This page is a section-by-section guide to the Ella Ultra owner's manual, the 27-page "Ella Acrylic Walk In Bathtubs Owners Manual" dated 6/15/23 that covers the Ultra 30"W x 52"L and its inward-swing door of brushed aluminum and frosted tempered glass, the S-shape door. It also explains the older operations-only PDF still linked from the Ultra page and calls out the printed lines our current published documents have since corrected. For the tub itself, start with the Ultra walk-in tub profile.

What the Ultra Manual Is, and the Older Glass-Door Operations PDF

The Ultra manual is the base document for the Ella acrylic walk-in family; the other family manuals reuse about 90 percent of its text. It covers the Ultra with the Air + Hydro option and pictures both push and digital controls.

The Ultra page also links a legacy file at /pdf/Ella_Stainless_Steel_Glass_Door_Walk-In_tub_Operations_Instructions.pdf, an operations-only document of about 7 pages with no installation content. Its diagram is labeled "Elite Model Shown" and it applies broadly to inward-swing tubs with Air, Hydro and Micro options.

Section Map of the 27 Pages

1. Unpacking. Photograph any freight damage, record it on the shipper's document and have the driver sign. Remove the apron, end panel and all four access panels; carry by the frame. See delivery day inspection and moving.
2. Safety. Licensed plumber and electrician, dedicated line tested including the GFCI, no appliances within 3 feet, no hydro jets below the waterline, 100.4 F caution, and correct seating posture.
3. Hand shower barrel extension. Unscrew the mixer, screw the stainless barrel onto the hose, attach the extension hose to the barrel, seat the barrel in the shower base, reattach the mixer. Required before any wall mounting.
4. Pre-installation. GFCI-protected circuit, then the water test: tape the drains, fill 3 inches above the highest jet, stand 30 minutes, run every component 30 minutes, re-seat any union O-ring that weeps.
5. Drains. Ella 2" T-Type dual port floor drain, four ports and two caps, Y fitting preferred; cutting the apron for a below-floor drain voids coverage on the altered parts.
6. Door and frame adjustments. Equal weight on every leg; extending or shortening legs corrects gaps between door and frame.
7. Service access and door seal. No insulation around the equipment; keep the door open when not in use.
8. Reversible extension kit. See extension panels and filler kits by model.
9. Finishing to the wall. A rustproof 1/8" or 3/16" strip about 5" tall, glued with 100 percent silicone, overlapping by 2".
10. Operation, cleaning, warranty and the activation form. Detailed below.

Tools and Parts You Need

• Extension kit (Ultra 30"W x 52"L): L-shape stainless brackets (2), 1" x 1/8" bolts (7), 1" x 1/4" bolts (7), 1" screw (1), 1/2" nuts (9), 3/8" nuts (7), medium washers (14), small washers (14), plastic washer (1), plastic cap (1).

Operations: S-Shape Door, Drain Openers, 5-Piece Faucet, Controls

The S-shape inward-swing door handle is inside the tub. Enter, stay standing, close the door, then sit; closing from a seated position is much harder. The manual's rule: "Do not fill above the center of the drain handle. Do not open the door unless the tub is completely drained." Two 2" drain openers turn clockwise to open and counter-clockwise to close. If you are not sure which door style your tub has, see which door does my Ella tub have.

The 5-piece fast-fill faucet has a red hot handle and a blue cold handle. For the pull-out hand shower, turn the middle diverter lever toward "OFF" and push the faucet lever down. The hand shower dial has 5 water-flow settings, the hose is a 5-foot braided stainless steel line, and a back-flow prevention valve is built in.

Push-control units have a hydro intensity dial and buttons labeled Water, Light, Air and Micro; digital units use a water-streams icon, a bubble icon with + and -, and a lightbulb icon.

Hydro, Air, Microbubble, Chromatherapy and Heated Seat Pages

Hydrotherapy. The intensity dial adjusts pressure. The in-line heater and ozone sterilization switch on and off automatically with the hydro pump; the heater maintains temperature and does not warm a cold bath. Upper jets are fixed, lower calf and foot jets adjustable.

Air and microbubble. Fixed air jets at the back and hips, bidet and feet; the Air button cycles three speeds and a fourth press turns it off. The Micro button runs the single microbubble jet from its tank system. The Auto Purge is covered under corrections below.

LED chromatherapy. Press once for changing lights, keep pressing to lock one of 8 solid colors, press and hold to turn off. More in the chromatherapy lights guide.

Heated seat and back. Press the control on the front face once. Turn it on 10 to 15 minutes before entering; it turns off automatically after 20 minutes. See heated seat and backrest.

Cleaning Pages

Before the first use and monthly after that: mix 2 cups white vinegar with 2 cups water, fill to one inch above the highest jets, run the jets 10 minutes, drain, and clear the pump inlet cover of hair. Use the manual's approved cleaners and avoid abrasives and bath bombs.

Warranty Pages and the Activation Form

The warranty pages list limited lifetime coverage on the shell, frame, door seal, finish and door, note that the door holds only its own weight, and give the thermostatic control valve a 1-year limited term. The last two pages are the Warranty Activation Form, one for the owner and one for the installer. Complete and sign both, include a copy of your receipt and the electrician's license and insurance information, and submit it online at ellasbubbles.com/warranty-activation/ or by mail; if it was missed at installation you can complete it now. See activate your warranty.

Printed Lines That Have Since Been Corrected

1. Auto Purge timing. The manual prints "20 minutes after the pump has been turned on." The published figure is that about 20 minutes after you turn the air massage pump off, the Auto Purge starts automatically and runs for 120 seconds to blow leftover water out of the air lines, preventing mold and mildew. It cannot be interrupted, and you do not need to leave the tub.
2. Air speed order. The manual prints low, medium, high. The published order is high on the first press, medium on the second, low on the third, and off on the fourth.
3. Supporting equipment warranty. The manual prints a limited five-year term on motors, pumps, fixtures, electronic controls, faucet, waste and overflow. The current warranty is Lifetime Limited on all supporting equipment as well as the shell, frame, door, seal and finish.

Download the official document: Ella Ultra Owner's Manual

If anything in the manual does not match your tub, reach us at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850, or ask your Ella dealer.

Common Questions