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Installation choices that affect your warranty and how to keep coverage intact

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. Installation-Related Actions That Void or Limit Coverage
  2. Leveling: The One That Causes the Most Trouble
  3. The Grab Bar Washer Rule
  4. Electrical and Pumps
  5. The Activation Form: 16 Checks That Protect You
  6. What Proper Installation Earns You
  7. Related Guides
  8. Common Questions

Improper installation can void your walk-in tub warranty, and every one of the installation choices that affect coverage is fully in your installer's control on install day. Your Ella walk-in tub carries a Lifetime Limited Warranty for the original purchaser at the original installation address. The short version: level the tub correctly, use a licensed electrician on dedicated GFCI circuits, install the grab bar with all of its washers, do not cut or modify any part, do not pack insulation around the equipment, never run pumps dry, and return the signed warranty activation form. Do those things and your coverage stays intact.

ActionWarranty effect
No warranty activation form returnedWarranty is void without activation
Misleveled tub (legs not all touching, gaps under legs)Voids warranty; also the number one cause of door leaks
Grab bar installed without the large metal washer under the shellCracks the acrylic shell and voids the warranty
Cutting the apron or end panel (for example, a below-subfloor drain recess)Voids warranty on the altered parts
Insulation packed around pumps and electronicsOverheating damage is treated as misuse
Running pumps before water covers all jetsPermanent pump damage, not covered
Improper or negligent installation, alteration, or modification by anyone other than Ella's BubblesExcluded from coverage
Relocating the tub or transferring ownershipWarranty is void (coverage is tied to the original owner and address)

Two related boundaries worth knowing up front: the warranty ships replacement parts free of charge after verification with photos and a problem description, but it never covers labor, installation, or removal, and it does not cover water damage to structures or property for any reason. Promises made by dealers or contractors are their own, not Ella's. The complete list of exclusions, including the ones that arise after installation, is in what voids your warranty.

Leveling: The One That Causes the Most Trouble

Leveling legs are critical to a proper functioning tub
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Leveling Legs Are Critical Many Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs have up to eight leveling legs to evenly disperse weight and ensure proper function.
  2. 0:14 Secure Each Foot The technician checks if each foot is securely on the ground, as an unsealed door could leak.
  3. 0:28 Check Tub Levels The technician checks levels on all sides of the tub to ensure all feet sit securely on the floor.
  4. 0:41 Proper Door Alignment Proper leveling assures correct door alignment and closure for your walk-in tub.

Watch: Ella's Bubbles-Leveling legs are critical to a proper functioning tub. with chapters and a full transcript.

The video shows why leveling sits at the top of the table. Many Ella tubs have as many as eight leveling legs to spread the weight evenly. If any foot is off the floor, the frame twists slightly, the door no longer meets the jamb squarely, and the seal leaks. Check that each foot is securely on the ground, adjust each leg as needed, and check level on every side of the tub. An unlevel tub warps the shell and misaligns the door, and leaks caused by misleveling are not covered. The full procedure is in our walk-in tub leveling guide.

The Grab Bar Washer Rule

The deck mount grab bar hardware includes a chrome bar, 2 escutcheons, 4 rubber washers, 2 metal washers, and 2 bolts. The order on each bolt is: metal washer, rubber washer, up through the shell, rubber washer, escutcheon, thread loosely, then tighten with the supplied Allen wrench. The large metal washer under the shell is mandatory. Omitting washers cracks the acrylic shell and voids the warranty, so it is worth a 30 second check before your installer tightens down. See grab bars: what is included and how to install the deck bar.

Overhead view of an Ella Standard walk-in tub with the inward door open, showing the deck-mount grab bar, hydro jets, and faucet
The deck-mount grab bar bolts through the shell. The large metal washer under the shell spreads the load.

Electrical and Pumps

Every therapy component runs on its own dedicated GFCI-protected circuit installed by a licensed electrician, with no extension cords and no shared circuits. Electrical damage from an improper connection is not a manufacturing defect. Pumps are never run until water covers every jet, and the pre-installation water test in the manual, which fills the tub 3 inches above the highest jet before any pump is switched on, is the safe way to prove the installation. Circuit counts by package are in electrical requirements by model, and the test itself is in the pre-installation water test.

