Where Is My Ella Tub Serial Number and What Format Is It?
The serial number on an Ella walk-in tub is printed on the label inside a removable panel on the tub apron, usually the magnetic access panel next to the door, and it is the second set of numbers on that label, after the manufacture date. Serial formats vary, so there is no single pattern to match against, but the serial typically starts with the letter M, and a five-digit number on your invoice is a model reference rather than a serial. Where Do I Find the Serial Number on My Walk-In Tub? walks through the panels one by one; this page covers what the number looks like, what else is on the label and what to do when the number you have does not look right.
Where the Label Is on Your Tub
- On most models, the label is on the inside of the removable magnetic access panel next to the door. Pull the panel gently away from the frame from one corner. No tools are needed, and the panel goes back on when the magnets catch.
- On stainless steel door models, the label is behind the large access panel on the seat side. On some tubs the labels are mounted inside the large panel on the seat side of the front apron.
- Other aprons use clips, screws or hook and loop tape rather than magnets, so if a panel feels tight, work from a corner rather than forcing it.
- If the panel side is closed in by cabinetry, check the back wall side of the tub shell, where the serial number is repeated.
- If your Ella product is a shower rather than a tub, or the tub is fully enclosed and neither spot can be reached, the team can look everything up from your name or your order.
The video on this page shows that the serial number sits on the inside of one of the removable panels, and it explains why the number matters: it lets Ella see when the tub was made, who made it and which replacement parts are compatible should there be any issues. Photograph the whole label while the panel is off, then set the panel back so it seats fully. Do not pack insulation around the equipment in that space, and check the panel occasionally to make sure the label is still legible.
What the Serial Number Looks Like
The tag carries two sets of numbers. The first set is the manufacture date of the tub. The second set is the unit's own serial number. The serial typically starts with the letter M, and on stainless steel door models it starts with M, but formats vary, so copy it exactly as printed rather than from memory. Ella does not publish a list of serial formats by production year, and the support team does not need you to know which era your tub belongs to. What the team needs is the whole label, because the serial, the manufacture date and the model information together tell them which production run built your tub and which parts fit it. Many components vary from one production run to the next, so the serial is how the right part ships the first time.
The same label carries the UL listing details that a building inspector asks to see, so one clear photo of it usually answers an inspector's question as well as a parts question. Owners also call it the tub label, the ID plate or the UL label. For what every part of the label means, see What Is the Serial Number Label on an Ella Walk-In Tub?.
Numbers That Are Not the Serial
Most mismatches come from reading the wrong number. Your paperwork and the label carry several kinds of numbers, and each does a different job.
| Number | Where it appears | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|
| Serial number | Label inside the access panel, second set of numbers, typically starting with M | Your individual tub: when it was made, who built it and which parts fit |
| Manufacture date | Label inside the access panel, first set of numbers | When the tub was built |
| Model number or SKU | Your proposal or invoice, not the tub | Tub style, size, therapy package and door side, shared by every tub built in that configuration |
| Item and part codes | Label and paperwork | Product and part references, which is why the label shows more than one number |
A five-digit number such as 93117 on an invoice is a model reference, not the serial, and that is true no matter which year the tub was built. If the only number you have is five digits with no letter, you are looking at the model, and the serial is still on the label. When you are not sure which is which, photograph the entire label and let the team pick out the serial, as How Do I Find My Walk-In Tub's Model Number and Installed Options? explains.
If the Label Is Missing or Unreadable
A label that has fallen off, was covered during installation or was never seen because the panel is boxed in by finished walls is not a dead end. The team finds your order, item number, serial and ship date from the purchaser's name, the email address or the shipping address used for the order. Dealer purchases can be identified from the dealer's records. If you bought a house with the tub already installed and have no paperwork, send a photo of whatever label you can reach along with the installation address, and the team will identify the tub and send the matching manual, as described in I Bought a House With an Ella Tub and Have No Information. Where Do I Start?. Once the model is known, the spec sheet and owner's manual are on that model's page under the Downloads tab, and How to Get the Spec Sheet and Manual for Your Ella Walk-In Tub Model shows where to find them.
What to Send with a Serial Number Question
Whether the request is a part, a warranty activation, a manual or a leak, the same package of information gets the fastest answer:
- A photo of the entire label, not a retyped number.
- Your model name from the invoice, if you have it, and where you purchased.
- The purchaser's name, email and shipping address used for the order, which matter most when the label is gone.
- Photos of the part in question.
- For a leak, a short video of the leak with the tub filled to the seat, plus the installation address.
On leaks specifically, the serial identifies the unit but does not settle the cause. The published warranty terms cover the door and door seal only if the tub and door were aligned correctly and the alignment has not been changed by a bather's weight on the door, and an unlevel installation can warp the frame and shell, misalign the door and cause leaking. Whether a particular leak is a defect, an installation issue or wear is judged case by case, so send the label photo and the leak video together through ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850, and the team will identify the unit and the cause. Photograph the label on installation day and keep the image with your sales receipt and warranty activation form so it is ready whenever you need it.
Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Serial Number Location with chapters and a full transcript.
Related Guides
- How do I find my tub's model and spec sheet from its serial number?
- How do I activate my Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub warranty?
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Common Questions
Is the five-digit number on my invoice the serial number?
Does every Ella serial number start with the letter M?
Which set of numbers on the label is the serial?
Where is the serial number on an Ella shower?
What if the tub is boxed in and I cannot reach the panel?
Does the serial number tell you whether my leak is covered?
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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