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How Do I Remove and Reattach the Magnetic Access Panels on the Ella Ultra?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. The Ultra's Panels at a Glance
  2. Removing a Magnetic Panel
  3. Reattaching a Magnetic Panel
  4. When You Need the Whole Apron Off
  5. What You Are Looking at Behind the Ultra's Panels
  6. Related Guides
  7. Related Videos
  8. Common Questions

The magnetic access panels on the Ella Ultra come off with a straight pull and go back on with a straight push. Press the hook-shaped suction cup that shipped with your tub flat against the panel, pull the panel straight out until the magnets release, and later line the panel up with the frame and press until the magnets grab all the way around. There are no screws to back out and no clips to pry. How the Access Panels Attach and What the Suction Cup Tool Is For explains the tool itself, and this page walks through the job on the Ultra specifically, including what to do when a panel will not stay put.

The Ultra's Panels at a Glance

The Ultra is Ella's inward-swing tub with a frameless brushed aluminum door and frosted tempered glass, with an actual size of 29.5 by 52.125 by 40 inches and a net weight of 205 pounds. Its product video ends on the line that matters here: magnetic panels allow easy access to service areas. The Ella Ultra 30x52 profile lists the same feature alongside the stainless towel bar, the wall grab bar and the dual 2-inch drains.

Two counts appear in Ella's documents and both are useful. The current spec sheet lists a removable front apron with two access panels, plus one reversible end panel and one 7-inch extension panel for a 60-inch alcove. Ella's access panel guide counts four magnetic panels on the Ultra and notes that all of them are removed before the tub is carried into the house. Whichever panel you are holding, the magnets behave the same way. Inward-swing models such as the Ultra use a slightly different magnet configuration from the outward-swing tubs because the frame around the door differs, but both hold the panel equally well.

Removing a Magnetic Panel

  1. Wipe the panel so the suction cup can seal against a clean, dry surface.
  2. Press the suction cup flat near the center of the panel until it grips. The cup looks like a small cup with a hook on the back, and it is included because a smooth acrylic panel gives your fingers nothing to hold.
  3. Pull straight out, away from the tub, until the magnets let go. Do not twist or lever the panel against the frame, because the magnets release cleanly only on a straight pull.
  4. Set the panel aside face up so the finish is not scratched.
  5. Turn or pull the hook to the horizontal position. That lets air back into the cup and frees it from the panel. This one motion is the part most owners miss when the cup seems stuck.

If you cannot find the suction cup, the panel still comes off. What Is an Access Panel on a Walk-In Tub? describes the no-tool method: grip one corner and pull gently away from the frame. Start with the panel beside the door, because the serial number label is on its inside face and that label is what any service ticket asks for.

Reattaching a Magnetic Panel

  1. Check that nothing behind the panel has shifted. Cords, tubes and the control box must sit clear of the panel, and there should be no insulation around the equipment.
  2. Line the panel up with the frame at all four corners.
  3. Press it home until the magnets grab all the way around. A panel that seats on one side and stands proud on the other has not caught yet, so lift it off and try again rather than forcing the corner.

A panel that keeps lifting after it is refitted is rarely a panel problem. Why Does My Tub's Front Panel Keep Popping Off? explains that the panel edges and the bottom brackets only line up when every leveling leg is bearing on the floor and the apron sits at the right height. The Ultra stands on a stainless steel frame with adjustable leveling legs, so the fix is to check level along the length and width of the deck, slide a slip of paper under each leg, and adjust any leg the paper slides under until it bears firmly. Then confirm the door closes into an even seal and refit the panel. If the brackets and holes still miss, the apron height needs resetting, not the panel.

When You Need the Whole Apron Off

The small access panels give you the pump, the heater and the control box, which is all most service needs. The full front apron is a separate, larger piece that comes off when your plumber needs wider access, for example to the nuts behind the door hinge or to the drain connections. How to Remove and Reattach the Front Apron on Your Walk-In Tub covers that job: the magnetic access panels come off first, then the screw caps and screws it describes along the bottom edge, and the apron is pulled down and away to release the clips along the top. Wear gloves, because the inside edges of the plastic apron can be very sharp, and reattach in reverse with the top clips seated first.

