What is the Ella Flow walk-in tub and what are its features?

The Ella Flow is a compact walk-in tub measuring 28 inches wide by 48 inches long by 36.5 inches high, built as a space saver for small to average size bathers and for bathrooms where a 52 inch tub will not fit. It uses the inward-swing acrylic door described in What Is an S-Shape Inward-Swing Door on a Walk-In Tub?, ships as a 16 jet hydro massage tub with a 2-piece fast-fill faucet and a single chain-operated drain, and its spec sheet calls for a 15 amp GFCI line where most other Ella tubs specify 20 amps. This page gathers the figures from the current spec sheet and the product video so you can see exactly what the Flow includes.

Size, Seat and Weight

The Flow's actual size is 28 by 48 by 36.5 inches. The dimension drawing marks the overall length at 47 3/4 inches, the width at 27 3/4 inches and the inner length at 39 3/8 inches, with a foot well of 16 1/2 by 22 1/2 inches and a backrest angle of 96 degrees. The seat is 20 inches wide and 13 inches long, which the video describes as a comfortable width that still leaves a good soaking depth. The tub holds 65 gallons unoccupied and 30 to 50 gallons with a bather in it. It weighs 210 pounds net and 310 pounds in its 32 by 54 by 49 inch shipping crate. The product video on this page presents the Flow as a tub designed to fit through a 28 inch doorway and into a smaller bathroom, with a low threshold, a textured floor and a bright acrylic finish, and it shows the optional removable head and neck support.

The Door and the Entry

The Flow is one of the five Ella tubs built on the S-shape inward-swing acrylic door, alongside the Standard, Standard60, Zen and Zen60. The handle sits inside the tub. You step in, stay standing, swing the door closed toward you and lock it, then sit, because closing the door from a seated position is much harder than closing it while standing. As the tub fills the weight of the water presses the door more firmly into its seal, which is why the door holds shut so well and also why it will not open until the tub has completely drained. Because the door opens into the tub it needs no floor clearance in front of the tub, which suits the small bathrooms the Flow is aimed at. Keep every leveling leg on the stainless steel frame touching the floor, since a tub that is not level can warp the frame and throw the door out of alignment, and clean the seal with rubbing alcohol rather than abrasives.

Hydro Massage with 16 Jets, a Dial and an In-Line Heater

The spec sheet lists a hydro massage system as the Flow's jetting: an 8.1 amp, 900 watt hydro massage pump feeding 16 jets, a 6 amp, 650 watt in-line water heater that keeps the circulating water warm while you bathe, a push control and an intensity dial. The video points to strategically placed foot and calf jets for lower leg massage. The second video on this page explains the dial that every Ella hydro massage tub shares: turning it up introduces more air into the jet stream for a stronger flow, and turning it down reduces the air for a gentler flow. Air massage is not listed on the Flow sheet, so ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 if you want to confirm the therapy configuration of a specific order. The one listed option is a heated seat and backrest drawing 4 amps.

Faucet, Drain and Panels

The Flow comes with the 2-piece single-lever fast-fill set, the same set fitted to the Zen and Zen60, with the design and controls covered in What Is a Fast-Fill Faucet on a Walk-In Tub?. The spout is solid brass in chrome with a 40 millimeter high-flow cartridge and a diverter button, and the set is offered in chrome or brushed nickel. The fill rate is designed for 16 gallons per minute at 60 PSI with ideal plumbing, the pull-out hand shower has 5 settings on a 5 foot braided hose with a back-flow prevention valve and is limited to 1.9 gallons per minute, and two 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided supply lines are included. In real homes a fill runs about 7 to 15 minutes depending on your water supply, and if yours takes far longer the first things to check are the shutoff valves, as explained in Why Does My Walk-In Tub Fill So Slowly?. Shutoff valves are not included, so plan reachable ones near the tub.

Draining is handled by one 2 inch PVC gravity drain with one overflow, closed by a removable plug on the emergency pull-up chain: pull the chain, the plug lifts, and gravity empties the tub. Under the tub the drain sits on a T-type body with 2 inch ports so your installer can run the house drain out in either direction and cap the unused port with the cap in the crate. The spec sheet's four-port wording describes that body, not extra drains, as What Is a 4-Port T-Type Drain on a Walk-In Tub? explains. PVC connections to the house drain are not included. The tub ships with a removable front apron, a removable end panel that covers the faucet side, and an extension panel that fills the gap when the 48 inch tub goes into a 60 inch alcove. No grab bar or towel bar is listed on the Flow sheet.

Electrical and What Your Installer Should Know

The Flow needs one dedicated 110/120 volt, 60 hertz line with a 15 amp GFCI standard three-prong outlet. That is the number to give your electrician, because most other Ella tubs specify a 20 amp line. The faucet is designed to install through a 2 1/2 inch diameter hole for the faucet, a 1/3 inch hole for the mounting rods and a 7/8 inch diagonal hole for the hand shower. A 75 gallon or larger water heater is recommended for Ella tubs, and a tankless heater should be rated 11 gallons per minute or higher. The spec sheet states a lifetime limited warranty on parts to the original purchaser, with labor and installation not covered and non-Ella faucets carried under their own manufacturer's warranty. For any question about your tub, have the model name, the serial number from the label behind the access panel and photos ready at ellasbubbles.com/support or (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?
• Ella Flow 28x48 vs Petite 28x52: which 28 inch tub is better?

Common Questions