Can I Run Only the Foot Jets on the Transfer60 Without the Seat Jets?

Yes, you can run only the foot jets on the Transfer60 when the tub was built with one of its Independent Foot Massage packages. Those packages give the foot and calf jets their own hydro pump, their own button and their own intensity dial, so the seat jets stay off while your feet get the full massage. The general routine for any Ella tub is in How Do I Use Only the Foot Massage Without Filling the Whole Tub?, and this page covers what is specific to the Transfer60.

Which Transfer60 Packages Let the Foot Jets Run Alone

The current Transfer60 spec sheet lists seven jetting choices. Two of them carry the feature you need:

• Air + Hydro + Hydro Independent Foot Massage, with the LED chromatherapy light included.
• Hydro + Hydro Independent Foot Massage, with the LED chromatherapy light included.

For the Hydro + Hydro Foot Massage system the spec sheet prints 2 hydro massage pumps rated 5A + 7A, 2 intensity dial air controls, 22 jets arranged as 16 seat jets and 6 foot jets, an on/off push control, an in-line water heater rated 6A 650W and ozone sterilization rated 0.04A. The sheet also notes that the amp value for a pump may change based on availability, so treat the figures as the published specification and read your own equipment labels if an electrician asks.

The other choices on the list are Air + Hydro, Air + Hydro + Microbubble, Hydro Massage + Microbubble, Hydro Massage, and Soaking. None of those names includes the words Independent Foot Massage. The plain Hydro Massage entry makes the difference easy to see: it prints one 7A pump and one intensity dial for the same 22 jets, 16 at the seat and 6 at the feet. One pump and one dial means the seat jets and the foot jets run together. On the Transfer family the jet count follows the therapy package that was ordered, so your order paperwork is the record of what your tub has.

Ella's schematic library also places the Transfer60 on the four-system drawing that adds Microbubble Therapy to air, seat hydro and foot hydro. On that sheet the Foot Hydro Massage System is its own numbered component with its own hydro pump, its own air flow intensity control and its own on/off button, as explained in What the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot + Microbubble Schematic Shows.

How to Run a Foot-Only Session on the Transfer60

When your package includes Independent Foot Massage, a foot spa takes only a footwell of water. Follow these steps in order:

1. Get seated, then close and secure the door.
2. Close both drains. The Transfer60 has two 2 inch drains, each with its own opener on an extended handle, and both need to be closed for the footwell to hold water.
3. Fill the footwell to just below the seat and just above the calf jets, so every foot and calf jet is covered with water.
4. Press the foot massage button. The seat jets stay off because they are on a different pump.
5. Set the strength with the foot intensity dial. Turning it up lets more air into the jet stream, and turning it down reduces the air.
6. Press the foot button once more to turn the system off, then open the drains.

The first video on this page shows this exact routine. It is filmed on the Ella Ultimate, where independent foot massage is standard, and the presenter fills the footwell to just below the seat and just above the hydro calf jets, touches the independent foot massage button, and turns the dial to adjust the intensity. The control positions on your Transfer60 may be arranged differently, and the Transfer60 can also be ordered with an optional digital controller, so match the buttons to your own deck before you start.

What the Two-Pump Design Means for You

A Transfer60 with Independent Foot Massage has two separate hydro pumps, one for the seat jets and one for the foot jets, each with its own push button and its own intensity dial. There is no diverter valve taking power from one side to feed the other, so each system gets full flow. The second video on this page explains the idea in under a minute: with two pumps you can run full power to just your feet or full power to your entire body, and you control the intensity on each side with its own dial.

Three practical points follow from that design:

• Warm water. On these configurations the in-line heater is attached to the foot massage pump, so it helps hold the water temperature while the foot jets run. It maintains warmth and never heats the water from cold, so fill the footwell at the temperature you enjoy.
• Electrical. Triple packages that combine air, hydro and independent foot massage require two dedicated GFCI 120V 20A outlets. The push-control drawing that lists the Transfer60 is covered in What the Air + Hydro + Hydro Foot Schematic Shows, where the seat hydro system and the hydro foot system appear as separate numbered components.
• Built in at the factory. The second pump, its jets and its dial are part of the tub when it is built, so independent foot massage cannot be added later. If you are still choosing a Transfer60, settle the package with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before your order is placed. The feature itself is described in What Is Independent Foot Massage on a Walk-In Tub?

If Your Transfer60 Has a Single Hydro Pump

When the package on your order does not include Independent Foot Massage, the foot jets share a pump with the upper jets. A footwell-only fill is not safe on that setup. Water would be pushed out of the exposed upper jets, and the pump could run dry, which causes permanent damage that is not covered by the warranty.

On a shared-pump Transfer60, fill the tub to at least 1 inch above the highest jets you intend to run before you press any hydro button. You still get the foot jets, you simply enjoy them together with the seat jets during a full bath. The rule for every Ella tub is the same: never start a pump with its jets above the waterline.

Not sure which setup you have? Look at your order paperwork for the words Independent Foot Massage, then look at the deck for a separate foot button with its own dial. If the foot button also starts the upper jets, or you cannot tell, send a photo of the control cluster and your order details through ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850, and the team will confirm your package and the safe fill level for your tub.

Care, and What to Note If the Foot Jets Do Not Start

Both hydro circuits need the monthly vinegar flush. Combine 2 cups of white vinegar with 2 cups of water, fill the tub with water to one inch above the highest jets, add the mixture, run the tub for 10 minutes, then drain. Because this fill covers the seat jets as well as the foot jets, run both pumps so both circuits are cleaned. The same flush is used before the first bath in a new tub.

Because the seat and foot systems are independent, one can run while the other does not. Before you judge the foot system, confirm the footwell water is above the calf jets, since an uncovered jet set will not massage and the pump should never be started that way. If the foot pump still does not respond, note which button, pump and dial are affected, and have your model, serial number and therapy package ready when you open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support. Replacement parts ship under the warranty, and a local licensed plumber or electrician handles the labor.

Watch: Best Walk-In Tub with Independent Foot Massage (Buyers Guide) | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• What the Hydro + Hydro Foot Schematic Shows: Two Hydro Pumps, Two Dials, the Heater in the Foot Loop and Two Dedicated Lines

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