Hydro massage and air massage are two different systems. Hydro massage uses a water pump to draw water from the tub and push it back through jets aimed at your back, calves and feet, which gives the strong, traditional jetted-tub feeling. Air massage uses an air pump to push air through small jets in the seat and the tub floor, producing a gentler bubbling sensation. Microbubble is a third feature that is a soaking and skin-cleansing system rather than a massage. On Ella sit-down walk-in tubs it is offered paired with hydro massage, and on LayDown tubs it cannot be combined with hydro at all.

Hydro Massage: Water Through the Jets

The hydro jets are the ones most people picture when they think of a jetted tub. A water pump recirculates the bath water through jets positioned for the back, the calves and the feet. Because the water recirculates through the lines, hydro packages include an in-line heater that helps hold the water temperature while the jets run, and an ozone sterilization system that treats the water whenever the pump runs. For lower back pain, the water-powered back jets are the system to choose.

Some packages add an independent hydro foot massage. The foot jets get their own control, so you can switch them on and off separately from the rest of the hydro system. You can fill the tub to just below the knees and run only the foot massage without drawing a full bath.

Air Massage: Air Through Small Jets

Air massage uses a separate air pump rather than the water pump. It pushes air through small jets set into the seat and the tub floor, so the bubbles rise around your hips and thighs and under your feet. The sensation is much lighter than hydro massage, and some bathers describe it as a bubbling soak more than a massage. The push control cycles through three speeds: the first press is high, the second is medium, the third is low, and a fourth press turns the system off. Because air massage never recirculates water, it does not need ozone treatment. Instead it has an automatic purge. About 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off, the system runs for 120 seconds to blow residual water out of the air lines. This is fully automatic, cannot be stopped, and is normal even if it starts while you are still in the tub.

Microbubble: A Soak, Not a Massage

Microbubble creates millions of tiny bubbles that cloud the water and work into the pores to lift dirt and oils, which is why it is described as a skin exfoliation system. Bathers with dry skin, eczema or rashes often find the skin looks and feels better after a soak, though it does not cure any condition. It is delivered through a small number of dedicated jets and does not produce a massage effect, which is why it is paired with hydro massage on sit-down tubs. On LayDown tubs the equipment sits behind the backrest and there is room for only one system, so hydro and microbubble cannot be combined there.

How the Packages Combine

Ella tubs are ordered with a therapy package, and the equipment is built into the tub, so the package is chosen at order time. Typical options are a soaking tub with no jets, hydro massage alone, hydro plus air, hydro plus microbubble, and hydro plus independent hydro foot massage. Several models also offer air plus hydro plus independent foot massage, which gives the strongest overall massage, and some models, such as the Big4One, can be ordered with all four systems. Choosing hydro plus independent foot massage, for example, means the tub has no air massage or microbubble, so decide which sensation matters most before you order. Package schematics such as hydro plus hydro foot plus microbubble and hydro plus microbubble on the Front Entry show how the components are laid out. The full list of options by model is in walk-in tub therapy options and features, and this article explains what can and cannot be added after purchase.

Related Guides

• My walk-in tub turned on by itself: the air massage Auto-Purge is normal
• Does the in-line water heater warm up my bath? What it does and does not do
• Infusion Microbubble Therapy: What It Does and Which Tubs Offer It

Related Videos

Watch: Best Walk-In Tub with Independent Foot Massage (Buyers Guide) with chapters and a full transcript.

Common Questions

Still Need Help?

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and have your model and serial number ready.