Most of the sounds an Ella walk-in tub makes are simply the sound of the tub doing its job: a moderate hum from a water pump, a rush of air from the blower, a light hum from the ozone generator, a click at the relay when you press a button, and a burst of air about 20 minutes after you switch the air massage off. This guide walks through each one so you can tell a normal working sound from the few that mean it is time to stop and get in touch.

The Pump Hum During Hydro Massage

When the hydro massage is running, the water pump under the tub produces a moderate hum, much like the jets in a hot tub or a conventional jetted tub. It is noticeable but not loud, and it stays steady for as long as the pump runs. If your tub has independent foot massage there is a second water pump for the foot and calf jets, so running both systems means two pumps humming together, which is normal.

The air massage sounds different. The three-speed blower moves air rather than water, so what you hear is a steady rush of air through the small jets that changes as you step through the speeds. Details on operating both systems are in hydro massage vs air massage.

A Light Hum When Nothing Seems to Be on

If you hear a light humming sound with no water or air moving, that is the ozone generator. Ozone sterilization is part of the hydro massage system, and the generator starts and stops with the hydro pump. When the ozone unit is on by itself it makes a light hum, and this is exactly how it is meant to sound. You can read how the system keeps the water lines fresh in what is ozone sanitation.

This short video introduces the ozone generator that runs alongside the hydro pump. It is the source of that light hum, quietly sanitizing the water system every time you use the hydro massage.

The Burst of Air After Your Bath

About 20 minutes after you turn the air massage pump off, the Auto Purge starts on its own and runs for 120 seconds. It blows leftover water out of the air lines so mold and mildew never get a foothold. It cannot be interrupted, it stops by itself, and it is normal even if it starts while you are still sitting in the tub or after the tub has drained. The full explanation is in the air massage Auto-Purge is normal.

The video shows the three-speed air massage running and then explains the automatic purge that follows the bath. The rush of air you hear roughly 20 minutes after switching the air off is the same purge shown here.

A Click When You Press a Button

The deck buttons on most Ella tubs are pneumatic. Pressing one sends a puff of air down a small hose to a relay in the control box inside the equipment compartment, and the relay clicks as it switches the pump on. Open the access panel below the seat and you will hear that click with every press, which tells you something useful when a pump will not run:

• You hear the click, but the pump does not start. The button and the hose are working, because the signal reached the relay. The pump itself is not getting power or is not connected. With the power off, check that the pump cord is plugged into its outlet inside the equipment compartment and that the connection at the relay is secure. If it still does not run, open a ticket and tell us which button clicks.
• You hear no click at all. The signal never reached the relay, which almost always means the small air hose has popped off the back of the button or off the port on the control box. Reseating that hose is a quick fix described in push-button air hoses.

Trickling and Dripping After the Tub Is Empty

After you drain, you may hear or see a little water trickling into the tub for a while. That is water making its way out of the jet lines. The lines hold some water after every bath, and it drains out slowly on its own, so a small amount pooling near the drain after the tub is "empty" is normal and is not a leak.

You may also notice a small hose with a clear vent near the hydro pump, sometimes zip-tied to the frame. This is a breather, or pressure-release, hose. It lets pressure out of the pump when the pump shuts off, and it can release a short puff of air or a few drops of water while it does. As long as it is secured and the drops are minimal, that is by design. If you find standing water under the tub rather than a few drops, open a ticket with a photo of where the water is collecting so the team can help you find the source.

A Buzz from the Microbubble System with Clear Water

On a tub with Infusion microbubble therapy, pressing the micro button should turn the water cloudy white within a short time. If you hear the microbubble pump buzzing but the water stays clear, the pump is running without producing microbubbles. Stop the system and follow microbubble system not working, which covers the pressure tank, the single microbubble jet, and the checks that solve this.

When a Sound Is Not Normal

A few sounds mean stop using the tub and get in touch:

• A grinding or rattling noise from a pump, or a pump that runs when the tub is empty. Pumps must never run without water at least 2 inches above the highest jets, because running dry causes permanent damage.
• A burning smell from the equipment compartment.
• A GFCI or breaker that trips when a pump starts, or a GFCI that will not reset. Turn the power off and do not use the tub until a licensed electrician has corrected it.

In any of these cases, note which system was running and what you heard, then open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850.

Common Questions

Still hearing something you cannot place? Tell us which system was running and what it sounded like at ellasbubbles.com/support and the team will help you sort it out.