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What you need before installing your Ella walk-in tub: a planning checklist
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What you need before installing your Ella walk-in tub: a planning checklist
Updated September 2026
Walk-in tub installation requirements come down to a short list: a licensed electrician and an experienced plumber or contractor, one or more dedicated GFCI protected circuits, a sound and level subfloor rated for the tub plus water plus bather, a working house drain, and service access to the plumbing and electrical after the walls are finished. Every Ella walk-in tub arrives factory tested and factory leveled. Ella manufactures and supports the tub, and installation itself is performed by your own licensed local contractor. Our technical support team guides installers for free by phone, email, and live video.
Watch First: Installation Tips and Recommendations
Chapters in this video
- 0:00 Pre-Installation Checks and Tips Before installation, the video emphasizes checking tub dimensions, inspecting for damage, and leak-testing the tub with water.
- 1:34 Dual Drain System Installation The video demonstrates how to install Ella's exclusive dual drain system, showing various configurations and recommending a two-inch house drain.
- 3:09 Leveling and Door Alignment The technician levels the tub, ensuring proper door alignment for a leak-proof seal, and advises leaving the door unlocked when not in use.
- 3:53 Water Supply and Electrical Connections The video shows connecting fast-fill faucets with three-quarter inch supply lines and emphasizes using GFCI-protected outlets and breakers for electrical connections.
The video above walks through the full sequence: confirming fit with actual dimensions, inspecting for shipping damage, filling the tub outside to check for transit leaks, removing all panels before moving it, connecting the dual drain, leveling with the paper test under each foot, letting the door gasket recover, using 3/4 inch supply lines without over-torquing, an extended fill test with the pumps running, and dedicated GFCI outlets and breakers. Here is the same guidance in checklist form. Watch: Ellas Bubbles: Walk-In Tubs Installation Tips and Recommendations with chapters and a full transcript.
Your Pre-Installation Checklist
- Confirm the tub will fit into your home. Use the shipping crate size for hallways and doorways, and remember that actual dimensions are slightly smaller than the listed nominal size. For example, the Elite is listed as 30 x 52 while its actual width is under 30 inches, so it fits through a 30 inch door opening. The Petite is listed as 28 x 52 with an actual width of 27.5 inches. Our doorway measurement guide covers the path room by room.
- Hire licensed professionals. A licensed electrician must make the electrical connections, and an experienced plumber should verify your house drain and water supply. Your installer choice matters for warranty coverage, since improper or negligent installation is excluded. If you need a referral, see finding a licensed installer.
- Plan the electrical. Every Ella tub with pumps requires dedicated GFCI protected outlets and GFCI breakers, and the tub can never share a circuit with any other appliance. See our electrical requirements article for the exact circuit count per model. The Flow is the one Ella tub specified at 15A, all others use 20A/120V dedicated lines.
- Verify the house drain. A 2 inch house drain is recommended for the fastest drainage. Have a plumber confirm the house drain is in good condition before install day. Our drain configuration article shows the T-type ports and the T or Y connection options.
- Plan water supply. Ella fast fill faucets are designed for 18 GPM (5-piece) or 16 GPM (2-piece) at 60 PSI. We recommend 3/4 inch supply lines with easily reachable shut-off valves. Two 3/4 inch x 5 foot braided supply lines are included, shut-off valves are not. See supply lines and shut-off valves and hot water heater requirements.
- Preserve service access. Building codes require access to plumbing and electrical, and the installer or owner provides it at their own cost. The front apron has removable access panels. Whenever possible, design wall access panels into the remodel so future service is convenient, as explained in planning service access. Do not insulate around the tub equipment, since pumps and electronics need airflow to avoid overheating.
- Plan the wall finish. Ella tubs use a glue-up tile flange approach: any 1/8 inch or 3/16 inch rustproof, waterproof strip (acrylic, thin stainless, or fiberglass) about 5 inches tall is glued to the tub edge with 100 percent silicone, overlapping the edge by 2 inches. Tile or wall panels then overlap the flange and the deck, and all joints get silicone caulk. Details are in the tile flange and wall finishing guide.
Safety Rules That Apply to Every Installation
- No appliances within 3 feet of the tub.
- Never run the pumps before water covers all jets. Running a pump dry causes permanent damage that is not covered.
