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Why Does Nothing on My Tub Work After a Storm or Power Outage?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary5
  1. Likely Causes
  2. What to Check, in Order
  3. When to Open a Ticket
  4. Related Guides
  5. Common Questions

When nothing works after a storm, the cause is almost always upstream of the tub itself, and you work through it in a fixed sequence: the house breaker first, then the GFCI outlet under the tub, then the control box. A storm or outage often trips the dedicated GFCI protection, and because that GFCI is frequently an outlet behind the front access panel rather than at your electrical panel, flipping the breaker back on does not reset it. After the breaker, check that outlet first.

Likely Causes

  • A tripped dedicated breaker at the panel.
  • A tripped GFCI outlet in the equipment compartment that the panel breaker does not reset.
  • A control box that lost power mid-operation and needs its configuration re-learned.
  • A GFCI or breaker that will no longer hold, which signals a fault an electrician needs to correct.

What to Check, in Order

  1. At the electrical panel, switch each of the tub's dedicated breakers fully off, then back on. Nearly every Ella tub runs on one or more dedicated 20 amp, 120 volt GFCI protected lines; the count for your package is in electrical requirements by model. If a breaker pops again the instant you reset it, stop and call a licensed electrician.
  2. Remove the front apron access panel. Planning service access shows where the removable panels are on each family; many models use a large panel in front of the seat that pulls away by hand, while others are held with screws under caps.
  3. Find the GFCI outlet in the compartment and press Reset. If it will not hold, or trips as soon as a pump starts, leave power off and do not use the tub until an electrician has corrected it; a GFCI that fails test or reset indicates ground current or a failed device.
  4. Look at the green LED on the blue control box. Lit means power is reaching the box. Dark with a live outlet means the box's cord is not seated or the box itself is the problem.
  5. With the LED lit and water above the highest jets, press each button. If the box has power but nothing responds, run the control box reset.
  6. Still silent? The full storm and outage guide adds the pump-direct-to-outlet test and the multi-circuit checks.
Control Box Reset
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Disconnect Main Power Supply The video begins by showing how to disconnect the main power supply to the control box, and the green LED light goes out.
  2. 0:13 Disconnect All Function Connections The technician disconnects all function connections to the control box, recommending that each connection is marked before removal.
  3. 0:38 Disconnect Air and Water Pumps The technician disconnects all electrical connections to the air and water pumps that the tub may have.
  4. 0:59 Locate and Press Config Switch The technician locates the config switch on the control box and presses it until the green LED light cycles through its configuration process.
  5. 1:31 Reconnect Tub Components The technician reconnects all the tub's components, including the air and electrical lines, ensuring each is secured firmly.
  6. 1:49 Test All Tub Functions The technician tests all the tub's functions, including air, water, micro bubbles, and LED lights, to ensure they are working correctly.

The reset disconnects main power, marks and removes every tube, plug and pump cord, restores power so the green LED flashes four times and holds solid, holds the config button through its one, two, three and four blink cycle, then reconnects the labeled lines and tests each function. Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Control Box Reset with chapters and a full transcript.

When to Open a Ticket

If the breaker and GFCI both hold, the green LED is lit, and the reset does not bring the tub back, or if the LED stays dark with a live outlet, open a ticket with your serial number, a photo of the control box showing its LED, a photo of the GFCI outlet, and a note on what else the storm affected, and reach your Ella dealer or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850. The team evaluates the cause of any failure from your photos and description, and a note from your electrician about what they found is helpful.

Common Questions

Does the tub have a reset button?
The pump motors do not, so there is nothing to press on a motor. The reset lives on the control box: the config button, held through its blink cycle as the video shows, re-learns the configuration. The GFCI outlet has its own Reset button too.
Why will the tub still not start after I flipped the breaker back on?
On many Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub installations, the GFCI protection is an outlet located inside the tub's equipment compartment, not at your main electrical panel. Therefore, simply flipping the dedicated breaker back on will not reset the GFCI outlet. To restore power, you must remove the front apron access panel and press the Reset button directly on the GFCI outlet located within the compartment.
How do I get to the panels after the power went off?
The equipment compartment is behind the removable front apron panels. On many models the large panel in front of the seat lifts away by hand; on the Standard and Zen platform the panels are held with screws under caps. The GFCI outlet, pumps and control box are inside.
Should I keep trying if the GFCI trips again every time I reset it?
No, you should not keep trying to reset a GFCI outlet if it trips again immediately. A GFCI that will not hold indicates either ground current is flowing or the device itself has failed, both of which present a shock hazard. For your safety, leave the power off to the tub and do not use it until a licensed electrician has corrected the issue.

About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.

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