The pre-installation water test: catch leaks before your walls are finished

The pre-installation water test is a required one hour check done before the walls are closed up: fill the tub, let it stand, run every electrical component, and inspect every connection. It is the single best insurance against opening finished walls later. Shipping vibration can loosen unions and air lines, and the water test catches all of it while everything is still easy to reach.

Watch: Installation Tips, Including the Fill Test

Watch: Ellas Bubbles: Walk-In Tubs Installation Tips and Recommendations with chapters and a full transcript.

Our installation tips video walks through the whole sequence around the test: inspect for shipping damage, fill the tub with water outside the home to check for transit leaks, recheck all air, hydro, and electrical connections, level the tub so every foot carries weight, then fill the tub for an extended leak check and run the air, hydro, and electrical components for 20 minutes with a flashlight inspection of every union. The video suggests leaving the tub filled overnight if your schedule allows; the written procedure below is the required minimum.

The Required Test, Step by Step

1. Place the tub on a flat, level surface. Confirm leveling first using our leveling guide, since an unlevel tub can leak at the door during the test.
2. Wipe the door seal clean, then close the door.
3. Tape the drains closed.
4. Fill the tub to 3 inches above the highest jet. If your tub has no jets, fill to the bottom of the grab bar.
5. Let the water stand for 30 minutes and inspect all around and underneath for any sign of water.
6. Then run all electrical components on their rated 3-prong cords, plugged into separate outlets, for another 30 minutes, and inspect all unions and connections again while the pumps run.

Never start the pumps until the water covers all jets, since running a pump dry causes permanent damage that is not covered. The warranty activation form also has your installer confirm a watertight door seal after a 20 minute fill and watertight connections after running the hydro and air pumps for 20 minutes, so this test flows straight into activation.

If You Find a Drip at a Union

A leaking union at the pump or heater almost always means the union was over-tightened or the O-ring shifted. Disassemble the union, re-seat the O-ring, and reassemble it snugly. At the heater, also verify the heater threads match the pipe threads. This is a normal install-stage adjustment, not a defect, and it needs no service call. If water appears somewhere you cannot trace, our guide to finding the source of water under the tub walks through the usual suspects.

Check the Air Lines and Push Controls

On the Standard, Zen, and Flow platform, the push controls connect to an air hose that passes through the shell with a back nut. Tighten the push-control air-pipe connections and verify every push control actually works before finalizing the installation, since a loose air pipe is a known install-stage issue. More detail is in our push button air hose article.

Sealing a Push Control Button

If a push control button area ever weeps water, the video above shows the leak prevention procedure your installer can follow in a few minutes: Watch: Leak Prevention Push Control System for Walk-In Tubs with chapters and a full transcript.

1. Remove the button collar carefully with a flat edge, taking care not to scratch the tub surface.
2. Remove the collar and the button.
3. Place a thin bead of silicone caulk around the rubber gasket and smooth it to ensure complete coverage.
4. Replace the button, then snap the collar back on.
5. Smooth away excess silicone and clean the area with denatured alcohol.

Door Seal Checks

If the seal arrived slightly deformed from shipping, squeeze it with your fingertips and pull it gently away from the door frame to restore its shape, and clean it with rubbing alcohol. The door must close smoothly into a watertight seal. If it does not, re-check leveling before anything else, since leveling is the number one cause of door leaks. Keep the door open when the tub is not in use to preserve the gasket; our door seal care article covers the routine.

One More Leak Preventer: The Hand Shower

Never wall-mount the pull-out hand shower without the barrel extension hose kit. Without it, water drips through the deck insert hole and appears behind or under the tub. The kit's stainless barrel and 5 foot extension hose plug the deck hole: unscrew the mixer, thread the barrel onto the hose end, connect the extension hose to the barrel, seat the barrel in the deck hole, and connect the mixer to the extension hose. See hand shower hose orientation and mount base for photos of the parts.

Related Guides

• Is There a Deadline to Install My Walk-In Tub After Delivery?
• How Do I Fix a Leaking Union Gasket at the Pump or Heater?
• How do you install a walk-in tub step by step?

Common Questions

Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850.