What is the Ella Big4Two 36 by 80 two-seat walk-in tub like?

The Ella Big4Two is the largest of Ella's Bubbles' four two-seat walk-in tubs: an acrylic outward-swing-door tub with an actual size of 36 inches wide by 80 inches long by 40 inches tall, two molded seats that face each other, and seat hydro massage, independent foot and calf massage, three-speed air massage and LED chromatherapy all included. It is built for two bathers who each want their own jets and their own footwell, and it is just as comfortable for one person who wants to stretch out. For how it lines up against the Companion, Escape and Tub4Two, see Choosing a Two-Seat Walk-In Tub: Companion, Escape, Tub4Two, and Big4Two Compared.

Size, Seats and Water Capacity

The figures below come from the current Big4Two spec sheet. Plan the bathroom around the actual size, and plan the delivery route around the shipping size.

• Actual size: 36 inches wide, 80 inches long, 40 inches tall.
• Shipping size: 38 by 82 by 50 inches, crated.
• Weight: 328 pounds net, 531 pounds shipping.
• Seat widths: 22 inches and 24 inches, one at each end.
• Water capacity: 145 gallons unoccupied, 85 to 135 gallons occupied.

The 80-inch length is what sets the Big4Two apart from the rest of the two-seat family. The Companion, by comparison, is sized to fit a standard 60-inch tub alcove, so the Big4Two is a tub for a bathroom with room to spare rather than a drop-in replacement for a standard tub. The occupied capacity is a range because the water a bather displaces depends on their size. Measure every doorway, hallway and turn between the delivery point and the bathroom against the crated size before the tub ships.

Door, Shell, Deck and Drains

The Big4Two uses Ella's U-shape outward-swing door made of plastic composite and tempered glass, closed by the 3-latch gear and shaft mechanism. The door opens into the room, which leaves the interior clear for stepping in and sitting down. The Companion and Escape use the inward-swing stainless steel door instead. Two-Seat Tubs on Video shows both door styles across the family and explains why a true two-seat tub, with independent jets and systems for each seat, is not simply an extra-large single tub.

• Acrylic shell in gloss white, reinforced with fiberglass gelcoat, on a stainless steel frame with adjustable leveling legs.
• A removable front apron with two access panels, plus one reversible end panel.
• A stainless steel, chrome-finish wall-mounted grab bar.
• Two 2-inch 4-port PVC floor drains with 2 end caps, 2 overflows and 2 stainless steel cable-operated drain openers with extended chrome handles.

The two independent floor drains are Ella's Dual Drain Technology, and on the Big4Two there is one drain, one overflow and one opener for each seat. Each drain has four 2-inch ports and can be installed in either direction, and the house drain can connect to either or both ports. The two access panels in the apron give your plumber or electrician a way to reach the equipment under the deck for service, so keep them clear when the tub is enclosed.

Therapy Systems Included on Every Big4Two

The spec sheet lists four systems as standard, and the brochure diagram explained in the two-seat brochure callout map shows where each jet group sits on the pictured Big4Two.

• Seat hydro massage: a 9 amp, 1250 watt pump feeds 16 upper seat jets, 8 on each seat, with an intensity dial air control, run from the digital controller.
• Foot and calf hydro massage: a separate 7 amp, 1000 watt pump feeds 4 foot and 4 calf jets on its own on/off push control, with its own intensity dial, a 6 amp, 800 watt in-line water heater and 0.04 amp ozone sterilization.
• Air massage: a 4.5 amp, 500 watt three-speed pump feeds 18 seat jets, 9 on each seat, plus 4 foot jets, run from the digital controller.
• LED chromatherapy: a multicolor 0.5 amp LED bulb on a transformer, run from the digital control pad.

The independent foot massage is the feature the product video on this page highlights: because the foot and calf jets run on their own pump, you can sit in the tub and enjoy a powerful foot and calf massage without filling the entire tub. The air system follows Ella's standard sequence, high on the first press, medium on the second, low on the third and off on the fourth, and its Auto Purge starts on its own about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off and runs for 120 seconds to clear water from the air lines. The in-line heater holds the water temperature while the hydro pump runs, and the ozone generator sanitizes the circulating water. The two-seat full package schematic draws a foot-jet pump and intensity dial for each side, so each bather sets their own foot massage.

Faucet, Hand Showers, Rain Heads and Glass Screens

The spec sheet lists the two-piece fast-fill faucet with a quantity of two, and the accessory video shows why: the Big4Two can be fitted with dual rain shower heads for both ends of the tub and dual extendable multi-function hand showers, so one bather can stand and shower while the other sits safely. Each two-piece faucet fills at up to 16 gallons per minute at 60 PSI with ideal in-home plumbing, using a high-flow cartridge, and ships with two 5-foot supply lines with 3/4-inch connectors. The pull-out chrome hand shower has a 5-foot retractable stainless steel braided hose and is limited to 1.9 gallons per minute.

Each faucet installs through a 2-1/2 inch hole, with 1/3 inch holes for the mounting rods and a 7/8 inch diagonal hole for the hand shower, all drilled at the factory. Supply lines connect to shut-off valves that are not included, so your plumber provides them. For spray control, the accessory video shows the four-fold glass screen combined with a three-fold glass screen to enclose the tub as a bright alternative to a shower curtain. Choose the screens and any rain shower heads when you place your order, since those items are matched to the faucet positions on the deck.

Options, Electrical and What to Confirm Before Ordering

Two options are listed for the Big4Two. The MicroBubble therapy system adds a 1 HP, 7.3 amp pump, a pressure vessel, an agitator valve and its own on/off push control. The heated seat and backrest warms the acrylic surfaces, and the schematic explained in What the Two-Seat Full Package Schematic Shows draws a heat keypad and a heated seat and back box for each side, so each bather has their own heat control. That schematic also shows the full package running on three dedicated lines.

The spec sheet requires dedicated GFCI protected electrical lines for all 115 volt, 60 hertz equipment, with every fixture on a dedicated GFCI outlet or GFCI breaker, so a licensed electrician should plan the circuits before the tub arrives. Before you order, confirm the door side, the therapy options, the faucet and shower accessories, and which end the reversible end panel will face. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can walk through the spec drawing with you and confirm current timing for your specific order.

Watch: Big4Two: 2 Person Walk-In Tub Accessories For Couples | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Installing the Two-Seat Family, Part 1: Delivery, Toe Kick Plates, Water Test and Leveling (Tub4Two, Companion, Escape, Big4Two)
• Installing the Two-Seat Family, Part 2: Drains, Dual Spout Faucet, Three Dedicated Lines, Grab Bar, Door Check and Walls
• Your Two-Seat Tub Owner's Manual, Section by Section (Tub4Two, Companion, Escape, Big4Two)

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