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Is My Tub Door Inward or Outward Swing, and Which Door Do I Have?

If you are wondering which door your tub has, the model name settles it, because every Ella model belongs to one door style. The Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile, Lounger, ShaK and Big4One have an outward-swing U-shape door made of white PVC composite and tempered glass with a 3 latch gear and shaft mechanism. The Tub4Two and Big4Two share that outward U-shape door, while the Companion and Escape have inward-swing brushed stainless steel doors, as do the Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe and Ultimate. The Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow use the inward-swing acrylic S-shape door, every Transfer tub uses the L-shape outward door, and the Ultra has an inward-swing brushed aluminum door with frosted glass. So the Tub4Two door is outward, the stainless steel doors are all inward, and the Zen is not a U-shape door. Check the model name on your order paperwork first, then open the door and see which way it travels. Our guide to identifying your Ella door style covers every model.

Likely Causes

  • The outward-swing family manual describes a stainless steel inward door in its entry section. That page is a carryover from the inward-swing manual, not a description of your tub.
  • The Tub4Two spec sheet lists a removable stainless steel door. That line was carried over from the Companion and Escape sheets; the Tub4Two door swings outward.
  • The Zen and Zen60 spec sheets say U-shape. That is a misprint; the Zen uses the same S-shape inward acrylic door as the Standard.

What to Check, in Order

  1. Find the model name on your order paperwork and match it to the list above.
  2. Open the door. An inward door swings into the tub and closes with a handle on the inside; once the tub fills, water pressure helps hold it shut. An outward door swings into the room and needs clear floor space in front of the tub.
  3. Look at the material. Brushed stainless steel with a frosted glass panel is the removable inward door. White composite with a decorative glass front is the outward U-shape door. A composite and glass door with the handle on its front face is the Transfer L-shape door. A molded acrylic door that swings in is the S-shape door.
  4. Count the latches on an outward door: three on the U-shape door, two on the Transfer door, both driven by the same gear and shaft mechanism. Closing steps are in the U-shape outward door guide.
  5. If a manual or spec sheet disagrees with what you see, trust the tub, and follow the guide for your actual door: stainless steel inward door or inward acrylic door.

The video shows each door style in turn: the stainless steel inward door with its interior chrome locking handle, the outward U-shape and L-shape doors with their gear and shaft mechanism, and the Ultra and Standard inward doors.

When to Open a Ticket

If you still cannot tell which door you have, or want to be certain a replacement seal or handle will match, send a photo of the door closed, one of it fully open, and a picture of the model name on your paperwork through ellasbubbles.com/support. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 will confirm the door style from the photos.

Common Questions

Is the Tub4Two door inward or outward swing?
The Tub4Two has an outward-swing U-shape door of white composite with a tempered glass panel and a 3 latch gear and shaft mechanism. The removable stainless steel door line on its spec sheet is a carryover from the Companion and Escape sheets, the only two-seat tubs with inward stainless steel doors.
Are the stainless steel doors all outward swing?
No, every stainless steel door is an inward-swing door. It swings into the tub, closes with an interior chrome locking handle, and is held by water pressure once the tub fills. It is also removable for easy cleaning.
Is the Zen a U-shape door?
No. The Zen and Zen60 use the inward-swing acrylic S-shape door, the same platform as the Standard. The U-shape wording on the Zen spec sheet is a misprint, and all Standard door guidance applies to the Zen unchanged.
Which door do the Transfer tubs have?
All five Transfer models use the L-shape outward door, a plastic composite and tempered glass door with the handle on its front face. It locks with two latches on the same gear and shaft mechanism as the U-shape door, and its wide opening is designed for wheelchair transfer.

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