Yes, those two capped lines are supposed to be there, and they are supposed to stay right where you found them. If you are looking under the rim on the side opposite the door and see two short air lines with caps on the ends, cable tied to the frame and not routed up through the deck, you are looking at the breathers for the hydro massage system. They are tied off at the factory, nothing needs to come up through the deck, and no fitting is missing. The only decision to make is how to set them before the tub goes against the wall.

What the Two Capped Lines Are

Every Ella hydro massage tub mixes air into the water stream. That is what the intensity control dial on the deck does: it is an air control, not an electrical one. Turning it up lets more air into the jet loop for a stronger flow, and turning it down lets less air in for a gentler soak. The breathers are the air side of that same system. They are short lengths of tubing that run from the hydro plumbing up to a point above the water line, where they are tied to the frame and capped. That high, dry position lets the system draw air and release pressure without pulling in water, which is why they are strapped up under the rim.

Why They Are Not a Defect

Two loose capped lines can look unfinished if you expect every air line to end at a deck control. On an Ella tub they are complete as shipped: they stay under the rim, tied to the frame above the water line, and should not be cut, sealed off or altered. Leave them attached and carry on with leveling every leg and making your connections.

Setting Them Before the Wall Closes

Because the breathers usually end up on the side of the tub that faces a wall, you will not be able to reach them once the tub is set. Set them first:

1. Locate both capped lines under the rim opposite the door and confirm they are still tied high on the frame, above the water line.
2. Set each cap fully open or fully closed. Halfway is not a valid position for a breather.
3. Check that the cable ties are snug so the lines cannot drop after installation.
4. Slide the tub into place and finish the plumbing and electrical.

If you are unsure which position suits your installation, your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm the right setting for your order while the lines are still easy to reach.

The Microbubble Prime Port

On tubs with microbubble therapy there is a second small line worth knowing about. Near the door side you will see a narrow tube that rises to a small 90 degree fitting with a silver cap on the side of the tub. That is the prime port for the microbubble system. It works on the same principle as the hydro breathers: it lets air out of the microbubble plumbing so the pump can prime and push water through the single microbubble port in the tub. If the microbubble system later runs but the water stays clear instead of turning milky, the microbubble troubleshooting article covers the water level, the air tube and the pressure tank checks in order.

When Support May Ask You to Pull a Cap

Occasionally a hydro pump that runs fine during the pre-install water test seems to fight back pressure once a bather is in the water and the jets cannot circulate freely. One step the team may suggest is letting more air into the system by removing a breather cap, which works much like opening the intensity dial all the way. This is a diagnostic step, not a setup step, so do it only when the team asks you to. First work through the pump troubleshooting checklist so connections and the relay are already ruled out.

This short video shows the intensity dial in use, the same air-into-water principle the breathers serve.

Related Reading

• Adjusting jet pressure and a stiff intensity dial
• The sounds your tub makes and which ones are normal, including the short puff of air a breather can release when the pump shuts off
• Planning service access panels so the pump side of the tub stays reachable

Common Questions