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How Fast Does a Walk-In Tub Drain? Dual Drain Technology Explained

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary9
  1. What Determines Your Actual Drain Time
  2. Why Gravity Instead of a Powered Drain Pump?
  3. Four Ports Does Not Mean Four Drains
  4. Door Side and Drain Side Are Opposites
  5. The Drain Controls Themselves
  6. Installation Checklist for the Fastest Drain
  7. More on the Dual Drain Design
  8. Related Guides
  9. Common Questions

How fast does a walk-in tub drain? With Ella's gravity-driven Dual Drain Technology, an average-size Ella walk-in tub drains in approximately 80 seconds under ideal house-drain conditions, and our field tests have recorded complete drainage in as little as 52 seconds. That matters because you sit in the tub while the water goes down before the door can open. Actual drain time in your home depends on the tub's water capacity and on the condition and layout of your house drain, but the design goal is simple: the fastest, most reliable gravity-driven drain in the industry, with no pump to fail.

Ella Dual Drain Technology Explained
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella's Dual Drain Technology Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs feature exclusive dual drain technology with oversized two-inch drains for efficient water removal.
  2. 0:17 How Dual Drains Work The video explains how Ella's dual two-inch drains connect to a house drain, offering maximum draining capacity.
  3. 0:47 Connecting to Your House Drain The video demonstrates connecting the tub's dual four-port t-type drains to a house drain on either the left or right side.
  4. 1:14 Dual Air Vents and Gravity Easy-turn drain handles double as air vents, eliminating air pockets and maximizing water outflow through a gravity-driven system.

Watch: Fastest Dual Drain Technology for Walk-In Tubs with chapters and a full transcript.

From the video: the industry-standard tub drain is a single 1.5-inch drain. Most Ella walk-in tubs instead use two oversized 2-inch drains connected to 4-port T-type drain bodies with stainless steel cables. Your installer can connect the house drain to ports on the left side, the right side, or all four ports for maximum draining capacity, sealing off any unused ports with the included caps. Ella recommends a 2-inch house drain where possible. The easy-turn drain handles also act as dual air vents, doubling the venting to eliminate air pockets and maximize outflow. And because the system is purely gravity-driven, a pump or power failure can never leave you sitting in a full tub.

What Determines Your Actual Drain Time

  • Tub capacity: a larger tub holds more water. The 80-second figure is for an average-size tub; our largest models take longer, and the Big4Two product video mentions about 3 minutes 30 seconds for that 145 gallon two-seat tub. Capacities for every model are in the water capacity guide.
  • House drain condition and layout: the fewer turns and the better the condition of your home's drainage, the faster the water leaves. Have an experienced plumber test your house drain before installation.
  • How many ports are connected: connecting all four 2-inch ports to the house drain gives the fastest possible drainage; many installations connect two of the four and cap the unused side.

Why Gravity Instead of a Powered Drain Pump?

Powered drains do move water out faster, but there are two good reasons Ella does not use them. First, a pump pushes water through your home's drainage system under pressure, which stresses the walls, fittings, and sealed joints of the house plumbing, especially in older homes or where there are weak spots. Second, pumps run on electricity, so a power failure or pump fault can leave the tub draining very slowly or not at all. A gravity-driven system has neither problem: it drains fast, and it always works.

Four Ports Does Not Mean Four Drains

You may see the phrase "4-port T-type drain" on a spec sheet and wonder how many drains your tub actually has. The ports are plumbing-connection hardware: each T-type drain body under the tub has multiple 2-inch ports so your installer can bring the house drain in from either direction, with caps installed on the unused ports. On Dual Drain models, the tub itself has two independent floor drains, each with its own opener. On the Ella Standard and Zen family, the tub has one 2-inch floor drain with an overflow and an emergency pull-up chain, and its T-type body under the tub likewise just gives the installer connection choices. No Ella tub has "four drains."

Close-up of the single 2 inch floor drain and chrome hydro jets on the floor of an Ella Standard walk-in tub
The Standard family uses one 2 inch floor drain; Dual Drain models have two.

Door Side and Drain Side Are Opposites

On an Ella walk-in tub, the door and seat are on one side and the drains sit in the footwell at the opposite end. That means a right-side door tub has its drains on the left, and a left-side door tub has its drains on the right, with left and right as you face the tub. This is why we suggest choosing your door side based on where your house drain is located: for example, if the house drain is on the left, select a tub with the right-side drain, which places the door and seat on the left. Confirm the connection plan, including whether to use a T or Y connector and which ports to connect, with your licensed installer before ordering. Our guide to choosing left-hand or right-hand goes deeper.

The Drain Controls Themselves

Ella Dual Drain Dial Openers and Drain Covers
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.

Watch: Walk-In Tubs with Dual Drain Technology - Easy & Fast Drainage with chapters and a full transcript.

From the video: each independently operated 2-inch drain has a large dial opener with an extender for an easier grip and turn. The dials function as overflow protection and use a stainless steel cable with a lever to open or close each floor drain. The floor drain covers are height-adjustable for optimum sealing and draining, and the system doubles as a vent for fast air-pocket relief. The video's field test showed drainage complete in 52 seconds, with the note that drainage in your home will depend on your house drain conditions and piping.

