Before your installer packs up, there is a checklist on the warranty activation form that they initial line by line, and every line exists because it prevents a specific leak, shock hazard or service headache we have seen before. This article explains the sixteen checks in plain language, tells you what you can watch and photograph during the handover, and what to do if any were skipped. Getting through the list is also how your installer confirms the tub is ready for the activation form, which is covered in how to activate your warranty.

The Sixteen Checks and Why Each One Matters

1. Tub level in all directions, all support legs touching the ground. Misleveling is the number one cause of door leaks: the frame twists, the door drifts out of alignment and the seal stops meeting the frame evenly. Misleveling also voids the warranty.
2. Installed by a licensed electrician. Ella requires licensed electrical work, and the form asks for the electrician's license and insurance information.
3. Dedicated GFCI circuit breaker. A shared circuit can trip under load, and a circuit without GFCI protection removes the safeguard that makes a bath with electrical equipment safe.
4. Frame properly grounded. The stainless frame must be bonded to the electrical ground so that a fault trips the breaker rather than energizing the frame.
5. Door seal cleaned with rubbing alcohol. Construction dust on the seal leaves a path for water. Alcohol removes it without damaging the silicone.
6. Temperature control valve operated on hot and cold. Where your faucet package includes the TCV, this confirms it mixes correctly before you rely on it. If your configuration has no TCV, your installer notes that.
7. Both diverters function. Water should switch cleanly between spout and hand shower.
8. Hand shower works on every setting without leaking. Each spray pattern is tested at the head and at the deck.
9. Supply lines checked for leaks with both diverters on. Full flow finds a loose or over-tightened connection. Over-torquing damages the internal gasket in a braided line.
10. Drains open and close properly. A drain that does not open fully drains slowly; one that does not close fully loses bath water.
11. Locking nut tightened on both stoppers. A loose locking nut lets the stopper creep, and the tub slowly empties during a bath.
12. Door seal watertight after a minimum 20 minute fill. Twenty minutes gives a slow seep time to show itself, which a quick fill and drain would miss.
13. Hydro and air pumps run at least 20 minutes with every connection watertight. Unions and jet fittings are checked under vibration and pressure, not just static water.
14. Chromatherapy light and ozone working. When the ozone runs by itself it makes a light humming noise, which is normal and is a good sign, not a fault.
15. All drain fittings checked while the tub is draining. Drain leaks only appear with water moving, so the installer watches the fittings with a flashlight during a full drain.
16. Unit installed with access to plumbing and electrical. Code-required service access is the owner's responsibility, and the aprons and panels must stay removable.

Video: The Installation Tips Your Installer Should Already Know

Many Ella tubs have as many as eight leveling legs to spread the weight. This short clip shows the simple test: every foot sits securely on the floor, levels are checked on all sides, and each leg is adjusted until none can move. That is what makes the door align and close correctly, which is why leveling is the first line on the checklist. The full procedure is in the leveling guide.

What You Can Watch and Photograph

• Ask to see the tub full for the 20 minute seal test with the panels off, and take a photo of the dry floor under the door.
• Watch the pumps run and look at the unions with a flashlight while they do.
• Watch the tub drain with the apron off and photograph the drain fittings while water is moving.
• Photograph the breaker panel label for the dedicated GFCI circuit and the grounding connection on the frame.
• Write down the serial number from the label behind the magnetic access panel next to the door. You will need it on the activation form.
• Never lean on the door or apply your weight to it during any test. The door holds its own weight only, and pressure changes the alignment.

If Your Installer Skipped Items

Run the parts of the pre-installation water test that still apply with the walls closed: wipe the seal, fill the tub 3 inches above the highest jet, let it stand 30 minutes and inspect, then run every system for 30 minutes and inspect again. If anything weeps, or if you cannot verify the electrical items, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support/new or call (800) 480-6850 with photos and the serial number and our technical team will guide your installer through the fix. Activation is required to put the warranty in force, so submit the signed form promptly once the checks are complete; if it was not done at install time, you can complete it now. Installation choices that affect coverage are explained in installation choices that affect your warranty.

Common Questions

Have the completed checklist in hand and still have a question? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support/new or call (800) 480-6850 and we will help you finish the handover with confidence.