What Are the Common Problems and Disadvantages of Walk-In Tubs?
Updated September 2026
The concerns people raise most often about walk-in tubs are the wait while the tub fills and drains, water that drains slowly, and not knowing who will service the tub once the installer has gone. Each has a clear answer on an Ella walk-in tub: the faucet fills at about 16 gallons per minute, the gravity drains empty most tubs in two minutes or less, and every tub is backed by lifetime technical support and a lifetime parts warranty, as described in Who Services an Installed Ella Tub? Parts From Ella, Labor From a Local Pro, and What to Do When the Installer or Dealer Is Gone.
Waiting While the Tub Fills and Drains
Because the door must be closed before the water goes in, fill and drain speed matter more on a walk-in tub than on a conventional one. The faucet on an Ella tub is capable of a fill rate of about 16 gallons per minute, so a tub with a capacity of around 60 gallons fills quickly. Draining is gravity driven through two 2-inch drains rather than a pump, and a tub connected to a proper 2-inch drain line typically empties in two minutes or less. Ella's field test completed a full drain in 52 seconds, and the published figure for an average tub is about 80 seconds under ideal house-drain conditions. Drainage and Fill Time has the details.
Slow or Incomplete Draining
When a walk-in tub drains slowly, the cause is almost always one of three things: a drain handle that is not turned all the way open, a house drain that cannot carry water away as fast as the tub releases it, or a stopper that is not sealing because its locking nut or height needs adjustment. Turn each drain handle clockwise to open and counter-clockwise to close until it stops, and on Transfer tubs the extension handle pointing up means the drain is open. Never use your foot to push or hold a stopper. Tub Drains Slowly, Will Not Drain, or Loses Water: What to Check walks through the checks in order.
Service After the Installer Is Gone
Ella's Bubbles does not send technicians into the field, and some shoppers see that as a drawback. In practice the support team diagnoses the problem with you by phone, photos and live video, ships the part under the lifetime parts warranty once the defect is verified, and a licensed local plumber, electrician or handyman performs the labor. The warranty does not cover labor, removal, installation, plumbing and electrical connections, or water damage to the home. Labor is warranted by whoever did the work, so ask your installer what coverage they offer, and if your installer or dealer is no longer reachable the team will help you find someone.
Installation Needs Licensed Trades
Ella manufactures walk-in tubs but does not install them, so you will need a licensed plumber and electrician. Ella tubs come with ground wires on all electrical components and on the tub frame, and the tub must be grounded correctly under your local and state electrical codes. The grounding video below shows why this step matters.
Keeping Jets and Water Lines Clean
Any tub with a water system can develop mildew and odor if it is neglected. Ella offers ozone sterilization, a proven water disinfectant that eliminates mold and bacteria from the water system and prevents mildew and odor from developing, so the tub is sanitized every time it is turned on. If you would rather avoid pumps and electrical components altogether, Ella also offers soaking-only walk-in tubs with no jets, pumps or electrical components, covered in What Products Does Ella's Bubbles Offer?.
Watch: Introducing Ozone Sterilization for Walk-In Tubs for Safe & Hygienic Bathing | Ella's Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.
Related Guides
- How fast will my walk-in tub fill? Fast-fill faucet expectations and operation
- What Size Water Heater Do I Need for My Walk-in Tub?
- Electrical requirements by model: dedicated GFCI circuits for your walk-in tub
Related Videos
Chapters in this video
- 0:00 Dual Drain Technology Overview The video introduces Ella's Bubbles dual 2-inch, four-port drain system and its connection to a house drain.
- 0:20 Live Drain Demonstration A live demonstration shows water flowing through the dual 2-inch, four-port drains.
- 0:39 Drain Setup Images Actual images display a drain setup before and after the installation of the dual drain system.
- 1:01 House Drain Connection Options The video explains recommended house drain connections and how installers determine the best setup.
- 1:27 Easy Turn Drain Handles The easy turn drain handles are shown, which also function as dual air vents to maximize water outflow.
- 1:40 Single Drain and Gravity Driven System Some tubs feature an oversized single drain with emergency pull chain, and the gravity-driven system is highlighted.
Chapters in this video
- 0:00 Ella's Dual Drain Technology Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs feature exclusive dual drain technology with oversized two-inch drains for efficient water removal.
- 0:17 How Dual Drains Work The video explains how Ella's dual two-inch drains connect to a house drain, offering maximum draining capacity.
- 0:47 Connecting to Your House Drain The video demonstrates connecting the tub's dual four-port t-type drains to a house drain on either the left or right side.
- 1:14 Dual Air Vents and Gravity Easy-turn drain handles double as air vents, eliminating air pockets and maximizing water outflow through a gravity-driven system.
Common Questions
How long will I wait for a walk-in tub to fill and drain?
Why does my walk-in tub drain so slowly?
Does Ella's Bubbles send a technician to repair my tub?
Is repair labor covered under the Ella warranty?
Can I get a walk-in tub without jets or pumps?
Does a walk-in tub need special electrical work?
Did this solve your question?
If not, open a ticket and our team will pick it up from here.
Open a Support Ticket
Videos