Why Is the Water in My Walk-In Tub Too Hot?

When the water in your walk-in tub is too hot, the answer depends on which faucet package your tub was built with. Tubs ordered with an Ella thermostatic faucet package include a Thermostatic Control Valve, or TCV, that blends hot and cold to a set temperature. If your tub has a TCV and the water still runs hotter than the setting, the usual cause is a fouled cartridge, and the fix is to clean or replace it and fit an inline filter. If your tub has a faucet without a TCV, such as the waterfall wall mount faucet with its separate hot and cold controls, the temperature is set by hand at the two valves every time. The first thing to check is your order, which tells you whether a TCV is present. Read the thermostatic control valve explained for how it works.

Likely Causes

• The TCV cartridge is fouled by calcium, iron or other heavy particles in the water, so it no longer holds its setting.
• The faucet configuration on your tub has no TCV, so the water is only as cool as the hot and cold valves are set.
• No inline filter or mesh was fitted on the supply lines, allowing debris to reach the valve.

What to Check, in Order

1. Confirm from your order whether your faucet package includes a TCV. Not every configuration has one; the dual lever 5 piece fast fill faucet, for example, is not thermostatic.
2. If there is a TCV, note the setting and measure the water at the spout with a bath thermometer. Water that runs well above the setting points to a fouled cartridge.
3. Have a licensed and insured plumber remove and clean or replace the cartridge, following TCV cartridge cleaning and replacement. Cartridge fouling from contaminated water is not covered, so protect the valve with an inline filter or mesh and clean it periodically.
4. If your tub has the waterfall wall mount faucet, set the temperature at the two valves and use the diverter to send water where you want it. Details are in waterfall faucet installation and what to expect.
5. If your configuration has no TCV and you want a fixed maximum, a qualified contractor can add an external temperature control valve on the hot water line. This may reduce flow and lengthen the fill.
6. Follow the safe bathing temperatures and conditions in warm water bathing guidelines and conditions, and test the water with your hand or a thermometer before entering.

When to Open a Ticket

If the TCV still overshoots after the cartridge has been cleaned, or you need documentation on the valve for an inspector, send a photo of the faucet and valve, the measured water temperature, the setting you selected, and your order details to your Ella dealer or the team at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850. The team confirms your faucet configuration from your order and advises on the cartridge.

Related Guides

• Cold Water Reaches the Tub but Will Not Come Out of the Faucet: Unlocking the TCV Check Valve
• How Do I Adjust the Maximum Temperature on a Walk-In Tub Thermostatic Valve?
• What Should I Do When My Walk-In Tub TCV Fails After the Warranty?
• How Do I Clean or Replace the Thermostatic Faucet Cartridge?
• How do I set the maximum hot water limit stop on the Ella TCV?
• Which Walk-In Tubs Have Anti-Scald Valves and Temperature Controls?

Common Questions