What Is the Ella Flow 28x48 Hydro Massage Walk-In Bathtub?

The Ella Flow is a compact hydro massage walk-in bathtub with an actual size of 28 inches wide, 48 inches long and 36.5 inches high, an inward-swing acrylic S-shape door, 16 hydro jets with an in-line water heater and an intensity dial, and a 2-piece Ella Fast-Fill faucet with a pull-out hand shower. It is the shortest of Ella's inward-swing acrylic door models, it has the shortest seat length Ella lists, and it is the one Ella tub whose spec sheet calls for a 15 AMP GFCI outlet rather than 20. What is the shortest walk-in bathtub Ella's Bubbles makes? places it among the shortest tubs in the line; this page is the Flow on its own, read from its current spec sheet.

Size, Seat and Water

The spec sheet, dated 6/16/23, gives the Flow an actual size of 28 by 48 by 36.5 inches. The dimension drawing on the sheet adds the figures an installer uses: an overall length of 47 3/4 inches, a width of 27 3/4 inches and an inner length of 39 3/8 inches. The seat is 20 inches wide and 13 inches long, the shortest seat length listed on any Ella tub, which suits a smaller bather who finds a deep seat hard to settle into. The foot well measures 16 1/2 by 22 1/2 inches, and the backrest is set at a 96 degree angle.

The tub holds 65 gallons of water unoccupied and 30 to 50 gallons with a bather in it, since a larger body displaces more water. It weighs 210 pounds out of the crate and 310 pounds as shipped, in a shipping box of 32 by 54 by 49 inches, which is the figure to give whoever plans the route through the house. One extension panel is included as a filler for 60 inch alcove installations, so the 48 inch tub can take the place of a standard 60 inch bathtub without an open gap at the end.

Where the Flow Sits Among Ella's Compact Tubs

The Flow is the tub for an opening shorter than 52 inches when you still want side entry and an inward-swinging door. It is longer than the Mobile and Front Entry but stands lower than either, and it is shorter than the 52 inch Petite and Elite but stands taller than their 35 inches, so a bather who needs the lowest possible deck should compare those two as well. The full range by length is in What are standard bathtub sizes, from the smallest to the largest?.

The Hydro Massage System

The Flow ships as a hydro massage tub. The spec sheet lists 16 hydro jets driven by an 8.1 AMP, 900 watt pump, a 6 AMP, 650 watt in-line water heater that keeps the circulating water warm, push control and an intensity dial. The first video on this page explains the dial: turning it up introduces more air into the jet stream for a stronger flow, and turning it down reduces the air for a gentler one. Warm hydro massage brings down swelling, loosens tight muscles and lets the water's buoyancy take weight off painful joints. The spec sheet does not list an air massage system for this model, and the one optional system on the sheet is a heated seat and backrest rated at 4 AMP.

Door, Faucet and Drain

The door is an inward-swing acrylic S-shape door that opens into the tub. The faucet documented on the sheet is the 2-piece Ella Fast-Fill set: a solid brass chrome spout with a single lever and a diverter button, two 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided stainless steel supply lines, and a pull-out hand shower with a back-flow prevention valve, 5 settings and a 5 foot braided hose, limited to 1.9 GPM, in chrome or brushed nickel. The factory cut-outs are a 2 1/2 inch hole for the faucet and a 7/8 inch diagonal hole for the hand shower, and the second video makes the point that matters here: when you place the order the tub is pulled with your name on it and drilled for whatever faucet you select. Which Faucet Comes With the Ella Royal Walk-In Bathtub? explains how the faucet is decided at order time rather than fixed to the model, so ask your dealer or the team which sets are available for the Flow.

Draining is handled by one 2 inch PVC drain and one overflow with an emergency pull-up chain. The T-type drain has four 2 inch ports and installs in either direction, with caps on the unused ports. PVC connections are not included, and reducers can adapt smaller existing pipes.

Electrical, What Is in the Box, and the Warranty

The Flow needs one dedicated 110/120V 60Hz electrical line with a 15 AMP GFCI standard three-prong outlet. Most other Ella tubs specify 20 AMP, so an electrician working from another Ella sheet should read this one before roughing in the circuit. The optional heated seat and backrest adds a 4 AMP load.

Included with the tub are the gloss white acrylic shell reinforced with fiberglass gel coat, a stainless steel frame with adjustable leveling legs, the inward-swing door, one removable front apron, a removable end panel covering the faucet, and the extension panel for 60 inch alcoves. No grab bar or towel bar is listed on this model's sheet, so ask about them if you want one. The warranty is a lifetime limited warranty on parts to the original purchaser, with shipping not included; labor and installation are not covered, and a non-Ella faucet carries its manufacturer's warranty. Confirm the current sheet for your order with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.

Related Guides

• Why Does the Ella Flow Call for a 15 Amp GFCI Outlet Instead of 20 Amp?
• How long is the Ella Flow tub and its extension panel?

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