What You Are Looking at Behind the Ultra's Panels

What sits behind the panels depends on the package your Ultra was ordered with. The spec sheet lists a 7A hydro massage pump with an intensity dial, ozone sterilization and a 5.5A in-line water heater; a 6.4A three-speed air pump with Auto Purge for the Air + Hydro package; a second 5A hydro pump for the independent foot massage package; and a 1 HP, 7.3A pump with a pressure vessel for the microbubble package. The LED chromatherapy light rated 0.5A comes with the dual packages, and a heated seat and backrest and a digital controller are optional. The spec sheet warns that the amp value for each pump may change based on availability, so read the label on the pump itself when ordering a part.

Keep that space as Ella built it. Never tile in front of the apron, never pack insulation around the equipment, and remember that cutting the apron or an end panel for a recessed installation voids coverage on the altered parts only. On delivery day, every panel, including the front apron, the end panel and the 7-inch extension panel, comes off before the tub is carried, and the tub is lifted by the frame alone.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introducing the Ultra Walk-In Tub This chapter introduces the Ultra walk-in tub, highlighting its easy-to-clean acrylic, towel bar, and textured floor.
  2. 0:30 Deeper Soak and Leg Support The Ultra tub offers a deeper soak and a longer, more comfortable seat for enhanced leg support and relaxation.
  3. 1:08 Dual Drain and Massage Systems This section showcases Ella's exclusive dual drain technology, 3-speed air massage, and hydro massage features.
  4. 1:30 Advanced Features and Comfort The Ultra includes ozone sterilization, digital controls, chromotherapy light, a heated seat, and magnetic access panels.

Watch: Ella's Ultra Walk-In Tub: Designed for Superior Comfort, Safety & Convenience | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introducing The Ella Ultra Tub The Ella Ultra walk-in tub is introduced, highlighting its durable acrylic, low-threshold entry, and slip-resistant floor.
  2. 0:31 Spacious Interior And ADA Features The unique design enhances interior space, providing ample room for bathing comfort with ADA-compliant seat height and length.
  3. 1:12 Innovative Jetting And Foot Massage The tub features three-speed air massage with auto purge, luxurious hydromassage with an inline heater, and an optional independent foot massage.
  4. 2:06 Fast Fill, Dual Drain, And Controls The Ultra includes a five-piece fast-fill faucet, Ella's exclusive dual drain technology, and a choice of digital or easy-touch controls.
  5. 2:29 Luxury Features And Accessories Optional features like LED chromatherapy, a heated seat and backrest, a four-fold glass screen, and a rain head shower column are available.
  6. 3:00 Magnetic Access Panels The tub is equipped with magnetic access panels for convenient servicing and maintenance.

Common Questions

Do I need the suction cup to remove the Ultra's panels?
It is the intended tool, because a smooth acrylic panel gives your fingers nothing to grip. If the cup is missing, grip one corner of the panel and pull gently away from the frame, and ask the team about a replacement cup when you next open a ticket.
How do I get the suction cup off the panel afterward?
Turn or pull the hook on the back of the cup to the horizontal position. That lets air back inside the cup and releases it. Pulling harder on the cup does not help.
Why will my Ultra panel not stay on after I refit it?
The most common cause is a leveling leg that is not bearing on the floor, which twists the frame so the panel edges miss. Check level on the deck, slip paper under each leg, adjust any leg that is loose, and make sure nothing behind the panel is pushing on it.
Do the Ultra's panels come off before the tub is delivered?
Yes. Ella's access panel guide notes that all four of the Ultra's magnetic panels are removed before the tub is carried, along with the end panel and the 7-inch extension panel. The tub is lifted only by its stainless steel frame.
Where is the serial number on the Ella Ultra?
On the inside of the magnetic access panel next to the door. Pull that panel, photograph the label and the equipment area, and include the photos with your model name when you open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support.
Is the panel suction cup the same as the pillow suction cups?
No. The panel tool is a single cup with a hook on the back for pulling panels. The small cups on the back of the headrest pillow hold the pillow to the tub wall and are a wear item that can be replaced separately.

Related guides

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