Hand turning the chrome dual drain control dial on the deck of an Ella walk-in tub
Each drain has its own deck dial: turn clockwise to open, counter-clockwise to close.

Installation Checklist for the Fastest Drain

  1. Have a plumber test and verify your house drain before the tub is installed.
  2. Connect to a 1.5-inch or, ideally, a 2-inch house drain using a T or Y connector. A Y fitting means fewer sharp turns. If your home has 1.5 inch plumbing, see connecting the 2 inch drain to 1.5 inch house plumbing.
  3. Connect all four ports where access allows for the fastest possible drainage; otherwise connect the two ports nearest the house drain and cap the rest.
  4. Keep the drain run as short and straight as practical, since every turn adds resistance.

For a deeper look at connection layouts, see plumbing and drain configurations for your house drain, and if a drain opener ever feels loose or out of adjustment, see drain cable replacement and adjustment.

More on the Dual Drain Design

Exclusive Dual Drain Technology for Your Walk In Tub
Watch: Exclusive Dual Drain Technology for Your Walk In Tub on its own page.
Walk-In Tub With 4-Port Dual Drain System for Fast Draining
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella's Bubbles Dual Drain System The technician explains the advantages of Ella's Bubbles' two two-inch drain system for fast draining.
  2. 1:20 Competitor's Power Drain System The technician describes a competitor's power drain system, highlighting issues with water overflowing back into the tub.
  3. 3:20 Another Competitor's Drain System The technician discusses a competitor's standard waste gate overflow and another's single oversized drain.
  4. 3:55 Ella's Bubbles 4-Port Dual Drain The technician explains how Ella's Bubbles' 4-port dual drain system offers maximum versatility for plumbing installation.

The first video shows the dual drain in action. In the second, a dealer walkthrough, the two independent 2-inch drains are explained with a simple comparison: a 2-inch pipe carries about four times the volume of a 1.5-inch pipe. Each drain body has two ports, four in total, giving the installer a direct shot to the trap from either side, and the video contrasts this with competitor pump-driven power drains that can back up out of the overflow. Watch: Walk-In Tub With 4-Port Dual Drain System for Fast Draining: Voted Safest Tubs 2020 with chapters and a full transcript.

Common Questions

Does one house drain line slow it down?
A single 2-inch house drain line will still empty your Ella walk-in tub in a few minutes. However, connecting both of the tub's 2-inch drains to a single 2-inch house drain line is about 30 percent faster than using just one. For the fastest possible drainage, connect all four 2-inch ports on the T-type drain bodies to your house drain.
Do I need a pump drain?
No, you do not need a pump drain for an Ella walk-in tub. Ella tubs drain by gravity, which roughly doubles drainage compared with a single standard 1.5-inch drain. This gravity-driven system works during a power outage and never pressurizes your house plumbing, which can stress the walls, fittings, and sealed joints of your home's drainage system.
Will it still drain during a power outage?
Yes, your Ella walk-in tub will still drain during a power outage. There is no pump anywhere in the drain path of an Ella walk-in tub, so the water leaves by gravity whether or not the tub has power. This ensures that a power failure or pump fault can never leave you sitting in a full tub.
Can the 2 inch drain connect to my 1.5 inch house plumbing?
Yes, the 2-inch drain on your Ella walk-in tub can connect to your 1.5-inch house plumbing. You will need a standard 2-inch to 1.5-inch reducing fitting installed ahead of the P-trap. Drainage will be a little slower than with a 2-inch house drain line, so it is recommended to keep the drain run as short and straight as practical.
How many drains does my Standard, Zen, Flow or Front Entry have?
One. The Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow have a single 2 inch floor drain with an overflow and emergency pull-up chain; the Front Entry has a single 2 inch drain with a two-port body. In each case the multi-port body under the tub lets the installer connect from either side, and unused ports come capped.
How high can I fill the tub?
You should fill your Ella walk-in tub to just below the center of the drain handles at most. The large dial openers for the drains also function as the overflow protection. If the water level rises above this line, it will simply flow out through the overflow.
My tub drains slowly. What should I check?
Make sure each drain handle is turned fully clockwise to open, clear hair from the drain covers, and have a plumber confirm the house drain flows freely. The dual drain cannot fix a restricted house line. See tub drains slowly or not at all.
Do I have to use all four drain ports?
No. Many installations connect the two ports on the side nearest the house drain and cap the other two with the included caps. Using all four gives the fastest possible drainage, and a Y fitting is preferred over a T because it adds fewer sharp turns.
Can I stand on the drain covers?
Please avoid standing on the drain covers of your Ella walk-in tub. Stepping on an open drain cover can break the stainless steel cable that operates it. If you need to replace drain covers, stems, or gaskets, information is available on the Ella's Bubbles Support Center.
Is there a purge or pump that drains the tub faster?
No. Ella drains are gravity only; drain pumps have never been used. Two drains each on their own 2 inch line empty the tub fastest, tying both into one 2 inch line is slower, and a 1 1/2 inch house drain is slower still, so the published time applies under ideal house drain conditions.

Still deciding, or have a question about your specific bathroom or order? Open a support ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support and the team will be glad to help, or call (800) 480-6850.

About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.

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