What Plumbing, Electrical and Space Does a Walk-In Tub Installation Need?

Installing an Ella walk-in tub calls for three things: hot and cold supply lines and a house drain that a licensed plumber connects, a dedicated GFCI-protected electrical line for each pump or heater that a licensed electrician wires, and a space planned around the actual size on your model's spec sheet, most often the three-wall opening described in What Is an Alcove Installation for a Walk-In Tub?. Ella's Bubbles does not install tubs, but free lifetime technical support answers questions from you or your contractor by phone and video.

Plumbing Requirements

A walk-in tub is a fixed plumbing fixture, like a conventional bathtub. The faucet connects to the hot and cold supply lines, and the floor drain and overflow connect to the house drain. The drains always sit on the side opposite the door as you face the tub: a right side door means left side drains, and a left side door means right side drains, so confirm the door side before your plumber roughs in.

• The leveling legs set the frame with about 3 inches of clearance beneath it, enough for 2 inch PVC, so one drain line can be run to either side under the tub.
• The T type drain body accepts the house connection from either direction, and end caps close the unused ports. A Y fitting is preferred over a T because fewer turns drain faster.
• The house drain must flow well and be trapped and vented to local code. The tub does not need a special vent of its own.
• The default installation keeps all piping above the floor and needs no cutting or access from below, which is why a concrete slab works. Lowering the tub means trimming the apron, which affects the warranty on the altered parts.

Rough in dimensions come from the spec sheet and drawings for your model. Where Does the Drain Sit for a Slab Installation? walks through the drain layout.

Electrical Requirements

Hydro, air and microbubble systems, in-line heaters and heated seats all need an electrical connection. A soaking-only tub needs no electrical connection at all. The video explains what your electrician needs to provide.

• Dedicated GFCI protected outlets must be used, and the tub cannot share a circuit with any other appliance.
• The breaker box must also use GFCI protected breakers, with the appropriate amperage for the number and type of components in your tub.
• The more pumps and accessories a tub has, the more dedicated lines it needs. The jetting packages tab on the walk-in tub comparison page at ellasbubbles.com lists how many lines and outlets each configuration requires.
• Ella labels the electrical lines at the factory, so once the outlets are in place the components simply plug in.

Space and Access

Most bathrooms were framed around a 60 inch tub, and every Ella model fits that three-wall alcove. Tubs 60 inches or longer fill the opening on their own, while most 52 and 55 inch models use an extension panel at one end. A few models, such as the Front Entry and Mobile, have no extension panel, so the installer frames and finishes the remaining space. Any Ella tub can also stand against one or two walls with an end panel closing the exposed side. Plan around the actual size on the spec sheet rather than the nominal name, and measure the opening wall to wall at the back and at the front.

Ask your installer to add a wall access panel behind the plumbing end so pumps and drain connections stay reachable, and never pack the space around the tub with insulation. Treat the location as permanent: the warranty is tied to the original installation address and ends if the tub is relocated, as Are Ella Walk-In Tubs Portable or Movable? explains.

Who Does the Work

Ella's Bubbles manufactures the tub and backs it with a lifetime parts warranty and free technical support, but it does not send technicians. A local licensed plumber, electrician or handyman does the installation and any later repairs, and the team answers questions from any licensed contractor by phone or video, so prior Ella experience is not required. See Who Can Come Out and Fix My Walk-In Tub?.

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: Proper Electrical Installation For Your Walk-In Tub with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• What Size Water Heater Do I Need for My Walk-in Tub?
• Electrical requirements by model: dedicated GFCI circuits for your walk-in tub
• Common Installation Questions: Tile Order, Leveling Legs, Subfloor, Panels, Drain Size and the Outdoor Test

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