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Using Your Stainless Steel Inward-Swing Door: Opening, Closing, and Handle Adjustment

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary8
  1. Opening, Closing, and Bathing
  2. Tour of the Inward-Swing Stainless Door Tubs
  3. Adjusting the Chrome Handle Tension
  4. Can the Handle or the Door Be Removed?
  5. Two Habits That Protect Your Door
  6. Related Guides
  7. Common Questions
  8. Still Need Help?

The stainless steel inward-swing door on the Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, and Ultimate walk-in tubs opens inward toward the seat, closes with a chrome locking handle on the inside of the tub, and is held shut by the water itself once the tub fills. The same inward-swing design, in a brushed aluminum frame with frosted tempered glass, is used on the Ultra, and the Companion and Escape two-seat tubs use an inward stainless door as well. You step in, close the door while standing, sit, and fill; water pressure presses the door into its seal for a firm, watertight closure. The door is also removable, which makes cleaning the tub easy and helps with tight doorways on delivery day.

Bather seated in an Ella Elite walk-in tub closing the stainless steel inward-swing door with the interior chrome handle
The interior chrome handle on the Elite's stainless steel door. Latch it while standing, then sit and fill.

Opening, Closing, and Bathing

  1. Open the door inward, toward the seat.
  2. Hold the deck or wall grab bar and step over the low threshold.
  3. Remain standing and close the door with the interior chrome handle until it locks firmly. Closing the door from a seated position is much harder, so latch it first.
  4. Sit down and fill the tub. As the water level rises, water pressure adds to the latch and holds the door tightly against the gasket.
  5. After bathing, open both drain openers and let the tub drain completely. Do not open the door unless the tub is completely drained.

If the door feels firmly shut right after your bath, that is the design working as intended: the remaining water is holding it closed. It opens freely once the tub is empty. Our article on why the door will not open until the tub is drained explains this in more detail, along with options for households where accidental opening is a concern.

Tour of the Inward-Swing Stainless Door Tubs

Video
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Inward Swing Door Design The video showcases the custom-crafted brushed stainless steel inward swing door with a frosted tempered glass panel.
  2. 0:29 Safety Features and Construction The tub features a slip-resistant floor, grab bars, and a rust-proof stainless steel frame for safety and durability.
  3. 0:51 Dual Drain and Jetting Systems The tub is equipped with dual drain technology, a three-speed air massage system, and a powerful hydro massage system.
  4. 1:26 Foot Massage and Sterilization An independent foot massage feature and eco-friendly ozone sterilization are highlighted for enhanced bathing.
  5. 1:48 Faucets, Tray, and Chromotherapy The video presents fast fill faucet sets, a patented swivel tray, and LED light chromotherapy for relaxation.
  6. 2:16 Heated Seats and Shower Options Optional heated seats and a four-fold glass shower screen with a rain head shower column are shown.

As shown in the video, these tubs pair the custom-crafted brushed stainless steel door and frosted tempered glass panel with an extra low threshold, a textured slip-resistant floor, and sturdy deck and wall-mounted grab bars. The doors are removable for easy cleaning, and most models in this family also include the patented removable 360 degree swivel tray next to the door. The glass panel is set in the stainless steel door frame and is tempered for safety. Watch: Walk-In Tub with Stainless Steel Inward Swing Door for Easy Entry & Exit with chapters and a full transcript.

Walk-In Tub Door Design Built for Maximum Comfort and Convenience
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella's Bubbles Door Construction The video introduces the robust design and construction of Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub doors, highlighting the integrated stainless steel jamb and easily removable door.
  2. 2:07 Competitor Tub One Door The video examines a competitor's walk-in tub door, noting its hollow plastic construction, two-piece design, and short handle with a friction-based sealing mechanism.
  3. 3:44 Competitor Tub Two Door The video analyzes another competitor's door, pointing out its small, wobbly handle, two-piece plastic construction, and a silicone-attached bulb seal that can be easily peeled off.
  4. 5:41 Competitor Tub Three Door The video reviews a third competitor's door, highlighting its two-piece plastic construction, low-quality chrome-plated handle, and an integrated door drain designed to catch leaks.

This dealer walkthrough explains what makes the inward door different: an integrated stainless steel jamb and seal with no wood in the construction, welded hinges, a door of roughly 30 pounds that lifts straight off its hinges, and a long handle that clicks when the door is sealed. If you hear that click, the door is home. Watch: Walk-In Tub Door Design Built for Maximum Comfort & Convenience: Best/Safest 2020 with chapters and a full transcript.

Adjusting the Chrome Handle Tension

If your chrome door handle ever feels too loose or too stiff, the tension is adjustable. Here is how it is done:

Video

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Chrome Door Handle Adjustment with a full transcript.

  1. Remove the front apron to get access to the back of the handle mechanism.
  2. Locate the protective cap and remove it.
  3. Loosening the locking nut creates less tension on the handle; tightening it creates more tension.
  4. Adjust as needed, replace the cap, and reattach the apron.

If someone has leaned on the door and the hinge side now needs attention too, see our video guide to the handle lock nut and hinge adjustment.

