Connecting your walk-in tub to the house drain is straightforward on an Ella tub because most models use our dual drain system: two oversized 2 inch drains, each ending in a 4-port T-type PVC fitting, giving your installer four 2 inch ports to work with. You can connect all four ports to the house main for maximum drain speed, or connect one side and cap the unused ports with the included end caps. The connection is made with a standard T or Y fitting into your existing 1 1/2 inch or 2 inch house drain, with a 2 inch main and a Y fitting preferred. A standard size Ella tub drains in approximately 80 seconds under ideal conditions, and because the system is gravity driven rather than pump driven, a power failure never leaves you waiting to exit.

Watch: Dual Drain Technology and the House Connection

The video shows live water flow through the dual 2 inch 4-port drains, real before-and-after images of a drain setup, a new installation with dual P-traps, and a finished connection to the house main drain. It also covers a detail worth knowing: the easy-turn drain handles are also dual air vents, which doubles the air venting, eliminates air pockets and maximizes water outflow. One correction to the narration: the video describes a right-side door as putting the drains on the right, but the current published configuration is the opposite, as explained under planning below. Why the dual drain outperforms a single drain and a powered drain is covered in how fast does a walk-in tub drain.

Planning the Connection

1. Verify the house drain first. Have an experienced plumber confirm the house drain flows well and is in good condition. A dual drain cannot fix a slow house drain.
2. Prefer a 2 inch house drain. A 2 inch main drain is recommended for ideal draining, but you can always use a T or a Y connection into a 1 1/2 inch house drain. A standard 2 inch to 1 1/2 inch reducing coupling or elbow ahead of the P-trap riser handles the size change, and only one house connection is needed because the two Ella drains join under the tub.
3. Prefer a Y fitting over a T. Fewer sharp turns means faster drainage. Keep the run as short and straight as possible.
4. Choose ports based on your house drain location. Connect all four ports for the fastest possible drainage, or use one side and cap the other. Your installer determines which side is most efficient. Plumbing can run under the tub to a house drain in the center or on the opposite side; the frame leaves a few inches of clearance for it.
5. Plan the door side around the drain. The door and seat are on one side of the tub and the drains are on the opposite side: a right-side door means left-side drains, and a left-side door means right-side drains, with left and right as you face the tub. Choose the door side based on where your house drain is and confirm the plan with your installer before ordering. The left-hand or right-hand article covers this choice in full.

The default frame and threshold height is preset at the factory so the drain piping can pass under the tub, above the floor, and tap into the existing house drain. New holes are typically drilled into the subfloor to accommodate the drains, and drain configurations vary with every home. If you want the tub lower, with the drain run below the subfloor, read lowering the tub and recessed installations first, since cutting the apron or end panel removes those parts from coverage.

Which Drain Setup Does My Model Have?

Adjustable Drain Height

Ella tubs have adjustable height drains. If your drain sits too high or too low, the stem can be adjusted by loosening or tightening it. One caution from the video: it is critically important not to loosen the drain stem too much, otherwise the stem can fall off and go down the drain. Plug and stem details are in drain plugs, stems and gaskets.

After Hookup

While the tub drains for the first time, check every drain fitting for leaks (this is an initialed item on the warranty activation form). Drain handles turn clockwise to open fully, and on Transfer models the drain opener extension handle is up for open. A drip at a drain elbow is usually an over-tightened fitting or a shifted gasket rather than a defect; leak at the drain elbow or drain pipe explains the fix. Once the tub is in use, a slow drain is almost always on the house side; see tub drains slowly or not at all.

Watch: Plumbing and Electrical Connections Together

This technical support video covers the plumbing and electrical connections as one job: the drain hookup under the tub, the supply lines to shut-off valves placed near the tub, and the labeled cords to their dedicated GFCI outlets, all inside the access the installer must leave for future service.

Common Questions

Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and our team will be glad to walk you or your installer through it.