If your tub leaks only when you let the water out and stays dry while you bathe, the leak is in the drain path: the drain gasket, the drain elbow or the union fittings under the tub. Water that appears under the tub when you let the water out is good news in one way, because it rules out the door, the shell and the supply lines and narrows the search to a handful of joints behind the front access panel. The first thing to check is the gasket in the PVC to brass drain connection, since that rubber gasket has two different faces and leaks when installed upside down. Our guide to finding the source of water under the tub covers the wider map if the drain checks come up dry.

Likely Causes

• The drain gasket in the PVC to brass connection fitted upside down or not seated.
• An unused port on the T type drain body left uncapped.
• A drain elbow cracked by overtightening during installation.
• A union nut under the drain that is loose, or one tightened so far it displaced the gasket.
• A house drain joint or reducer that was never glued or tightened.

What to Check, in Order

1. Dry everything under the tub with a towel, then fill the tub a few inches with both drains closed and wait. If it stays dry, the leak is confirmed as a draining leak.
2. Open one drain at a time with a flashlight on the drain body. Watch the gasket joint where the brass drain meets the PVC, the elbow, and the union nuts. Note which drain and which joint is wet.
3. If the joint at the gasket weeps, undo the union by hand, look at the gasket, and confirm it is the right way up. Flipped correctly, it seals hand tight.
4. Look at every port on the T type drain body. Any port not connected to the house drain must have its cap installed.
5. Inspect the elbow for a hairline crack or a wet line along the fitting. Leak at the drain elbow or drain pipe explains why overtightening cracks it and what replaces it.
6. If a drain plug or gasket itself is damaged, drain plugs, stems and gaskets lists the parts the team supplies.

When to Open a Ticket

If you have found the wet joint but cannot cure it, or the elbow is cracked, contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support. Include your serial number, a close photo of the wet joint with the drain open, and a wider shot of the whole drain assembly showing which side of the tub and which port is involved. The team confirms the cause from the photos and sends the right part.

Common Questions