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How does Ella's Dual Drain Technology speed up draining the tub?

Updated November 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. Two Oversized Drains Instead of One
  2. Why Venting Is Half the Speed
  3. Gravity, Not a Pump
  4. How Your House Plumbing Sets the Final Time
  5. Related Guides
  6. Related Videos
  7. Common Questions

Ella's Dual Drain Technology speeds draining by giving the water two 2-inch gravity drains instead of the single 1 1/2 inch drain that is the industry standard, each built as a four-port T-type body that also doubles the air vent capacity so trapped air never slows the outflow. There is no pump anywhere in the system. Gravity alone empties most Ella tubs in two minutes or less on a proper 2-inch drain line, and Ella's own field test of the dual drain ran 52 seconds, as How fast does a walk-in tub drain after a bath? explains. Whether you have heard it called the dual drain or a quick drain, this page covers what the hardware does and why it makes the water leave faster.

Two Oversized Drains Instead of One

The dual drain video on this page opens with the comparison that matters most. The industry standard drain size for a bathtub is 1 1/2 inches, and Ella walk-in tubs use not one but two oversized 2-inch drains. Each drain is a proprietary T-type four-port body, so a tub leaves the factory with two 2-inch openings in the floor and four ports underneath for your plumber to connect. Water flows straight down through both openings at once, which means the tub is emptying through two paths rather than queuing everything through a single outlet. Most Ella walk-in tubs are built this way, and the Transfer series carries the same dual 4-port 2-inch drains that connect directly to your home drain; the Wheelchair Transfer Tubs Compared: Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60, and TransferXXL video calls it the fastest gravity drainage in the industry.

Each drain is independently operated. The deck carries two large dial openers fitted with extenders for an easier grip and turn, and each dial moves a stainless steel cable with a lever that opens or closes its floor drain. The dials also function as overflow protection, with two overflows built into the system, and the floor drain covers are height adjustable so they can be set for optimum sealing while you bathe and optimum draining when you are done. Two drains with two openers add a layer of safety as well, because the tub still empties if one drain should ever clog.

Why Venting Is Half the Speed

Water cannot leave a drain faster than air can get in behind it. A single drain with limited venting gurgles and slows as the level drops, because air pockets fight the outflow. The dual drain doubles the air vent capacity, and the easy-turn drain handles are themselves dual air vents, so the system relieves air pockets quickly and the tub keeps draining steadily right to the end instead of slowing as it empties. That venting design, as much as the pipe size, is what turns two 2-inch openings into a tub that typically empties in two minutes or less.

Gravity, Not a Pump

Ella does not build a powered drain into its tubs, and that is a deliberate choice. A gravity drain has no motor to fail and needs no electricity. If the power goes out during a bath, the tub still drains at full speed and you can still open the door and exit safely, which the video points out is exactly when a pump or power failure could significantly slow the drain and keep you in the tub. Powered drains can be quicker in ideal conditions, but they put stress on house plumbing and stop working when power is lost. Drainage and Fill Time pairs the two-minute drain figure with the faucet's fill rate of about 16 gallons per minute so you can see the whole cycle.

Gravity does come with one rule: water only flows downhill. The house drain connection must sit at or below the tub's drain outlets. If the only available connection is a washing machine box or another drain that sits higher than the outlets, your plumber will need to add a pump as part of the house plumbing, or run a floor-level drain to the tub location, as Draining to a Washing Machine Box or a Drain Higher Than the Tub: Why Gravity Drains Need a Pump explains. Settle that before the tub is set in place.

How Your House Plumbing Sets the Final Time

The 52-second field test was run under Ella's own conditions, and the two minutes or less is the figure to plan around for a tub connected to a proper 2-inch drain line in a home. Everything between the two numbers sits on the house side of the drain:

  • How many ports are connected. Your plumber can connect two of the four ports or all four to the house drain. Connecting all four gives the fastest gravity flow, and any port not used is simply sealed off with a cap. The four-port T-type also lets the connection be made on whichever side is convenient.
  • The size of the branch line. The tub should tie into a house drain line of 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches, and a 2-inch house drain gets the full benefit of the two 2-inch tub drains. A smaller or partially blocked line slows the tub no matter how good the drain body is.
  • The condition and venting of the existing drain. An old, clogged or poorly vented house drain is the most frequent reason a new tub drains slowly, which is why Ella recommends having a plumber verify the house drain before installation.
  • The sewer main. A 3-inch sewer line drains the tub about as fast as a 4-inch line, because every pipe downstream of the branch connection is already larger than the pipes leaving the tub. Will a 3-Inch Sewer Line Make My Walk-In Tub Drain Slower Than a 4-Inch Line? covers that question and septic systems.
  • Where the drains sit. The drains are on the opposite side of the tub from the door. A right-side door puts the drains on the left and a left-side door puts them on the right, as you face the tub, so plan the drain run on that side.

