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Push Button Controls vs the Digital Touchpad: Operating Every Deck Control

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary9
  1. Watch: Every Deck Control, Demonstrated
  2. Air Massage with Push Controls
  3. Air Massage on the Digital Touchpad
  4. Hydro Massage on Both Control Types
  5. Chromatherapy Light on Both Control Types
  6. Which Tubs Come with Which Panel
  7. Unlabeled Buttons, Other Controls, and When Something Will Not Respond
  8. Related Guides
  9. Common Questions

Ella walk-in tubs come with a choice of deck controls: on and off push button controls, or the digital touchpad. Both operate the same therapy systems, they just do it a little differently. With push controls, the air button cycles high, medium, low, off and the water button starts and stops the hydro pump; on the digital touchpad, the air bubble icon starts the air massage, plus and minus set the intensity, and a two second hold stops it. This article walks through operating the air massage, hydro massage, and chromatherapy light on each control type, which tubs come with which panel, plus the two habits that prevent most control problems.

Watch: Every Deck Control, Demonstrated

Ella Walk-In Tub Push Controls and Digital Touchpad Walkthrough
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Push Controls Versus Digital Touchpad Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs offer a choice between on/off push controls and a digital touchpad for easy bathing.
  2. 0:45 Controlling Air Massage With Touchpad The air bubble icon on the digital touchpad activates the air massage, with plus and minus buttons adjusting intensity.
  3. 1:21 Chromo Therapy Light Functions Chromo therapy light functions the same with both control types, cycling through colors or selecting a specific one.

The video demonstrates each function on both control types. The sections below summarize every step so you have them in writing. Watch: Walk-In Tub with Push Controls & Digital Touchpad for Easy, Effortless Bathing with chapters and a full transcript.

How To Use Ella Walk-In Tub Push Control & Digital Controller
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Introduction To Tub Controls Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs offer a choice of deck controls: on/off push controls or a digital touchpad.
  2. 0:41 Using Digital Touchpad The video shows how to activate and adjust the air massage and hydro massage using the digital touchpad.
  3. 1:18 Operating Chromatherapy Lights The video explains how to operate the chromatherapy light function, which works the same for both push button and digital touchpad controls.

This second clip is a quick side-by-side of the push control and the digital controller, handy if you want to see the two panels next to each other before reading on.

Air Massage with Push Controls

Hand pressing the chrome push-button controls on the deck of an Ella Ultimate walk-in tub
Push button controls on the Ultimate: a gentle palm press is all they need.

The on and off push controls require only a gentle push to activate. The air massage button cycles through three speeds, starting on high:

  1. Press the air button once for high speed.
  2. Press a second time for medium speed.
  3. Press a third time for low speed.
  4. Press a fourth time to shut the system off.

Two tips that save a lot of tickets. First, press gently: a soft press with the palm of your hand works perfectly, and pressing very hard can damage the mechanism over time. Second, if the speeds ever feel reversed to you, that is not a fault. The button simply cycles high, medium, low, off, so count your presses from off and stop on the speed you prefer. Since the fourth press is always off, you can keep pressing to reach any speed or to shut down.

Air Massage on the Digital Touchpad

Hand pressing a button on the digital controller panel of an Ella ShaK walk-in tub
The digital touchpad, standard on the ShaK, Big4One and the two-seat tubs.
  1. Touch the air bubble icon once to activate the air massage.
  2. Touch the plus button to increase the intensity.
  3. Touch the minus button to decrease the intensity.
  4. Hold the air bubble icon down for two seconds to turn the air massage off.

Hydro Massage on Both Control Types

With push controls, the hydro massage starts with one touch of the water button, and another touch shuts it off. On the digital touchpad, simply press the hydro button once to start and once again to stop. On both control types, the strength of the jets is set by the intensity control dial on the deck: turning the dial up introduces more air into the jet stream for a stronger flow, and turning it down reduces the air for a gentler flow. Only start the hydro pump once the water is 2 inches above the highest jets. For a deeper look at how the two massage systems and their controls differ, see hydro massage vs air massage controls.

How To Use The Hydro Massage Intensity Control Dial

This clip shows the intensity dial in use. It is an air control on a hose rather than an electrical switch, which is why it works the same way on push button and touchpad tubs alike.

Chromatherapy Light on Both Control Types

Light chromatherapy functions the same with push buttons or the digital touchpad. Press the light button once for the full range of cycling colors, repeat single presses to select a specific color, and hold the button for two seconds to turn the light off. Our chromatherapy lights guide covers the light in detail.

Which Tubs Come with Which Panel

Close-up of the LED touch control panel on an Ella Tub4Two walk-in tub
The LED touch control panel on a Tub4Two.

Pneumatic push buttons are the standard control. The digital touchpad controller comes as standard on the ShaK, Big4One, the two-seat family and the Lounger Air plus Hydro package, and is available as an upgrade with Air plus Hydro packages on some other single-seat models. Even on touchpad tubs, the independent foot massage and the microbubble system keep their own push buttons. Control positions are set by the factory-drilled shell and cannot be moved to a wall; a tub with no control holes is a special order, as our article on what can and cannot be customized explains.

