Yes, an Ella walk-in tub can be installed in a wet room, and customers have done so. The point support raises first is the electrical equipment. The tub shell and its exterior panels are acrylic, and splash and humidity on the outside are not the concern. What must stay dry is the compartment behind the access panels, because that space holds the GFCI receptacle, the control boxes and the pump cords. Plan the layout so shower spray is not aimed at the seat-side panel.

What Support Asks First

When a wet-room layout comes up, support asks how the tub will be enclosed: between three walls, in a corner, or against a single wall. None of the Ella tubs are meant to be standalone tubs. Every model is designed to sit against at least one wall along its long side, in a corner, or in a full three-wall alcove. A three-wall alcove with a tiled surround takes care of waterproofing on three sides, leaving only the front apron and its access panel facing the room. The article on freestanding and exposed-side installations explains what is required when an end of the tub is open to the room. If the alcove is longer than the tub, the L-shaped filler kit for your model closes the gap; see extension panels and filler kits by model.

Where the Water Must Not Go

Behind the front access panel on the seat side is the electrical area: the GFCI receptacle, the control boxes and the plugs for the pumps and heater. Splash on the outside face of the panel is fine. Water running down behind the panel and pooling in the compartment is not. The second thing support asks is whether there will be direct splash-over onto the front panel where the seat is. If the answer is yes, change the layout before the walls go up rather than trying to protect the compartment afterward.

Layout Tips for a Shared Shower and Tub Room

1. Point the shower head away from the seat end of the tub, or place a partial wall or glass screen between the shower and the tub apron so the panel is not in the direct spray path.
2. Slope the floor so water runs toward the room drain rather than toward the tub apron.
3. Put the receptacle inside the compartment behind the access panel so it stays dry and reachable; see where to put the outlet.
4. Finish the deck-to-wall joints as described in tile flange, caulking and finishing the walls.
5. If the pump-side end of the tub is the exposed end, keep it out of the spray path in the same way as the front panel.

If you later find water inside the compartment that did not come from the room, the articles on water leaking underneath the tub and leaks at the corners when filled walk through the usual causes.

Warranty Considerations

The lifetime limited warranty covers parts. Damage to the home and problems caused by improper installation are excluded, so a wet-room layout should follow the same installation requirements as any other Ella tub: a dedicated GFCI-protected circuit, a reachable receptacle, and a dry equipment compartment. The published terms are in what the lifetime limited warranty covers. If you want a specific layout reviewed before the walls go up, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with a sketch or photos and your model number.

Related Guides

• Planning Service Access: Front Aprons, Access Panels, and Why You Must Not Insulate Around the Tub
• Electrical requirements by model: dedicated GFCI circuits for your walk-in tub
• Water Under or Behind the Tub: Finding the Source at Unions, Air Fittings, the Hand Shower, Drain Elbow and Supply Lines

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.