- Complete the pre-installation water test before finishing the walls.
- Level the tub so every leg carries equal weight, following the leveling guide.
- Complete and return the warranty activation form, signed by both you and your installer.
Quick Reference
| Requirement | Specification |
|---|---|
| Electrical | Dedicated GFCI outlet(s) and GFCI breaker(s); 20A/120V (Flow: 15A) |
| House drain | 2 inch recommended; T or Y connection into 1 1/2 inch possible |
| Water supply | 3/4 inch lines with shut-off valves; 16-18 GPM at 60 PSI design flow |
| Clearance | Outward-swing doors need front floor space (165 degrees U-shape, 172 degrees Transfer, 180 degrees HomeCare) |
| Installer | Licensed electrician and experienced plumber/contractor |
A Complete Installation, Start to Finish
The video above from our Tech Support playlist shows a walk-in tub installation from start to finish, which is a helpful preview for your installer of how the tub is set, connected, and finished in a real bathroom. Our installation videos library gathers every install video by topic.
Related Guides
Common Questions
Does Ella's Bubbles install the tub?
No. Ella manufactures and supports the tub; installation is done by your own licensed local contractor or one referred from the installer network. Technical Support guides your installer for free by phone, email, and live video.
Can I install it myself or use my own plumber?
Yes. Certification by Ella's Bubbles is not required. The parts warranty stays in place as long as the installation follows the manual, since improper installation, misleveling, and modifications are excluded. For a do-it-yourself install, enter your own information in the installer section of the warranty form.
How many electrical circuits do I need?
It depends on the therapy package: one dedicated 20A GFCI line for a single system or a single-controller air plus hydro package, two for combinations such as hydro plus microbubble or packages with the heated seat, and three for the full digital packages on the ShaK, Big4One, and two-seat tubs. The spec sheet for your package is the final word.
My house drain is 1 1/2 inch. Will the tub work?
Yes, your Ella walk-in tub will work with a 1 1/2 inch house drain. While a 2 inch house drain is recommended for the fastest drainage, a T or Y connection into a 1 1/2 inch drain is fully functional. Only one house connection is needed because the two Ella drains join together under the tub.
Does the tub sit on the subfloor or on the finished floor?
Your Ella walk-in tub can sit on either the subfloor or the finished floor. It is typically set directly on the subfloor before tile is laid around it, but it can also be placed on the finished floor using its leveling legs. In either case, the floor must be level and rated to support the combined weight of the tub, water, and bather.
What size water heater do I need?
A 75 gallon water heater, or a tankless unit capable of roughly 11 GPM, is the usual recommendation for an Ella walk-in tub. This ensures the tub fills quickly with warm water. You can refer to the hot water heater requirements article for specific capacities by model.
Does the tub need walls for support?
No, Ella walk-in tubs do not need walls for support as they are self-supporting on their stainless steel frame. The tubs are finished for front and end exposure only, meaning the long back side is designed to go against a wall or a built knee wall. The spec sheet for your model shows the deck so your installer knows where support and walls should land.
Where should the outlets go?
The dedicated GFCI outlets for your Ella walk-in tub should go inside the equipment compartment, located under the seat. This placement ensures that every electrical cord can reach its own dedicated GFCI outlet without the need for an extension cord, which is a safety requirement.
Does the tub need to be framed out, and can I fill it before the walls go up?
The tub does not need to be framed out; the spec sheet shows the deck so the installer knows where support and walls land. Set it, level it, close the drain, fill it with a garden hose and run every system before the walls are tiled or closed, while there is still access to fix a union. The front leveling legs are screwed to the floor once level.
Is the tub drain configured for a left-hand or right-hand connection?
Drain orientation is either left-hand or right-hand depending on your bathroom layout, and this should be confirmed with your installer before installation day. Because the two Ella drains join together under the tub, only one house drain connection is needed no matter which orientation you use. Your installer can verify the correct configuration against your tub's spec sheet.
Can tub fillers and valves be installed on the tub deck instead of the wall?
It depends on your specific model. Traditional walk-in tubs may have deck space available for fillers and valves, but some models, such as the LAA 3060-R, do not have deck space for this type of installation. Check your tub's spec sheet or confirm with your installer to see what your model allows.