If your installed tub takes noticeably longer than two minutes, the house drain and the trap are the first places to look rather than the tub's drain hardware. Your plumber can confirm the branch size, the number of ports connected and the venting, and your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can walk through the drain drawings with you before installation day.

Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella's Dual Drain Technology Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs feature dual four-port two-inch drains for fast and efficient draining.
  2. 0:17 Oversized Two-Inch Drains Ella's walk-in tubs use two oversized two-inch drains, doubling air vent capacity to speed water out.
  3. 0:37 Connecting Your House Drain Customers can connect their house drain to all four ports for maximum draining capacity or seal unused ports.
  4. 1:01 Gravity Driven Drain System Ella's drain system is gravity-driven, so customers never worry about pump or power failure slowing the drain process.

Watch: The Best Dual Drain Technology for Walk-In Tubs | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Dual Drain Technology Overview The video introduces Ella's Bubbles dual 2-inch, four-port drain system and its connection to a house drain.
  2. 0:20 Live Drain Demonstration A live demonstration shows water flowing through the dual 2-inch, four-port drains.
  3. 0:39 Drain Setup Images Actual images display a drain setup before and after the installation of the dual drain system.
  4. 1:01 House Drain Connection Options The video explains recommended house drain connections and how installers determine the best setup.
  5. 1:27 Easy Turn Drain Handles The easy turn drain handles are shown, which also function as dual air vents to maximize water outflow.
  6. 1:40 Single Drain and Gravity Driven System Some tubs feature an oversized single drain with emergency pull chain, and the gravity-driven system is highlighted.
Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella's Dual Drain Technology Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs feature exclusive dual drain technology with oversized two-inch drains for efficient water removal.
  2. 0:17 How Dual Drains Work The video explains how Ella's dual two-inch drains connect to a house drain, offering maximum draining capacity.
  3. 0:47 Connecting to Your House Drain The video demonstrates connecting the tub's dual four-port t-type drains to a house drain on either the left or right side.
  4. 1:14 Dual Air Vents and Gravity Easy-turn drain handles double as air vents, eliminating air pockets and maximizing water outflow through a gravity-driven system.

Common Questions

How many drains does an Ella walk-in tub have?
Most Ella walk-in tubs have two 2-inch gravity drains, each built as a four-port T-type body, along with two overflows and two independent openers. The industry standard for a bathtub is a single 1 1/2 inch drain. The two drains work together to move the water out through two paths at once.
Does the Ella dual drain use a pump to empty the tub?
No. Draining is gravity driven, with water flowing straight down through the two 2-inch openings and out of the tub. That means the tub drains at full speed during a power outage and you can still exit safely. Powered drains can stress house plumbing and stop when power is lost.
How long does an Ella tub take to drain with the dual drain?
Connected to a proper 2-inch drain line, an Ella tub typically drains in two minutes or less. Ella's own field test of the dual drain system completed in 52 seconds under its own conditions. The time in your home depends on the drain conditions and piping of the house.
Should my plumber connect two ports or all four ports?
Either works, and connecting two ports is common. Connecting all four ports to the house drain gives the maximum draining capacity, and any ports not used are simply sealed off. The branch line the tub ties into should be 1 1/2 inches to 2 inches in diameter.
Why does the dual drain system vent air as it drains?
Water leaves a drain only as fast as air can get in behind it. The dual drain doubles the air vent capacity, and the easy-turn drain handles are dual air vents themselves, so air pockets are relieved quickly. That keeps the tub draining steadily to the end instead of slowing as the level drops.
Can the dual drain empty into a drain that sits higher than the tub?
Not on its own, because gravity water only flows downhill from the drain outlets. If the only connection is a washing machine box or another drain above the outlets, your plumber will need to add a pump to the house plumbing or run a floor-level drain to the tub. Ella recommends settling that with your plumber before the tub is delivered.

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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