Does the stainless steel walk-in tub door only swing inward?

Yes. Every brushed stainless steel door on an Ella walk-in tub is an inward-swing door. It swings into the tub, locks with an interior chrome handle, and once the tub fills the weight of the water presses it even more firmly into its seal. Ella does not make an outward-swing version of the stainless door, so a door that opens into the room means a different door platform and a different group of models. What Is the Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door on a Walk-In Tub? describes the door itself, and this page covers the swing question and what your choices are if you would rather have a door that opens outward.

Why the Stainless Door Swings in, and Only in

The inward swing is the whole idea behind this door, not a limitation of it. Because the door closes toward the bather, the water in the tub pushes the panel into the seal as the bath fills. The door stays shut on its own, and it will not open until the tub has drained completely, so there is no way to release it into a full tub by accident. Swinging in also means the door needs no floor space in front of the tub, which is a real help in a bathroom where a toilet or a vanity sits close to the tub opening.

Using the door follows the same short routine every time:

1. Step in through the opening and stay standing.
2. Swing the door closed toward you and turn the interior chrome handle to lock it. The handle pulls the door into its seal.
3. Fill the tub. The water pressure holds the door shut for the whole bath.
4. Drain the tub completely before you unlock and open the door.

Close and latch the door while you are still on your feet. The extended stainless lever was designed to bypass the bather's leg when locking and unlocking from the seat, but closing the door from a seated position is much harder than doing it standing.

Which Ella Tubs Have the Stainless Inward Door

The stainless steel inward-swing door is fitted to the Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe and Ultimate, and to the two-seat Companion and Escape. On every one of these tubs the door and its frame are stainless steel with a frosted tempered glass panel, as laid out in What Are the Shell, Frame, Door and Towel Bar of an Ella Walk-In Tub Made Of?. The door opening on this family is the narrowest in the line, roughly 16 1/4 to 16 1/2 inches, so check that figure against the bather's needs before you settle on a model. The single-seat tubs on this deck, except the Petite, also include the patented 360 degree swivel tray, and the tray is made only for the stainless door family. Is There a Cup Holder for My Walk-In Tub, and Which Tubs Fit the Swivel Tray? explains why the tray cannot be added to an outward-swing tub.

If You Want a Door That Opens Outward

An outward-opening door is available, but it is a different construction on different models. The table lists every Ella door platform so you can see where the stainless door sits among them.

What the differences mean: if the stainless look is what you want, the door will swing in, and you choose among the seven models that carry it. If the door must open into the room, you are choosing an outward U-shape or L-shape tub, and the trade is floor space. The outward U-shape door needs clear space in front of the tub, and the L-shape door needs 36 1/2 inches of clearance, while the inward stainless door needs none. The outward doors use a proprietary gear and shaft locking mechanism with three latches on the U-shape door for a tight, leak proof seal, where the stainless door relies on its handle and the weight of the water. The video on this page walks through all five door styles and shows the brushed stainless inward-swing door with its frosted glass panel next to the outward-swing doors.

When the Paperwork Seems to Say Otherwise

Some printed documents muddy the question, and the tub itself is the tie-breaker. The outward-swing family owner manual includes a diagram of the stainless inward door by mistake, carried over from the inward-swing manual, so an outward-swing owner may see a stainless door on paper that is not on the tub. The Tub4Two spec sheet lists a removable stainless steel door, but that line was carried over from the Companion and Escape sheets; the Tub4Two door swings outward and is a frosted tempered glass panel in a white composite frame. Find your model name on your order paperwork, then open the door and watch which way it travels. Is My Tub Door Inward or Outward Swing, and Which Door Do I Have? matches every model to its door.

Living with an Inward Stainless Door

• Wipe the frame and glass with a mild, non-abrasive cleaner, and clean the seal with rubbing alcohol. The chrome handle is a plated part, so keep alcohol and chemical cleaners off it and wipe it with a soft cloth and warm soapy water, as described in How do I safely clean chrome shower frames and glass doors?.
• Lift the door off its hinges from time to time to clean the seal and the tub wall behind it, and leave the door open when the tub is not in use.
• Never lean on the door or use it to lower yourself into the seat. The door and seal warranty is valid only when the alignment is correct and has not been changed by a bather's weight.
• If the handle no longer sits flush when locked, it is adjusted at the lock nut behind the front apron.
• For a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850, have your model name, your order details from where you purchased, and photos of the handle and door ready.

Watch: Pick the Perfect Walk-In Tub Door: 5 Elegant Door Options | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

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• How do outward-swinging walk-in tub doors work on Ella tubs?
• Operating the L-Shape Transfer Door: Front Handle, Closing, and Wheelchair Entry

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