Do I need to seal around the tub differently for an alcove installation to prevent mold?
Yes, careful sealing is especially important in alcove configurations, since water trapped where the tub meets the surrounding walls can lead to mold and mildew over time. All joints between the tile or wall panels and the tub should be sealed with 100 percent silicone caulk as described in the wall finishing guide. Proper sealing keeps water from getting behind the finished walls.
Will floor joists need to be reinforced before installing a walk-in tub?
Floor reinforcement is not automatically required, since Ella tubs only need a subfloor that is sound, level, and rated to support the tub plus water plus bather weight. If your plumber or contractor finds that the existing floor structure is not sound enough to meet that requirement, such as in some mobile homes, the joists may need to be repaired or reinforced before installation. Have your licensed contractor evaluate your specific floor before install day to confirm it can handle the load.
What happens if my walk-in tub is too wide for the doorway opening?
If the tub's actual width is greater than your doorway opening, for example a 32 inch wide tub trying to pass through a 23 inch door, it will not fit without modification. In that case, your installer may need to remove the door molding or the door frame itself to create enough clearance. Always measure your doorways and hallways against the tub's actual dimensions, not the nominal size, before installation day.
Could installing a walk-in tub require adding a new electrical sub-panel?
It is possible. Since every Ella tub with pumps needs one or more dedicated GFCI protected circuits that cannot share power with any other appliance, your electrician may need to add a new circuit, bus, or sub-panel if your existing panel does not have available capacity. Your licensed electrician can evaluate your panel and determine what is needed for your specific model.
Can Ella's Bubbles provide contact information for local installers?
Yes, Ella's Bubbles can provide contact information for local installers through its installer referral network. Ella manufactures and supports the tub itself, while the actual installation is completed by your own licensed local contractor, electrician, or plumber. For a referral in your area, reach out to your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.
How are the electrical connections wired for the Ultimate tub's two GFCI circuits?
The Ultimate tub uses three plug-ins, two labeled line two and one labeled line one, split across two separate dedicated GFCI protected circuits. One GFCI circuit should power the air pump and one water pump, which are tied to the blue electrical box, while the other GFCI circuit powers the remaining pump and the inline heater. The stickers on the cords show exactly how each one should connect, and your licensed electrician should confirm the wiring against your tub's spec sheet.
Should I bring the walk-in tub in before or after installing the shower enclosure?
It is easier to bring your walk-in tub into the bathroom before the shower enclosure or doors are installed. Waiting until the tub is set in place and connected before adding the enclosure gives your installer more room to maneuver the tub through hallways and doorways. Ask your installer to plan the sequence so the tub arrives first.
Is a laydown tub more difficult to install than a walk-in tub?
Laydown tubs are generally straightforward to install, much like a standard bathtub fitted with a shower door. Your licensed installer can typically set it using familiar techniques rather than specialized walk-in tub methods. Confirm the specifics for your model with your installer or the team at (800) 480-6850.
Can a laydown tub be installed as a freestanding unit away from the wall?
No, a laydown tub cannot be installed as a freestanding unit away from the wall. Its backside has no finished cover, so it must be placed directly against a wall to conceal that side. Plan your bathroom layout so the tub's back edge sits flush against a wall.
Does an Ella LayDown tub come with a faucet included?
It depends on the model you choose. The LayDown60 does not include a faucet, so plan on a pre-existing or customer-supplied faucet, typically wall-mounted. The LayDown72 is faucet-ready and offers an optional Ella 2-piece or 5-piece deck-mount fast-fill faucet when you place your order.
How much space is under the tub for the drain connections?
There is a three-inch space underneath the tub for drain connections. The tub sits on a stainless steel frame with leveling legs. Your plumber can confirm the drain layout against your tub's spec sheet before install day.
Can tile be installed underneath my Ella walk-in tub?
Yes, tile can be installed underneath the tub. The tub rests on its stainless steel frame with leveling legs, so your installer can level it on the finished floor as needed. Your licensed contractor can confirm the best sequence for your bathroom.
Who gets the tub into the house and installs it?
Your own local contractor handles getting the tub into the house and installing it. Ella's Bubbles recommends hiring a local plumber or contractor for the installation. If you would like help finding an installer in your area, contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.
Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850.
About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.
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