Support Center / Troubleshooting & Repairs / Why Did the Jets on My Walk-In Tub Stop Working?
Back to Troubleshooting & Repairs

Why Did the Jets on My Walk-In Tub Stop Working?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary5
  1. Likely Causes
  2. What to Check, in Order
  3. When to Open a Ticket
  4. Related Guides
  5. Common Questions

When the jets on your walk-in tub stop working, and there is no sound and no water when you press the water button, the cause is usually power or a loose air signal hose rather than a failed pump, and the first thing to check is the GFCI outlet serving the tub. Ella push buttons are pneumatic: the chrome button sends a puff of air down a thin tube to a relay in the control box, and the relay switches the hydro pump on. If the jets worked the first time and now nothing happens, or the water massage stopped mid bath, a tripped GFCI, a tube off its nipple or a trapped pulse of air in that tube explains most cases. The deeper guide is pump or massage system not working.

Likely Causes

  • The GFCI outlet or breaker feeding the tub has tripped.
  • The air signal hose has come loose at the control box nipple or at the button.
  • A pulse of air is trapped in the hose, so the relay never receives the signal.
  • The pump was run with the water below the jets, which damages it.
  • A control box or pump fault, which the team confirms after the checks above.

What to Check, in Order

  1. Reset the GFCI outlet serving the tub (it may be behind the access panel) and confirm the breaker is on. If the outlet trips again, stop and have an electrician look at it.
  2. Remove the front access panel and look for the green power LED on the control box. Lit means power is reaching the box; dark with a live outlet points to the box or cord, see the control box reset guide.
  3. Push the air tube from the water button firmly onto its nipple on the control box with a twist and push, then check the button end as the video shows; push button air hoses and ports maps each hose to its port.
  4. If the hose is on at both ends, disconnect the tube at the relay, let it relieve for a moment, and reconnect it. Press the button and listen for the relay click.
  5. Confirm the water is 1 to 2 inches above the highest jets before pressing the button; see how much water before turning on the jets.
  6. If other functions or indicator lights on the tub still work but the pump stays silent, power is reaching the equipment and the hose, relay or pump is next.
How to Secure Air and Hydro Connections in Your Walk-In Tub
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Understanding Air Signal Connections The technician explains how the push control sends an air signal to the control box via an air tube.
  2. 0:51 Securing Control Box Connections The technician demonstrates how to firmly plug the air tube onto the nipple of the control box.
  3. 1:03 Checking The Button Connection The technician shows how to retrieve the button from its housing using a flat screwdriver.
  4. 1:21 Securing The Pump Connection The technician pulls out the black pump part and secures the connection with the lock nut and hose.
  5. 1:40 Reassembling The Button The technician puts the pump and button back in place, securing it with the chrome ring.

The video seats the air signal tube on the control box nipple with a twist and push, then pries off the chrome ring and button, pulls out the black bellows, checks the lock nut and hose, and refits the bellows, button and ring. Watch: How to Secure Air & Hydro Connections in Your Walk-In Tub with chapters and a full transcript.

When to Open a Ticket

If the GFCI holds, the green LED is lit, the hose is secure at both ends and the pump still will not run, contact your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, or open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support. Include your serial number, your therapy package, a photo of the control box with its LED, and whether the relay clicks when you press the button. The team confirms the part from your details.

Common Questions

Why do the jets only work when nobody is in the tub?
That pattern is unusual and the team confirms the cause from details: the water level with and without a bather, whether the GFCI trips, and what you hear when you press the button. Open a ticket with those notes and a photo of the control box.
Is the pump covered if it has failed?
Yes. Pumps and control boxes are covered under the Lifetime Limited Warranty on supporting equipment for the original owner at the original address, and the part ships from Ella once the defect is confirmed from photos. Labor to fit the part is not covered, so a local plumber or handyman does the swap; parts only warranty and labor explains the split.
Can running the jets without enough water break the pump?
Yes, running the jets on your walk-in tub without enough water can permanently damage the hydro pump. Operating the pump when the water level is below the jets is a common cause of pump failure, and this type of damage is not covered under the Lifetime Limited Warranty. To prevent damage, always ensure the water is 1 to 2 inches above the highest jets before turning them on.
I have not used the jets in a while, so why would they stop?
If your walk-in tub jets have stopped working after a period of disuse, the most common reasons are a tripped GFCI outlet or an air signal hose that has come loose. A GFCI outlet can trip during a storm, or an air tube may work loose over time, preventing the pneumatic signal from reaching the hydro pump. To troubleshoot, first fill the tub 1 to 2 inches above the highest jets, then reset the GFCI outlet, and finally reseat the air signal hose at both the button and the control box before trying the jets again.

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.

Related guides

Did this solve your question?

If not, open a ticket and our team will pick it up from here.

Open a Support Ticket