Congratulations on your new Ella walk-in tub. The first week comes down to ten quick tasks: confirm the installer's water test and 16-point checklist, photograph the serial label, activate your warranty, run the one-time vinegar flush, test the GFCI, learn the button order and the fill rule, and settle into a few habits that keep the tub trouble-free for years.

The Ten-Item Checklist

1. Confirm the installer completed the water test and the 16-point checklist. Before the walls were finished, your installer should have filled the tub 3 inches above the highest jet, let it stand for 30 minutes, then run every electrical component for another 30 minutes. The Warranty Activation Form also asks the installer to initial 16 items, including all leveling legs touching the floor, a dedicated GFCI breaker, a door seal that stays watertight after a 20-minute fill, and a 20-minute run of the hydro and air pumps. If you are not sure it happened, ask your installer. See the pre-installation water test.
2. Photograph the serial label. The serial number is on the label behind the magnetic access panel next to the door. See where to find your model and serial numbers.
3. Submit your warranty activation. Complete and sign the 2-page Warranty Activation Form (customer and installer signatures), include a copy of your sales receipt and your installer's electrician license and insurance information, and submit it online at ellasbubbles.com/warranty-activation/. We recommend doing this promptly after installation, and if it was not done at install time you can complete it now. The other ways to send the form are listed in how to activate your warranty.
4. Run the first-use vinegar flush. Mix 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water. Fill the tub to one inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain. The same flush is your monthly routine, and you do not need to flush after every bath because the air and hydro systems are fully plumbed. The step-by-step is in before your first bath.
5. Press the GFCI test button, then reset. Your tub runs on a dedicated GFCI-protected circuit. Press TEST and the tub should lose power. Press RESET and power should return. If the GFCI will not reset or trips on its own, turn the power off and do not use the tub until a licensed electrician corrects it. Repeat this test periodically.
6. Learn the button order and the fill rule. Water must cover the highest jets before you turn on any pump, because running a pump dry can permanently damage it. On three-speed air massage push controls, the first press is high speed, the second is medium, the third is low, and a fourth press turns the system off. A gentle touch is all the button needs. On digital-controller tubs the keypad takes the place of the push buttons; your owner's manual shows the layout.
7. Expect the Auto Purge. About 20 minutes after you turn the air massage pump off, the Auto Purge starts on its own and runs for 120 seconds to blow leftover water out of the air lines. It cannot be interrupted, stops by itself, and is normal even if it starts while you are still in the tub. Read the Auto-Purge explained so nobody in the house is startled.
8. Leave the door open between baths. An open door keeps the silicone seal from sitting compressed, which extends its flexibility and life. If the seal looks stuck or deformed from shipping, squeeze it gently with your fingertips and pull it away from the door frame to restore its shape, then wipe it with rubbing alcohol.
9. Keep the crate documents, invoice, and manual together. Your invoice is your sales receipt for warranty activation and also identifies your model and options. Keep the crate and packaging until the installation is complete, since freight claims depend on the original packaging.
10. Share your story and claim the accessory. After you submit the warranty form online, you are automatically redirected to the Share Your Story page at ellasbubbles.com/free-accessory/. Select where you purchased your tub, complete any two of the review tasks listed there, and claim your accessory.

The First Clean-Out on Video

This short video shows the initial clean-out every new tub needs before the first bath. Follow the current published recipe rather than the on-screen quantities: 2 cups of white vinegar mixed with 2 cups of water, water one inch above the highest jets, the tub running for 10 minutes, then drain.

Door Seal Care in the First Week

Wipe the gasket and the door frame clean so no construction dust is trapped where the door meets the frame, because debris left in the seal or the frame can lead to door leaks. A common household cleaner works for routine wiping, and the installer checklist calls for rubbing alcohol on the seal. The video closes with the habit that matters most: leave the door open slightly whenever the tub is not in use.

What Is Normal in Week One

• A light humming noise when nothing seems to be running. That is the ozone sterilization system, which starts and stops with the hydro pump.
• A burst of air from the jets about 20 minutes after your bath. That is the Auto Purge from item 7, and it stops on its own after 120 seconds.
• The heated seat turning itself off. The optional heated seat and backrest switches off automatically after 20 minutes. Turn it on 10 to 15 minutes before you step in, and press the button once more for another cycle.

When to Reach Out

A few things deserve a message to ellasbubbles.com/support or a call to (800) 480-6850:

• Water at the door after the leveling check. Uneven leveling legs are the number one cause of door leaks. Have your installer confirm every leg is touching the floor with equal weight and that the door closes smoothly into a watertight seal. If it still leaks, contact the team with your serial number and a photo.
• A GFCI that will not reset. Leave the power off and have a licensed electrician check the circuit before the tub is used again.
• Any burning smell or unusual electrical behavior. Turn the power off at the breaker and contact the team before using the tub.

Common Questions

Still have a first-week question? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support/new and the team will walk you through it.