When the tub leaks at the corners or wall when filled, and the door itself stays dry, you are almost always looking at a finishing gap rather than a defect in the tub. Ella tubs have a flat deck edge with no molded tile lip, so the tile flange must overlap the tub edge, the wall finish must overlap the flange, and every joint must be siliconed; if any of those layers is missing, splash water runs down the wall line at the corners. The first thing to check is whether a flange is actually there behind the tile and whether the corners were caulked. The tile flange and wall finishing guide shows what a correct wall line looks like.

Likely Causes

• No tile flange, or a flange that does not overlap the tub edge.
• Tile or wall panels that stop above the flange instead of overlapping it.
• Corners and the extension panel to tub line left uncaulked, or not caulked with silicone.
• Water from under the tub (a union, air fitting, button gasket or drain elbow) reaching the floor corners.

What to Check, in Order

1. Dry everything, fill the tub with the door closed and let it stand. If the corners stay dry until you splash or use the hand shower, the water is coming over the deck edge at the wall.
2. Look behind the wall finish at one corner. A flange strip should be bonded to the tub edge with 100 percent silicone and overlap the edge, and the tile or panel should come down over it. Kit contents and orientation are in the glue up tile flange guide.
3. Run a bead of 100 percent silicone at every joint: tub to wall along all three sides, each corner, the extension panel to tub line and the end panel to wall line.
4. If water appears on the tiles below the panel or on the floor while you bathe, open the access panels and trace it under the tub instead, starting with the unions at the pump and heater, the air tube fittings, the push button gaskets and the drain elbow. Follow the finding the source guide and add one source at a time.
5. Confirm the tub is level with every leg bearing, since an unlevel frame opens gaps at the wall and the door together.
6. On a new installation, fill and hold the tub with the panels open for the pre installation water test before the walls are closed.

When to Open a Ticket

If the wall line is sealed and water still shows at the corners, or you cannot tell whether it comes from the wall or from under the tub, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model and serial number, a photo of the corner where water appears, a photo behind the access panel, and a note on whether it happens while filling, while bathing or while draining. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 will confirm the source from those photos.

Common Questions