This page walks through the first half of installing an Ella two-seat walk-in tub: what arrives, how to check and carry it, the water test, and how to level a long frame so the door seals. It comes from the Ella Two-Seat Walk-In Bathtubs Owner's Manual (28 pages, dated 6/15/23), with crate sizes from the family spec sheets. Part 2 covers the drains, faucet, electrical, grab bar and walls.

Which Tubs This Manual Covers

The cover lists four models. Each has two molded seats of slightly different widths.

For a side-by-side look at the four models, see the two-seat comparison.

Two Door Types in One Family: Which One You Have

The manual pictures a U-shape door with the handle inside the tub, but the family ships with two different doors, and it matters for the door check later on this page. The Tub4Two and Big4Two use the outward-swinging U-shape door with a tempered glass panel in a white composite frame and a 3-latch gear and shaft mechanism. The Companion and Escape use the inward-swinging brushed stainless steel door with frosted tempered glass. If your paperwork describes the Tub4Two door as stainless steel or inward swinging, that is a known misprint on one spec sheet revision; the Tub4Two door swings outward. See which door your tub has for photos of each style.

Delivery Inspection and Shipping Sizes to Check

Two-seat tubs arrive crated, and they are longer and heavier than a single-seat tub, so measure the route from the truck to the bathroom before delivery day. These are the printed crate sizes and weights from each spec sheet.

Inspect the crate and carton before signing. If you see damage, photograph it, write the details on the shipper's delivery document, and ask the driver to sign it; the manual states that damage must be recorded on the delivery documents for a claim to be processed. Keep all packaging until the installation is finished, because returns are only accepted in the original packaging. The general routine is in delivery day inspection and moving, and every model's figures are in walk-in tub weights.

Remove Access Panels and Toe Kick Plates Before Carrying

The two-seat manual adds one line the single-seat manuals do not: "Remove all access panels and toe kick plates if applicable before carrying the tub to prevent them from falling out and breaking."

1. Remove the front apron with its two access panels, the reversible end panel, and any toe kick plates, and set them where they cannot be stepped on.
2. Lift by the stainless steel frame only. Never lift by the plumbing, pumps, faucet or panels.
3. Avoid bumping the sides or bottom of the shell; air jets sit on the bottom and can break off.
4. Set the tub down on its legs, never on any plumbing.

Safety Rules Before Any Work Starts

Contract a licensed plumber and a licensed electrician and follow all local codes. The tub is for indoor use only, with manufacturer parts only. The electrician must test every connection on the dedicated line, including the GFCI. No electrical appliance may sit within 3 feet of the tub. Never turn on the hydro jets until water covers every jet, because a pump run dry can be permanently damaged. Water above 100.4 degrees F may be harmful, so check the temperature before every bath.

The Pre-Installation Water Test on a Two-Seat Tub

Before the tub goes into its alcove and before any wall is closed, the manual requires a water test. On a two-seat tub that means filling a large shell, so plan for the time. The pre-installation water test article explains why; here is the printed sequence.

1. Place the tub on a completely flat surface where it can drain.
2. Wipe the door seal with a clean rag and warm water.
3. Seal both drains (tape works) and fill to at least 3 inches above the highest jet.
4. Let the water stand 30 minutes and inspect all plumbing and seals for leaks.
5. Using properly rated three-prong extension cords in separate outlets, run every electrical component, including the air blower, the water pumps and the heater, for another 30 minutes. Inspect again, especially the unions at each pump and the heater.
6. If a union leaks after tightening, it may be over-tightened or its O-ring displaced. Take it apart, re-seat the O-ring and reassemble. At the heater, confirm the threads match the pipe threads.

Leveling a Long Frame and Checking the Door

The subfloor must be level and must support the tub, the water and the bathers, as local code requires. Adjust the leveling legs so every leg touches the floor and carries an equal share of the weight. The manual spells out the consequence: an unlevel tub warps the frame and shell, the door goes out of alignment, water leaks past the seal, and the warranty is voided. The tub was leveled at the factory; the installer must re-test it on your floor.

1. Set the tub in its final position with the drains roughed in but not connected.
2. Check level along the length and across the width, then adjust each leg until all legs bear weight.
3. Close the door. It must close smoothly and make a watertight seal. Extending or shortening individual legs corrects any gap between the door and the frame.
4. On an outward U-shape door (Tub4Two, Big4Two), confirm the door swings clear and the 3-latch mechanism engages fully. On an inward stainless door (Companion, Escape), confirm the door meets the frame evenly all the way around.
5. If the silicone seal looks stuck or flattened from shipping, squeeze it with your fingertips and pull it away from the door frame with the door open so it relaxes.

The full method is in our leveling guide. If the door will not seal after leveling, call (800) 480-6850 before going further.

This short video shows how the threaded leveling feet let an installer level on an uneven floor, and why Ella's extra center legs spread the weight and reduce frame twist, with the leg layout varying by model.

Download the official document: Ella Two-Seat Walk-In Bathtubs Owner's Manual

Next: Part 2

With the tub level and the door sealing, Part 2 covers the two 2 inch drains, the two-piece faucet, the three dedicated electrical lines a fully loaded two-seat tub needs, the grab bar washers, the first fill and finishing the walls.

Common Questions