The Activation Form: 16 Checks That Protect You

The warranty activation form is a 2 page document signed by both the customer and the installer, returned with a copy of the sales receipt, and the installer includes their electrician's license and insurance information. The installer initials 16 items, including: tub level with all legs touching, licensed electrician, dedicated GFCI breaker, frame grounded, door seal cleaned with rubbing alcohol, hot and cold at the temperature control valve, both diverters working, hand shower on all settings, supply-line leak check, stoppers opening and closing with the locking nut tightened on both, a watertight door seal after a 20 minute fill, hydro and air pumps run for 20 minutes with watertight connections, chromatherapy and ozone working, drain fittings checked while draining, and service access retained.

Submit the completed form online at ellasbubbles.com/warranty-activation/, or download the PDF application from that page and return it as the form directs. Our activate your warranty article walks through the form field by field.

What Proper Installation Earns You

The current published warranty covers the shell, frame, door, door seal, and finish, along with the supporting equipment, motors, pumps, fixtures, electronic controls, faucet, waste, overflow, and plated finishes, for the lifetime of the original purchaser at the original address. The temperature control valve carries a 1 year limited warranty and must be protected by an inline filter or mesh that is cleaned periodically. Non-Ella faucets carry their own manufacturer's warranty. If your owner's manual prints a five year term on equipment, that text is outdated; the current published warranty applies, as explained in older manuals say five years.

Door and door seal coverage stays valid as long as alignment was done correctly and the door is never loaded with the bather's weight, since the door holds only its own weight. One more reminder for the service life of the tub: the installer or owner provides code-required access to the plumbing and electrical, so keep those access points reachable.

Common Questions

Does an out-of-level tub really void the warranty?
Yes, an out-of-level tub voids the warranty. An unlevel frame warps the acrylic shell and misaligns the door, which is the number one cause of door leaks. Leaks caused by misleveling are not covered, so every leveling leg must sit solidly on the floor with equal weight to ensure proper door alignment and closure. The full procedure for proper leveling is detailed in our walk-in tub leveling guide.
Can I cut the apron or end panel to lower the tub?
You can cut the apron or end panel, for example, to create a below-subfloor drain recess, and the manuals describe how to do this. However, cutting the apron or end panel voids the warranty specifically on those altered parts. The rest of the walk-in tub's warranty coverage remains intact.
Should I insulate around the tub for warmth or sound?
No, you should not pack insulation around the tub for warmth or sound. The pumps and electronics require adequate airflow to prevent overheating. Overheating damage resulting from packed insulation is treated as misuse and is not covered under the warranty.
What happens if the activation form was never sent in?
If the warranty activation form was never sent in, your warranty is void without activation. You should send the completed form now to ensure coverage. If your installer is no longer reachable, you can complete the installer section yourself by providing your electrician's details and including a copy of your sales receipt.
Does self-installation void the warranty?
No, self-installation does not void the warranty. The parts warranty applies regardless of who installs the walk-in tub, as long as the installation strictly follows the instructions in the manual. Improper installation, however, is excluded from coverage, regardless of whether it was done by a professional or the homeowner.
Is labor covered if a part fails because of the installation?
No, labor is never covered if a part fails, even if the failure is due to installation. The warranty does not cover labor, installation, or removal costs. If a covered part fails and is verified with photos and a problem description, a replacement part will ship free of charge, but fitting the part is the owner's responsibility.
My contractor promised to cover something Ella does not. Who honors that?
If your contractor promised to cover something Ella's Bubbles does not, the contractor is responsible for honoring that promise. Ella's Bubbles is not responsible for any warranties or representations made by dealers, retailers, distributors, or contractors. Promises made by these parties are their own and not those of Ella's Bubbles.
Does moving the tub to a new house keep the warranty?
No, moving the tub to a new house does not keep the warranty valid. Coverage is tied to the original purchaser and the original installation address. Relocating the tub or transferring ownership to a new owner voids the Lifetime Limited Warranty.

Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850.

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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