A gap on one side of a walk-in tub door, where the door meets the seal evenly on one edge but stands away from the sealing surface on the other, almost always means the shell has bowed and shifted the door frame. The first thing to check is leveling: every leveling leg must bear weight equally, and a leg that is floating or carrying less than the others twists the frame just enough to open a gap on one side. This is common right after shipping and installation, when the tub has gone from the factory floor to a bathroom floor that is not perfectly flat. Do not fill the tub until the gap is corrected, because water pressure on a misaligned door can leak and can change the alignment further. Hinge adjustment comes only after the tub is confirmed level.

Likely Causes

• One or more leveling legs not bearing equal weight, so the shell bows and the frame twists.
• The door seal compressed or stuck to the frame during transit, so it looks flattened on one side.
• The door sitting slightly low or out of square at the hinge after the tub is level.
• A damaged or broken hinge, which is a replacement part.

What to Check, in Order

1. Leave the tub empty and remove the front apron. Set a level across the deck in both directions and adjust the legs until every one sits solidly on the floor with no gap. Use the leveling guide for the full procedure, and re-check the door gap after each adjustment, since leveling alone closes most gaps.
2. If the seal looks compressed from transit, squeeze it gently with your fingertips and pull it slightly away from the frame so it springs back to shape, then wipe it with rubbing alcohol. A restored seal often fills what looked like a gap.
3. Close the door and sight along both edges. If the door still rubs or stands off on one side with the tub level, the door rubbing and frame fix explains how the center leg opens the frame.
4. Only after leveling, look at the hinges. A door that sits low is corrected at the hinge, and the hinge adjustment guide shows the small adjustment involved. Do not force or pry the bottom hinge outward, since pushing on a hinge before the tub is level does not correct the cause.
5. If a hinge is cracked or the lower hinge on an inswing door broke, stop here. That hinge is a replacement part, and the door should not be used until it is replaced. The cracked or sagging door guide explains what the team needs.
6. Once the door closes evenly all the way around, fill the tub and watch the seal before finishing any surrounding walls.

When to Open a Ticket

If the gap remains after leveling and seal restoration, or if a hinge is broken, contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support. Include your model and serial number, a photo of the level on the deck, photos of the gap from inside and outside the tub, and a close photo of each hinge. The team confirms from those photos whether it is an alignment adjustment or a replacement part.

Common Questions