The Ella Pet Spa owner's guide comes down to a handful of habits: carry the Microbubble Therapy Pet Spa by its stainless steel frame with the panels removed, make sure the drain backnut is tight, never step on an open drain, run it only on a dedicated 120 volt 20 amp GFCI circuit, keep it indoors, and keep water above the jets before any pump runs. This guide collects those rules from the Pet Spa owner's manual and spec sheet, adds the published indoor-use answer, explains how to clean up after grooming, and states the warranty as printed. For dimensions and options, see the Pet Spa specs article.

Indoor Use Only

The owner's manual states plainly that the Pet Spa is not intended for outdoor use. Ella's published FAQ gives the reason: the electrical and water pump requirements that make the exclusive features work call for a protected location, so Pet Spas are typically placed in garages, homes or stores. If you are planning a location, keep it indoors and protected from weather.

Electrical and Drain Requirements

• Electrical: one 120 volt, 20 amp GFCI-protected dedicated line with a single plug-in connection, installed by a licensed electrician and tested periodically. Pushing the GFCI test button should trip it to reset mode; if it does not, there may be a ground current or a device fault, so turn off the power and do not use the tub until the cause is found and corrected. Our electrical requirements article explains dedicated GFCI circuits in more detail.
• Drain: a 2 inch PVC drain, glued to a 2 inch drain pipe (or a reducer to 1 1/2 inch per the spec sheet), with a cable-operated lever.
• Supply: two 5 foot stainless steel braided supply lines with 3/4 inch IPS connectors.
• Safety: keep electrical appliances such as hair dryers, lamps, phones and radios at least 3 feet from the tub, and never drop or insert objects into any opening.

Rules from the Owner's Manual

1. Carry it by the frame. Before carrying the Pet Spa into the house, remove the two side access panels and one end panel so you can grip the frame. Do not lift it by the plumbing or any other parts, and inspect the plumbing afterward for anything loosened in transit or during the carry.
2. Tighten the drain backnut. The screw on the drain plug is adjusted first, then the backnut is tightened. The backnut must be securely tightened; if it is not, it loosens over time, comes apart and falls down the drain.
3. Never step on an open drain. The drain must open completely to drain properly and close completely to avoid unnecessary drainage, and stepping on an open drain breaks the cable.
4. Water above the jets before any pump runs. Operating the pumps without first filling the bath above the jets can cause permanent damage to the equipment. Fill until the sidewall jets are covered before using the microbubble hand shower with the jets.
5. Level on all legs. The Pet Spa was leveled at the factory; the installer must confirm every leveling leg sits on the floor and the door aligns and closes smoothly, since an unlevel frame can warp and cause door leaks. The front legs are screwed to the subfloor for stability.
6. Leave the door open between baths. The silicone door seal can stick to the frame after long storage; the manual asks that the seal be released and allowed to relax with the door open, and that the door be kept open when not in use to extend the seal's life. The door seal care article covers cleaning and reseating.
7. Do not insulate around the equipment, and keep service access to the plumbing and electrical connections.

Operating the Pet Spa

Your pet enters through the outward-swing aluminum composite door, which has stainless steel hinges and an outside handle; a removable platform measuring 41 1/4 inches by 23 inches raises small to medium dogs, and two chain hooks secure the pet once the door is closed. Open the drain by turning its handle clockwise and close it counter-clockwise. Water comes on by rotating the thermostatic control valve, left for cooler and right for warmer. The second lever turned to the right runs the hand shower, the third lever turned to the left runs the microbubble hand shower, and the diverter turned clockwise adds the twenty sidewall jets to either. The interior LED light comes on with the microbubble hand shower only. The manual notes that with microbubble therapy there is no need for extra soap or detergent.

This is a second visual clip of the Pet Spa with no spoken instructions. Refer to the steps above for the order of operations, and remember the two rules that matter most while it runs: water above the jets before any pump starts, and never step on an open drain.

Cleaning After Grooming

The Pet Spa manual does not have a separate cleaning chapter, so the published care rules for Ella's acrylic apply. After each grooming session, drain the tub completely, clear hair from the drain cover so it does not travel into the drain, and rinse the shell and the removable platform with the hand shower. The product description notes that the hand shower's booster button is designed to wash dog hair and residue off the floor. Wipe the acrylic with a soft cloth and a mild dish detergent or an approved non-abrasive tub cleaner, rinse, and leave the door open to dry. Never use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads on the acrylic, and keep bleach off it as well, since it is not part of the published cleaning instructions. Because the Pet Spa uses a thermostatic control valve, keep a filter or mesh in the water lines and clean it periodically, as explained in our hard water and TCV article; cartridge cleaning due to calcium or particle buildup is the owner's responsibility, and the manual notes that Ella's Bubbles can clean a cartridge shipped to its facility, so ask the team about current arrangements if yours needs it.

Warranty as Printed

The Pet Spa spec sheet prints a lifetime limited warranty on the frame, door, door seal gasket and acrylic shell, with a five-year parts warranty on supporting equipment, and the owner's manual repeats those terms for the original owner at the original installation address. The thermostatic control valve carries a one-year limited warranty that excludes cartridge trouble caused by calcium, iron or other particles in the water, which is why the inline filter matters. The finish warranty does not apply to fading, cracking, delaminating or blistering due to excessive wear, sun fading or scouring during cleaning. The warranty activation form in the manual must be completed and signed by the customer and installer and returned to activate coverage. Warranty terms are updated over time, so please confirm the current terms for your unit with the team.

Common Questions

For anything specific to your model, serial number or water conditions, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and the team will be glad to help.