The push-button air hoses on an Ella walk-in tub connect each chrome button to a labeled port on the blue control box: the Water button goes to Pump #1 Airswitch, the Air button to Blower/Pump #2 Airswitch, and the Light button to the Light Airswitch. The buttons are pneumatic, so pressing one sends a puff of air down a small hose to a relay in the box, and the relay switches the pump or light. That is why a massage that suddenly does nothing is usually a hose problem rather than an electrical one, and why nothing about a button is dangerous to work on. This article covers ports, hose connections, stuck buttons, replacement and sealing; the broader touchpad and push control troubleshooting guide and the control box reset are separate articles.

Which Hose Goes to Which Port

The blue control box is mounted to the frame under the seat; remove the large magnetic access panel in front of the seat and it will most likely be on the bottom frame right up front. The ports are labeled:

• Water button connects to the port marked Pump #1 Airswitch.
• Air button connects to Blower/Pump #2 Airswitch.
• Light button connects to the Light Airswitch.

Layouts vary by therapy package. On some tubs the water buttons connect directly to the pumps, with the hose entering a white nut on the pump, and on a hydro plus hydro tub the light button's hose goes to a small grey box instead. If your box looks different, send a photo of it and the team will tell you where each hose belongs.

Securing the Hose at the Box and at the Button

The video uses a control box and a push control on the bench to show the most common cause of a dead massage: no air signal reaching the box because the tube has come off or is faulty at one end.

1. At the box, push the tube firmly onto the nipple with a twist-and-push motion so it seats all the way on.
2. At the button, work a fine flat screwdriver under the chrome collar, add a second one and pry around it to lift the collar off, then remove the button.
3. Pull out the black core beneath the button to reach the hose connection and the lock nut.
4. Make sure the hose is on its nipple and the lock nut is snug, then push the core back into place, refit the button and snap the chrome ring on.

The hose simply pushes onto the nipple on the bottom of the button; the white mounting nut is flanged inside and holds the button in the panel.

Air Lock, Relay Click and Pneumatic Basics

The video explains that the push buttons work on pneumatic pressure: the red tube runs from the button to the control box, and pressing the button creates pressure that trips a relay inside the box. For proper function the red tube must be firmly connected at the box and secured at the button with its lock nut. It then shows an air lock, where the button sits stuck in the down position. To relieve it, disconnect the red tube from the control box for a moment; the button pops back up. Reconnect the tube, press the button, and listen for an audible click inside the box, which tells you the relay is being activated. The same relief works at the pump nipple on tubs where the hose runs to the pump, and a partial air lock on the light circuit is cleared the same way. After any reconnection, unplug the hose from the box for a second or two so the line returns to room pressure, then plug it back in, and inspect the visible hose for kinks or twists. If the relay clicks but the pump still does not run, move on to the pump troubleshooting guide.

A Hose That Keeps Popping Off, and Red Hose

Some of the older clear air hoses deteriorate in the field and lose their hold on the nipple. The team's answer is a set of red replacement hoses, along with a new white mounting nut if yours is missing. When buttons are replaced, extended-length air hose is included to make it easier to fish the hose around to the box. Tell the team whether your hose is clear or red and whether the white nut is still attached. Some older tubs used a smaller polyurethane tube, about 1/4 inch inside diameter by 3/8 inch outside diameter; send a photo and the team will confirm the size before sending hose.

A Button That Is Stuck Down

Try the air lock fix first: remove the hose from the box (or pump) for a second so the line re-pressurizes, then reconnect it. If the button is physically caught under the escutcheon ring, pop the ring off with a putty knife, paint scraper or butter knife and the button returns to position. It is very rare for the button itself to jam; when it happens it is almost always because silicone, grout or other construction material got into the button during installation, in which case a replacement button is the fix.

Replacing a Button

No breaker needs to be turned off. The only thing attached to a push button is the air hose, and you are just moving that hose from the old button to the new one; there are no open circuits at the button. The steps the team gives:

1. Pop off the escutcheon ring with a putty knife or paint scraper and remove the button core.
2. If the old button housing is being replaced, break it with a chisel so it drops down behind the tub.
3. Fit the new button, then remove the large magnetic access panel and fish the new hose around to the control box.
4. Connect it to the correct port (Water to Pump #1, Air to Blower/Pump #2, Light to Light) with the twist-and-push described above.
5. Disconnect the hose at the box for a moment, reconnect, and press the button to hear the relay click.

The published warranty covers parts, not labor, so the team ships the button and hose and talks you or your contractor through the swap. The parts ordering guide lists what to include in the request.

Sealing a Button Against Water

The video shows how to keep water from getting behind a push control:

1. Carefully remove the button collar with a flat edge, taking care not to scratch the tub surface, then remove the collar and the button.
2. Run a thin bead of silicone caulk around the rubber gasket and smooth it so the coverage is complete.
3. Replace the button and snap the collar back on, smoothing away any excess silicone.
4. If needed, clean the area with denatured alcohol.

The Air Button Seems to Lag

The air massage button cycles through its speeds in a fixed order: press once for high, twice for medium, three times for low, and a fourth press turns the air off. If you press it several times quickly, the last few changes arrive slightly delayed while the box catches up with the input, which can look like the button is misbehaving. Press once, wait for the speed to change, then press again. The full control layout is in push button controls versus the digital touchpad.

Common Questions

For anything specific to your model, serial number or faucet set, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and the Ella's Bubbles team will confirm the exact part.