for more information.

Common Questions

Does the tub come with a fitting that joins the two drains?
No. The tub ships with the two drain bodies, end caps, overflows and openers, but not with P-traps or the tee or wye that combines the two runs. Your plumber supplies those from standard 2 inch PVC fittings, along with a reducer if the house line is 1.5 inches.
Where are the four ports on the dual drain?
Each of the two drain bodies is a four-port T-type body, so the four ports are on the drain body itself rather than being four separate drains. Your plumber opens the port that faces the run and leaves the others capped. The 4-port T-type drain article shows the body in detail.
Does my door side change where the drains are located?
Yes. The drains are always on the side opposite the door, so a right-side door means left-side drains and a left-side door means right-side drains as you face the tub. Confirm your floor drain location with your plumber before choosing the door side.
Will the tub drain properly into a 1.5 inch house line?
Yes. Combine the two drains with a wye, then reduce to 1.5 inches for the single connection. Draining takes longer than with two full 2 inch runs, and your plumber should verify the house drain is clear and vented first.
Do I need a pump-assisted drain for a walk-in tub?
No. Ella drains are gravity drains that rely on the house drain line rather than a pump, so nothing stops working if the power goes out. A clear, properly sized house drain is what makes them fast.

Still Need Help?

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

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