How Do I Uncrate and Move a Walk-In Tub Without Damaging It?

Uncrate the tub, inspect it before the packaging leaves the site, then remove the front apron, every access panel and both end panels and carry the bare tub by its stainless steel frame, never by the plumbing, faucet, door or jets. Most standard-size single-seat Ella tubs weigh 200 to 240 pounds net and are a two-person carry once uncrated, while the crated tub is a heavier job and a staircase calls for extra hands, as Can two people carry an Ella walk-in tub up a flight of stairs? explains. This page collects the delivery-day rules from Ella's guidance so the tub reaches the bathroom in the condition it left the factory.

Inspect Before and as You Uncrate

Freight damage must be claimed within 48 hours of receipt, so the inspection starts at the truck. Keep all the packaging material, because a claim depends on it, and look for concealed damage as the crate comes apart. The inspection is visual and operational: check the shell, door, panels and fittings by eye, and confirm that the parts move and fit as they should rather than assuming an unmarked crate means an undamaged tub. Photograph the crate before it is opened and any mark you find afterward. If you find damage, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 inside that 48-hour window with the photos and the serial number.

The crate is heavy and awkward in its own right. On the Standard, for example, the crate cover alone takes two people to remove. Plan on at least two people for the uncrating even if the tub will later travel on equipment, and clear a flat, dry area large enough to lay the crate parts down without stepping over them.

Know What You Are Lifting

Two weights matter on delivery day. Net weight is the tub alone. Shipping weight adds the crate, the skid and the packing, and the packaging adds several inches and a good deal of weight to the tub itself. Across the line, net weights run from 160 to 328 pounds and shipped weights from 220 to 531 pounds. The pound values printed on the spec sheets are the authoritative figures; the kilogram conversions on some sheets are misprints and should not be used.

What the differences mean: a single-seat tub such as the Standard is a two-person carry once uncrated, while its crated weight of 310 pounds is a different job that needs more people or equipment. The two-seat models at the bottom of the table sit outside the 200 to 240 pound range that two people move safely, so plan on a larger crew whether or not stairs are involved. The ship size column is the number to hold against a doorway or landing if the crate goes in intact, and because it describes the crated tub, a crate that will not clear a turn does not mean the bare tub will not.

Strip the Panels, Then Carry by the Frame

Ella tubs ship fully assembled and cannot be disassembled to fit through a doorway or up a stairwell. What your installer can do is remove the front apron, the access panels and the end panels once the crate is off. That exposes the stainless steel frame, gives the carriers something solid to grip, and brings the tub down to its actual size rather than its shipped size. Then follow these rules, which come straight from Ella's delivery and moving guidance:

• Lift and carry only by the frame. Never lift by the plumbing, the faucet, the door or any other part, because those components are not designed to bear the tub's weight.
• Protect the underside. Air jets on the bottom of the shell can break off if the tub is set down hard or dragged. Set the tub down gently and lift it rather than sliding it.
• Keep the door open or ajar in transit and let nothing press on the door seal. A seal that stays compressed can deform.
• Bag and label the panels, drain handles, headrest, grab bar hardware, washers and screws together so nothing is lost between the driveway and the bathroom.
• Have a licensed plumber and electrician do every connection once the tub is in place. Ella's Bubbles does not send technicians.

Photograph the Serial Label While the Panels Are Off

The moment the panels come off is the easiest time to record the serial number, which you will need for the warranty activation, any freight claim and every future parts request. The label sits on the inside of a removable panel on the tub apron. On stainless steel door models it is behind the large access panel on the seat side; on other models it is behind the magnetic panel next to the door. The serial number itself starts with the letter M, and the other numbers on the same label are model and item codes, so photograph the whole label rather than copying one number. Where Do I Find the Serial Number on My Walk-In Tub? shows the panel on each family.

Plan the Route Twice

Measure the route once for the crate and once for the bare tub. If the crate will clear every doorway, hall and turn, it can travel intact and be opened next to the bathroom, which keeps the shell protected for longer. If it will not, uncrate at the delivery point, strip the panels and measure again against the tub's actual size from its spec sheet. On stairs, the landing turn is usually the tight spot, so check the long dimension of the crate against it before the crew commits. Whatever the route, keep the door open, protect the underside at every set-down point, and keep the packaging until the tub is in position and inspected.

Moving a Tub That Is Already Installed

The same carry rules apply if you ever relocate a tub, but the situation is different. Ella tubs are permanent fixtures, so a licensed electrician disconnects the equipment from its dedicated GFCI circuit and a licensed plumber disconnects the supply lines and drain before anything is moved. Drain the tub completely and dry it first, photograph the serial label, and follow the same panel, frame, underside and door-seal rules on the way out and back in. Relocating the tub ends the Lifetime Limited Warranty, which belongs to the first purchaser at the original installation address, although free lifetime technical support and parts matched to your serial number continue, as Can I Move My Ella Walk-In Tub to a New House and Reinstall It? explains. The step-by-step list, including the reinstallation checks on the subfloor and leveling legs, is in the Printable Checklist for Moving House With an Ella Walk-In Tub.

Related Guides

• What Is in the Crate: Loose Parts, Panels, Supply Lines, Drain Caps and Documents to Account for Before the Installer Starts
• My tub arrived damaged. What should I do in the first 48 hours?
• Leveling your walk-in tub: why every leg must touch the floor before anything else

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