Can the Handle or the Door Be Removed?

If the door handle came factory-fitted on the tub, the handle itself is not removable. When you need to reduce the tub's width, for example to fit it through a doorway during delivery, the more effective option is to remove the whole door from its hinges, then reinstall it once the tub is in place. Lift-off removal is also how you reach every corner of the door frame when cleaning. Our doorway measurement guide covers the actual widths to compare against your door openings.

Open stainless steel door on the Ella Royal walk-in tub showing the chrome latch and low step entry
The Royal's stainless steel door open on its hinges. Keep it open between baths so the gasket is not compressed.

Two Habits That Protect Your Door

  • Keep the door open when the tub is not in use, so the silicone gasket is not compressed around the clock. Our door seal care guide covers cleaning and reseating the gasket.
  • The door is engineered to carry its own weight only. Please never lean, sit, or press on it when entering or exiting; use the grab bars instead. Correct door alignment, unchanged by a bather's weight on the door, is also a condition of the door and door seal warranty.

If water ever appears at the door, leveling is the first thing to check, because a tub with any leveling leg off the floor will not let the door meet its seal squarely. See water at the door: what to check first.

Common Questions

Which Ella tubs have the stainless steel inward-swing door?
The Elite, Petite, Royal, Deluxe, and Ultimate, plus the two-seat Companion and Escape. The Ultra uses a related inward-swing door in a brushed aluminum frame. The Tub4Two and Big4Two two-seat tubs use the outward-swing U-shape door instead.
Why will the door not open after my bath?
The stainless steel inward-swing door will not open after your bath because any water remaining in the tub presses it shut. This is a safety feature, not a fault. To open the door, you must open both drain openers and wait for the tub to drain completely; the door will then open freely. Our article on why the door will not open until the tub is drained explains this design in more detail.
Should I close the door standing or sitting?
You should close the inward-swing door while standing. First, step into the tub, hold a deck or wall grab bar, and then latch the door firmly with the interior chrome handle. After the door is latched, you can sit down and fill the tub. Closing the door from a seated position is possible but much harder.
The handle feels loose or too stiff. Can it be adjusted?
Yes, the tension of the chrome door handle is adjustable if it feels too loose or too stiff. To adjust it, remove the front apron of the tub to access the back of the handle mechanism. Locate and remove the protective cap, then turn the locking nut: loosening it creates less tension on the handle, and tightening it creates more tension. Adjust as needed, replace the cap, and reattach the apron; the video "Ella's Bubbles: Chrome Door Handle Adjustment" shows each step.
Can I take the door off to get the tub through a narrow doorway?
Yes, you can take the stainless steel inward-swing door off its hinges to reduce the tub's width, which is helpful for fitting it through a narrow doorway during delivery. Once the tub is in place, you can reinstall the door. After reinstallation, check that the door closes smoothly into its seal.
Is it safe to leave the door closed between baths?
We recommend leaving the inward-swing door open when the tub is not in use. A door that stays latched keeps the silicone gasket compressed around the clock. Allowing the gasket to relax between baths helps it seal better and last longer, protecting your door seal.
Does leaning on the door affect the warranty?
Yes, leaning on the inward-swing door can affect its warranty. The door is engineered to carry its own weight only, so you should never lean, sit, or press on it when entering or exiting the tub; always use the grab bars for support. The door and door seal warranty is valid only when the door's alignment has not been changed by a bather's weight on the door.
How do I clean the door and its seal?
Wipe the gasket and the inner frame regularly with a common household cleaner so no residue or grit sits in the seal, and lift the door off when you want to reach every corner. Avoid abrasive cleaners on the glass and stainless finish.

Still Need Help?

Our team is always happy to walk you through it. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model and serial number, or call (800) 480-6850, and we will take it from there.

Walk-In Tub with Inward Swing Door & Stainless Steel Design
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Inward Swing Door Walk-In Tubs Ella's Bubbles showcases its inward swing door walk-in tubs with custom crafted brushed stainless steel doors.
  2. 0:29 Safety Features and Dual Drain The video highlights safety features like a low step-in threshold, slip-resistant floor, grab bars, and the dual drain technology.
  3. 1:21 Innovative Jetting and Ozone Ella's innovative jetting design, therapeutic air massage with auto purge, hydro massage, and eco-friendly ozone sterilization are presented.
  4. 2:13 Fast Fill Faucet and Swivel Tray The fast fill faucet sets, extendable shower head, and the patented 360-degree swivel tray are demonstrated.
  5. 2:48 Chromotherapy and Heated Seats Chromotherapy, aromatherapy, heated seats, a four-fold glass screen, and head and neck pillows are shown.
  6. 3:27 Comfort and Control Options The seat pillow and choices of easy touch buttons or a digital touchpad are displayed for maximum comfort and control.

The video above tours the walk-in tub with inward swing door and stainless steel design, showing the door, the frosted glass panel, and the interior handle in use. Watch: Walk-In Tub with Inward Swing Door & Stainless Steel Design for Maximum Safety with chapters and a full transcript.

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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