Should I Unpack and Test-Fill My Walk-In Tub Before Installation Day?

Yes, and the sooner the better. Ella's published shipping policy asks you to open the crate carefully, save all packaging material, and inspect the tub both visually and operationally within 48 hours of receipt, and that clock runs from the day the truck arrives, not from installation day. Filling the tub and running its systems before it is carried into the bathroom is exactly what the pre-installation water test is designed for, and Ella strongly suggests doing that test outside, before the tub goes in.

Why the 48-Hour Window Settles the Question

The freight damage window is the reason to unpack early rather than leave the crate sealed until your plumber is free. Any damage or missing parts must be reported within 48 hours of receipt, and the policy defines a complete inspection as a visual check and an operational one. That is why the 48-hour freight damage window guide says to fill the tub and run the systems before installation whenever possible. A problem found during that test is easier to resolve when it is reported inside the window than after the tub is set in place, and in most cases a damaged part is replaced rather than the whole tub, so an early report usually means a small fix rather than a big one.

• Missing items fall inside the same window, so open every box before reporting anything missing.
• If a dealer or retailer holds your order, report any damage to them as well as to Ella.
• Keep the crate and every piece of packaging until the installation is complete, even after the inspection passes.
• An older video mentions a five-business-day period; that figure is superseded, and 48 hours is the window that applies.

Delivery Day First, Then the Unpack

The test-fill comes after the curbside inspection, not instead of it. The delivery inspection before signing covers the few minutes with the driver: walk around the crate, photograph every side, the top and the skid, write every scuff, dent or puncture on the delivery document, and have the driver sign it. If you cannot inspect fully, sign "subject to further inspection". A severely damaged crate can be rejected, so call (800) 480-6850 before the truck leaves in that situation.

Once the driver has left, open the crate carefully and look over the shell, door, glass, finish and every fitting for concealed damage. A silicone door seal that deformed in shipping can be squeezed with your fingertips and pulled gently away from the frame. Then account for the small parts, because they travel in several places:

• The parts box inside the tub or under the frame holds the drains, handles, hardware and accessories.
• The headrest and its hardware are sometimes in the envelope on top of the wrap.
• End panel screws are often taped behind the end panel or in a small bag in the parts box, with the screw caps.
• The installation paperwork is attached to the tub, along with the owner's manual.

A little water in the lines or the crate is normal. Every tub is leak-tested and pump-tested before it is cleaned, wrapped and crated, so residual water is a sign of that factory test rather than a problem.

What the Test-Fill Involves

The pre-installation water test is a one hour check, and it is the operational half of the inspection. The tub must sit on a flat, level surface first, because an unlevel tub can leak at the door during the test and give you a false alarm. The door seal is wiped clean and the drains are taped shut before the fill.

1. Fill the tub to 3 inches above the highest jet. A soaking tub with no jets is filled to the bottom of the grab bar instead.
2. Let the water stand for 30 minutes while you look around and under the tub for any moisture, paying attention to the door.
3. Run each electrical component for another 30 minutes on its own rated 3-prong cord, with each one plugged into a separate outlet.
4. Inspect every union again while the pumps are moving water.

One rule is absolute: never start a pump before water covers all of the jets. Running a pump dry causes permanent damage that is not covered. If you are doing the fill yourself ahead of the installer, the stand portion needs only water and a level spot. You can leave the pump run to your installer or a helper who is comfortable with the outlets, as long as it still happens inside the window whenever possible.

A Drip Is Not the Same as Damage

Shipping vibration can loosen unions and air lines, and that is precisely what the test is meant to catch while everything is still easy to reach. A drip at a union during the test is a normal install-stage adjustment rather than a defect. The union was over-tightened or its O-ring shifted, and the fix is to disassemble it, re-seat the O-ring and reassemble it snugly. Damage is a different matter: a crack in the shell, a broken glass panel, a marred finish or a bent fitting should be photographed and reported through ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850 within the 48 hours, with your invoice and bill of lading ready.

The test also flows straight into warranty activation. Your installer later confirms a watertight door seal after a 20 minute fill and watertight connections with the pumps running, so a test-fill you did early gives everyone confidence going into that step. Ask your installer to confirm the formal test was done before the walls are finished.

Planning the Test Around Installation Day

Ella strongly suggests testing outside, before the tub is carried in, because a leak is far easier to correct on a driveway or in a garage than in a finished alcove. The printable delivery day checklist is the tick-box version of everything above, and it is worth keeping by the door.

• Have a garage or covered spot ready if the crate must wait for the installer, and keep the tub out of the weather.
• Remove the front apron, access panels and end panels before the tub is carried, and lift by the frame only, never by the plumbing, panels or fittings.
• Plan the test before the walls are finished, so a union can still be reached if it needs a second look.
• If you ordered the overhead rain shower, use this time to measure from the edge of the tub deck to the wall in inches, because the shower column kit now ships with connector rods that cover a 2 to 4 inch gap, and a wider gap is best sorted out before the installer arrives.

If anything about the test raises a question, the team at (800) 480-6850 can talk you or your installer through it. Ella ships any replacement part under the warranty, and a local licensed plumber or your installer does the fitting.

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