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What Do I Do If a Push Button Fell Through Into the Tub?

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

If a push button fell through into the tub, the lock nut that holds the button from below has come loose or the plastic base has broken, so the button dropped out of its hole in the shell. There is nothing electrical in the button itself. Ella push buttons are pneumatic: a bellows under the button sends a puff of air through a small hose to a nipple on the blue control box, and a relay in the box switches the pump or light. The first thing to check is the button base and lock nut from behind the access panel. If the threads are stripped or the base is cracked, the button is replaced as a stock part. The push button air hoses and replacement guide covers the ports, hoses, and sealing in detail.

Likely Causes

  • The lock nut under the button worked loose, so the button lifted out of the shell or sits unseated with the red line exposed.
  • The plastic base where the button screws together cracked or the threads stripped, for example after the button was pressed too hard.
  • An air lock in the hose, which holds the button down and stops it returning.
  • The hose has come off its nipple at the button or at the control box, so pressing does nothing.

What to Check, in Order

  1. Remove the large magnetic access panel in front of the seat. The blue control box is mounted to the frame under the seat, usually on the bottom frame at the front.
  2. Find the hose from the affected button and confirm it is firmly on its nipple at the control box, pushed on with a twist and push motion.
  3. If the button is stuck down, disconnect its hose at the control box. The button should pop up, then reconnect the hose. Press the button and listen for the click of the relay inside the box.
  4. If the button fell through, seat it back in its hole from above and tighten the lock nut from below. If the threads are stripped or the base is broken, it will not hold and needs replacing.
  5. Reconnect any hose to its labeled port on the blue box: the Water button to Pump #1 Airswitch, the Air button to Blower/Pump #2 Airswitch, and the Light button to the Light Airswitch. If the massage still does not respond, the touchpad and push control troubleshooting guide takes it from there.
  6. Order a replacement button or hose through your Ella dealer, where you purchased, or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850, following the replacement parts guide.
Push Button Control Issues and Repair
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Pneumatic Push Button Controls The video introduces how push button controls work using pneumatic pressure and a red connection tube.
  2. 0:32 Activating the Relay Switch Pushing the button creates pneumatic pressure, which activates the relay switch inside the control box.
  3. 1:05 Relieving an Air Lock The video demonstrates how to relieve an air lock by disconnecting the red tube from the control box.
  4. 1:20 Reconnecting the Tube After reconnecting the tube, pushing the button should produce an audible clicking sound from the control box.

The video checks that the tube is firmly on the control box nipple and secured at the button with the locking nut, frees a stuck button by disconnecting the tube at the box so it pops up, and confirms the repair by the audible click of the relay when the button is pressed. Watch: Push Button Control Issues and Repair with chapters and a full transcript.

When to Open a Ticket

Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model and serial numbers, a photo of the button and its base, a photo of the hole in the shell, and a photo of the blue control box with its labels visible. Mention which button it is and whether it fell through, is stuck down, or is not seated. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 will match the button and hose.

Common Questions

Is it safe to work on a push button myself?
Yes, it is safe to work on an Ella's Bubbles push button yourself. The push buttons are pneumatic, meaning they use air pressure rather than electricity, so the hose and lock nut can be handled safely with the tub turned off. Only the blue control box itself contains electrical components, and you do not need to open it to address button issues.
Why are all the buttons pushed down and not returning?
Buttons that are pushed down and not returning are usually held by an air lock in the hose. To relieve an air lock, disconnect the hose from the affected button at the blue control box. The button should then pop up, and you can reconnect the hose to its labeled port on the control box.
Do I need a new control box if the button broke?
No, you do not need a new control box if a push button broke. The push button and its air hose are replaced as stock parts on their own. The replacement hose will connect to the same labeled port on the blue control box as the original.
What if my control box looks different from the one in the video?
Control box layouts can vary by therapy package, so your control box might look different from the one shown in the video. For example, on some tubs, a water button hose may go directly to a white nut on the pump instead of the blue control box. If you send a photo of your control box, the Ella's Bubbles support team can help you identify where each hose belongs.

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.

Related guides

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