Support Center /
Installation & Leveling /
What you need before installing your Ella walk-in tub: a planning checklist
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
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.
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
This video from our Tech Support playlist, titled Walk in Tub Installation, shows a walk-in tub being installed from start to finish. It is offered as a general preview for your installer; the checklist above and the linked articles carry the specific requirements to follow. Our installation videos library gathers every install video by topic.
Common Questions
Does Ella's Bubbles install the tub?
No. Ella manufactures and supports the tub, and installation is performed by your own licensed local contractor or by an installer referred from the installer network. Every tub arrives factory tested and factory leveled. Our Technical Support team guides your installer for free by phone, email, and live video at every step.
Can I install it myself or use my own plumber?
Yes. Certification by Ella's Bubbles is not required, so you can use your own plumber and electrician or install the tub yourself. The parts warranty stays in place as long as the installation follows the manual, since improper installation, misleveling, and modifications are excluded from coverage. For a do-it-yourself install, enter your own information in the installer section of the warranty activation form and return it signed.
How many electrical circuits do I need?
It depends on the therapy package. A single system, or a single-controller air plus hydro package, needs one dedicated 20A GFCI line; combinations such as hydro plus microbubble or packages with the heated seat need two; and the full digital packages on the ShaK, Big4One, and two-seat tubs need three. Every circuit must be dedicated, since the tub can never share a circuit with another appliance. The spec sheet for your package is the final word, and our electrical requirements article, linked above, lists the count by model.
My house drain is 1 1/2 inch. Will the tub work?
Yes. A 2 inch house drain is recommended for the fastest drainage, but a T or Y connection into a 1 1/2 inch house drain works. Only one house connection is needed, because the two Ella drains join under the tub. Have your plumber confirm the existing drain is in good condition before install day.
Does the tub sit on the subfloor or on the finished floor?
Either. The tub is typically set directly on the subfloor before tile is laid around it, but it can also sit on the finished floor on its leveling legs. Whichever you choose, the floor must be sound, level, and rated to carry the tub, the water, and the bather, and every leveling leg must end up carrying equal weight.
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 so the tub fills quickly with warm water. Ella fast fill faucets are designed for 18 GPM on the 5-piece and 16 GPM on the 2-piece at 60 PSI, so hot water capacity makes a real difference to fill comfort. See our hot water heater requirements article, linked above, for capacities by model.
Does the tub need walls for support?
No. Ella tubs are self-supporting on their stainless steel frame and do not rely on the walls for support. They are finished for front and end exposure only, so the long back side goes against a wall or a built knee wall. The wall finish is then completed with the glue-up tile flange approach described above.
Where should the outlets go?
Inside the equipment compartment under the seat, where every cord reaches its own dedicated GFCI outlet without an extension cord. Each outlet must be on its own dedicated GFCI protected circuit with a GFCI breaker. Keep that compartment reachable through the access panels so future service is convenient, and do not insulate around the equipment, since the pumps and electronics need airflow.
Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 and our team will be glad to walk you or your installer through it.
Did this solve it?
If not, open a ticket and our team will pick it up from here.
Open a Support Ticket
Videos