Can I Switch My Walk-In Tub From a 2-Piece to a 5-Piece Faucet?

Yes. The 5-Piece Fast Fill faucet is the set Ella supplies as the replacement for older faucet models, and it is fitted to an existing tub through the deck plate that is already there, so a 2-piece set can be changed over after the tub is installed. The team sends the version sized for your existing deck plate, your plumber makes the connections, and in many cases only the handles and valves actually change. Replacing Your Walk-In Tub Faucet Set, Valves or Hand Mixer covers the parts side; this page covers what the switch involves on a tub that is already in use. Start with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, with your model, serial number and a photo of the faucet ready.

What Is Different Between the Two Sets

What the table means in practice: the swap is mostly a connection job under the deck, not a deck job. The hand shower, its hose and the way you use it stay the same, the deck plate stays, and the two real changes are how the diverter is operated and the size of the supply connections your plumber has to match.

Why the Deck Plate Decides Which Version You Get

The team supplies the version of the 5-Piece Fast Fill set that is sized for your existing deck plate, because the valves on the newest version of the faucet are too large to fit a replacement plate. That is why the first request is a clear photo of the faucet on the deck and, if you have it, the original invoice, which names the faucet model. If the invoice is gone, the photo is enough for the team to identify the set. From there they tell you whether you need the complete set or only some of its pieces. The 5-piece set looks very similar on the deck and connects the same way, so the finished tub does not look retrofitted.

Supply Lines and the Adapter Your Plumber Fits

The new set uses 3/4-inch supply lines, while older faucets usually have 1/2-inch lines. If the check valves under your tub have 1/2-inch connections, your plumber fits a 3/4-inch to 1/2-inch NPT adapter, which is a standard plumbing part rather than something you need to order from Ella. Ella does not send technicians, so plan on a local licensed plumber for the connections. On a factory-new tub the faucet ships assembled on the deck but not hooked to the supply lines, and the same rule applies to a replacement: nothing runs, including the hand shower, until the supply connections are made on site.

You Do Not Have to Replace Everything

The switch can be partial. You can leave the existing spout and hand sprayer in place and change only the handles and valves, adapting the spout supply line from 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch NPT. Before committing to a full set, it is worth confirming what is actually wrong, because many faucet complaints are solved by one piece:

• Dripping or a stiff handle usually means a worn cartridge rather than a new faucet.
• No hot water at the tub while the sinks have hot water points to the thermostatic control valve on faucets that have one, not the faucet body.
• A leaking or kinked hand shower hose is replaced on its own as the hand mixer line.
• Worn valves or a broken handle can be replaced without touching the spout or sprayer.

The 5-Piece Fast Fill set does not use the thermostatic temperature control piece with the built-in filter that some older faucets had, which is one reason the team recommends it as the replacement.

Using the Diverter After the Switch

The biggest day-to-day difference is the diverter. On the 2-piece set you turn the water on with the lever and press the button under the spout, and the hand shower takes over. On the 5-piece set the diverter is the middle lever between the red and blue handles: turn it toward OFF and push the faucet lever down to send water to the hand shower, then turn it back to return water to the spout. What Is a Hand Shower Diverter on a Walk-In Tub? shows both layouts.

Owners who move from the 2-piece set also leave behind its one quirk. In rare cases the 2-piece button sticks in the closed position after the water is turned off; that is an air lock, cleared by unscrewing the hose from the handset and removing the plastic restrictor so the button snaps back. Hard water can also make an older 2-piece diverter sticky. The 5-piece lever has no button to stick, but if it ever lets water out of both outlets at once or will not hold its position, the complete valve is replaced; one port is standard thread and the other reverse thread, so the hoses only fit one way. The full checklist is in Why Won't the Diverter Switch to the Hand Shower?. The hand shower itself works the same on either set, with five spray settings and flow limited to 1.9 GPM by plumbing code, as described in How Do I Use the Hand Shower in My Ella Walk-In Tub?.

Adding a Shower Column at the Same Time

If the reason for the upgrade is a fuller showering setup, the shower column kit connects to either the 2-piece or the 5-piece fast fill set. It goes into the vacant pre-drilled hand shower receptacle once the existing hand shower is removed, and its 1/2 inch supply line attaches to the faucet diverter. The column base needs a 1 1/4 inch hole in the deck, which the hand shower receptacle already provides on tubs with an Ella faucet. Shower Column Drips After Shutoff, Deck Hole Size, Connector Rods and Replacement Column Sections covers the hole size, the wall connector lengths and why the rain head drips briefly after shutoff.

What to Have Ready

Send the team your tub model and serial number, a photo of the faucet and diverter on the deck, the original invoice if you have it, and a note on what the faucet is doing wrong or what you want to change. With that they match the correct version of the 5-piece set to your deck plate and tell you which pieces you actually need, so your plumber arrives with the right adapter and does the job in one visit.

Related Guides

• Ella Fast-Fill Faucets: 2-Piece vs 5-Piece, Finishes, and the Waterfall Option
• 5-Piece Faucet: Water Keeps Flowing With the Valve Off, Low Pressure, Handle Replacements and Finish Options
• Replacing a Failed Thermostatic Control Valve: Cleaning First, Cartridge Versus Whole Valve, and How to Order

Common Questions