This page is the second half of the installation sequence for the stainless steel inward-swing door family: the Ultimate, Deluxe, Royal, Elite and Petite. It follows the Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door Owner's Manual (28 pages, dated 6/15/23) from a level, water-tested tub through the drain, the below-floor option, faucets, electrical, the deck mount grab bar, the extension kit, the door check and the wall, and closes with the checklist your installer initials on the Warranty Activation Form.

Connecting the 2 Inch T-Type Dual Port Floor Drain

Two Ella 2" T-type dual port floor drains are included, giving four 2" ports so the line can run in either direction. For the fastest drainage connect all four; if only two are used, the two included caps close the rest. Join the outlets with a Y fitting rather than a T, since fewer turns mean faster drainage, and confirm the house drain works properly first, because dual drains cannot speed up a slow house line. Port choices and drain sides are covered in drain configurations and the house drain.

Recessing the Drain Below the Subfloor

The leveling legs allow the tub to be lowered, but the bottom of the apron, the end panel and the drain will then hit the floor. Recessing means cutting subfloor access for the drain and trimming the bottom of the apron and/or end panel, using masking tape and appropriate cutting tools to protect the acrylic. The manual is direct: if this custom installation is done, the warranty will not cover the damaged or altered parts of the bathtub. See lowering the tub and recessed installations.

Supply Lines and the Two Faucet Options

Two 5' 3/4" supply lines come with every Ella fast-fill faucet and connect to shut-off valves (not included). The Elite spec sheet rates the 5-piece faucet at up to 18 GPM at 60 PSI under ideal in-home plumbing conditions. The manual documents both faucets:

• 2-piece fast-fill faucet: lift the lever to turn the water on, turn it left for hot and right for cold, and push the diverter button under the spout to switch between the spout and the hand shower. Push the lever down to turn off.
• 5-piece fast-fill faucet: the hot handle is marked red and the cold handle blue. Turn the middle diverter lever toward OFF and push the faucet lever down to send water to the pull-out hand shower. The hand shower has 5 flow settings on its dial.

Deck mounting steps are in fast-fill faucet installation. Do not wall-mount the hand shower without an extension hose with barrel protection.

Dedicated GFCI Circuit, No Insulation, Service Access

The tub must be on a GFCI protected circuit installed by a licensed electrician and tested periodically. The spec sheet wording is "Dedicated GFCI protected electrical line(s) required, 110/120V," and two-pump packages may need more than one line; see electrical requirements by model. If the GFCI will not reset, turn the power off until the fault is corrected.

Two more rules from the same page: do not insulate around the tub equipment, because the frame is engineered for ventilation and obstructions can overheat the pumps, and the installer or owner must provide code-compliant service access, since Ella is not responsible for the cost of gaining access for a repair. See planning service access panels.

Installing the Deck Mount Grab Bar: The Washer Rule

The kit contains a chrome grab bar (1), escutcheons (2), rubber washers (4), metal washers (2) and bolts (2). The manual's capitalized warning: the washers must be installed to prevent cracking of the acrylic shell, and failure to do so voids the warranty.

1. Place a metal washer on the bolt, followed by a rubber washer.
2. Feed the bolt up through the tub shell.
3. Add a rubber washer over the bolt, then the escutcheon.
4. Thread the bolt loosely into the grab bar; repeat for the second bolt.
5. Tighten both bolts with the supplied Allen wrench.

In the manual's words: "Under no circumstances install the grab bar without the large metal washer underneath the tub shell." Other options are in grab bars included and add-on.

The Reversible Extension Kit for This Family

The manual's kit table lists the Deluxe (30"W x 55"L), Elite (30"W x 52"L) and Royal (32"W x 52"L). It also lists the Petite, but the width printed for it in that table is a known misprint; the Petite's actual width is 27.5" per its spec sheet. The Ultimate is not listed.

1. Install the 3 extension support brackets provided in the kit.
2. Clamp the extension panel to the tub shell, lining up the facade at the top and front.
3. Pre-drill holes about 3/8" wider than the mounting screws to allow final adjustment of the panel.
4. Mount the extension with 7 screws, washers and bolts.
5. Apply silicone or white caulking as needed.

Panel sizes for every model are in extension panels and filler kits by model.

Door Check and First Fill

Close the door and confirm it closes smoothly to a watertight seal; a gap means going back to the leveling legs. Fill the tub, let it stand, then run the pumps while watching every union, jet and drain fitting. Never fill above the center of the drain handle or open the door before the tub is completely drained.

Finishing to the Wall with a Tile Flange

Before pushing the tub to the wall, glue a tile flange strip to the tub edge with 100% silicone. Any thin (1/8" or 3/16") rustproof, waterproof material works, such as acrylic, thin stainless steel or a fiberglass strip, about 5" tall and overlapping the edge by 2". Tile or a wall panel then overlaps the flange and the flat deck, with silicone-based caulking at every joint. The full method is in tile flange and wall finishing.

Warranty Activation Checklist Your Installer Signs

The manual ends with the two-page Warranty Activation Form, signed by the owner and the installer. The installer initials each item, which makes it a useful handoff test list:

• Tub level in all directions with all support legs touching the ground; dedicated GFCI protected circuit; frame properly grounded.
• Door seal cleaned with rubbing alcohol; temperature control valve (where fitted), both diverters and hand shower working; supply lines checked for leaks.
• Drains open and close properly with the locking nut tightened on both stoppers; all drain fittings checked while draining.
• Door seal watertight after a fill of at least 20 minutes; hydro and air pumps run at least 20 minutes with all connections watertight.
• Chromatherapy light and ozone sterilization working (ozone on by itself makes a light humming noise); unit installed with access to plumbing and electrical.

Submit the completed form promptly after installation; activate your warranty explains how.

Download the official document: Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door Owner's Manual

The video shows the two 2 inch drains with their four T-type ports, the dual P-traps and the connection to the house main, and recommends a 2 inch main line.

Common Questions