Why Did My Walk-In Tub Turn On by Itself?

If your tub turned on by itself a little while after the bath, or the air came on by itself after you got out, you are almost certainly hearing the Auto Purge, and it is completely normal. On every Ella tub with the air massage package, about 20 minutes after the air pump is switched off the air system starts on its own, runs for 120 seconds to blow leftover water out of the air lines, and then stops. It cannot be stopped, and it is normal even while you are still in the tub. The first thing to check is timing: one two minute run about 20 minutes after you shut the air off is the purge. Starts that repeat every 10 minutes or every hour or two point to a stuck push button or a control box fault.

Likely Causes

• The Auto Purge on an air massage tub: one automatic 120 second cycle about 20 minutes after the air pump is turned off. The Auto Purge explained guide covers it in detail.
• A push button stuck in the down position, which keeps sending its air signal to the control box, so the air motor keeps restarting.
• A control box fault, which is what repeated starts outside the single purge cycle usually come down to.

What to Check, in Order

1. Confirm your tub has the air massage package. Only air tubs purge; hydro jets drain themselves as the tub drains and never cycle on their own. The Auto Purge air system guide explains which tubs have it.
2. Time the event. A single burst about 20 minutes after the air pump was shut off, lasting about two minutes, is the purge. Let it finish; it stops on its own.
3. If the air keeps turning on every 10 minutes or every 1 to 2 hours, look at the chrome push buttons. A button that sits down instead of popping back up is air locked. Disconnect its red air tube at the control box so the button pops up, then reconnect the tube. The push control troubleshooting guide shows this.
4. If the starts continue, run the control box reset described in the control box guide, and note whether the air pump is plugged into the top of the box or straight into the wall. A pump plugged into the wall runs whenever it has power.

When to Open a Ticket

If the air still starts on its own outside that one purge cycle after the button release and the box reset, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. Include your serial number, a short video of the tub starting with the time between starts, and a photo of the blue control box showing where the pumps and air tubes are plugged in, so the team can confirm the cause.

As the video explains, the air massage jets in the hip, foot and bidet positions run from digital or push buttons, and the Auto Purge activates 20 minutes after the air system is turned off to clear leftover moisture and prevent mold and mildew. Watch: Walk-In Tubs Featuring Three Speed Air Massage & Auto-Purge Technology with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Pump Shuts Off After a Few Minutes Without Tripping the Breaker: The 20-Minute Timer, Overheating, and Isolating Each Pump
• How long does Auto Purge run after a bath and can I change it?
• How long does the auto purge run and can I change it?
• How Long Does Auto Purge Run After a Bath, and Can I Change It?

Common Questions