Unlabeled Buttons, Other Controls, and When Something Will Not Respond

  • Some models ship with unlabeled push controls, which is normal. Identify each button by its function: the water button runs the hydro massage, the air button cycles the air speeds, the micro button runs microbubble therapy if equipped, and the light button runs the chromatherapy LED.
  • The optional heated seat and backrest has its own control, covered in our article on the heated seat and backrest.
  • Tubs with independent foot massage have a separate foot button and a second intensity dial.
  • If a button or the touchpad stops responding, the cause is usually a loose pneumatic tube or a power issue rather than a failed control. Start with our guide to touchpad and push control troubleshooting, then the control box reset.
Ella's Bubbles: Digital Touchpad Replacement
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Replacing Your Digital Touchpad This video explains how to replace an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub digital touchpad.
  2. 0:12 Removing the Old Touchpad The technician carefully cuts the seal around the old pad and pries it away from the tub.
  3. 0:44 Connecting the New Touchpad The technician connects the new touchpad and temporarily reconnects power to test its function.
  4. 1:03 Installing and Sealing the Touchpad The technician removes the backing from the tape, sets the new unit in place, and seals the edges with silicone.

If a touchpad ever needs replacing, this video shows the job: protect the tub surface, cut the silicone seal around the old pad and pry it away with a straight edge, disconnect its plug, connect the new pad firmly and test it, then peel the backing from the two-sided tape, press the new pad in place and seal the edges with white silicone. Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Digital Touchpad Replacement with chapters and a full transcript.

Common Questions

My push buttons have no labels. Which is which?
Some Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub models ship with unlabeled push controls. You can identify each button by its function: the water button runs the hydro massage, the air button cycles the air massage through high, medium, low, and off speeds, the micro button runs microbubble therapy if your tub is equipped with it, and the light button runs the chromatherapy LED.
Which tubs come with the digital controller as standard?
The digital touchpad controller comes standard on several Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub models, including the ShaK, the Big4One, all two-seat family tubs, and the Lounger Air plus Hydro package. It is also available as an upgrade with Air plus Hydro packages on some other single-seat models.
Can I get the digital pad on a tub that lists only push buttons?
Yes, you may be able to get the digital touchpad on a tub that primarily lists push buttons. The digital touchpad is available with Air plus Hydro packages on some single-seat models, even if it is not explicitly shown on the product page. Please ask your Ella dealer or the support team before ordering to confirm availability for your specific model.
Can the digital pad be turned off so the lights go out?
No, the digital touchpad cannot be turned off to extinguish its lights. The backlight on the digital touchpad stays on whenever the tub has power, as there is no sleep setting documented in the manual. Note that independent foot massage and microbubble systems will still retain their own separate push buttons, even on tubs with a digital touchpad.
What is the sixth button with a flame on it?
The sixth button with a flame icon on some Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs is the control for the optional heated seat and backrest. This button lights up when the heated seat and backrest system is active. The system is designed to switch itself off automatically after 20 minutes of operation.
Are the buttons hard to press for someone with arthritis?
No, the push buttons are not hard to press, even for someone with arthritis. Ella's Bubbles push buttons are pneumatic, meaning they require only a gentle touch to activate. A soft press with the palm of your hand works perfectly, and pressing very hard is not necessary and can potentially damage the mechanism over time.
Why does the air seem to skip a speed?
The air massage system does not skip a speed. The air button on push control tubs always cycles through high, medium, low, and off in that specific order. If it seems to skip a speed, it's likely due to pressing the button multiple times quickly. To reach your desired speed, count your single presses from the off position and stop when you reach the speed you prefer.
Is there a floating remote?
No, there is no floating remote control available for Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs. All operating controls, whether push buttons or the digital touchpad, are located directly on the tub deck for easy access during bathing.
Can the controls be relocated to the wall?
No, the controls for Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs cannot be relocated to a wall. The positions for the controls are fixed by the factory-drilled shell of the tub. If you require a tub with no control holes, this would be considered a special order.
The digital pad will not light up at all.
Check that the control box has power and its GFCI has not tripped, then try the control box reset. If it stays dark, open a ticket with your model and serial number; the pad plugs into a display port on the master control box and is replaceable.
The buttons feel soft and loose. Is that normal?
Yes, it is normal for the push buttons to feel soft and loose. Ella's Bubbles push controls are pneumatic air switches, which means a light tap sends a puff of air down a tube to the control box. This design gives them a soft feel rather than a firm, clicky sensation. A gentle palm press is sufficient to activate them, and pressing hard is not necessary and can damage the mechanism over time.
What are the plus and minus keys for on the digital pad?
They step the air massage through its speeds without turning it off. The bubbles key starts and stops the air, the light key runs the LED, and on tubs with independent foot massage a separate button runs the foot jets while the water button runs the upper hydro jets. A hydro only tub with a single water button has no LED; the light comes with combination packages.

Still need help? Our team is always happy to assist. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850.

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.

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