Can a Walk-In Tub Be Added Where No Tub Exists, and Who Installs It?

Yes. A walk-in tub can go in a spot that has never held a tub, as long as a drain, a water supply and the right electrical line can be brought to the space. Ella's Bubbles manufactures the tub and does not install it or send technicians, so the work is done by a licensed local plumber and electrician, and any licensed, experienced installer is fine with no certification from Ella required. The trades involved are laid out in Who Installs a Walk-In Tub: a Plumber, an Electrician, or a Contractor?, and this page covers what is different when there is no old tub to take out.

What a New Location Needs

Whether a walk-in tub can go where there has never been one comes down to three things: a drain, a water supply and power. None of them has to exist already. Bringing a water supply and a drain to a room that was never a bathroom is handled by a local licensed plumber or contractor, the same split Ella describes for installing its acrylic shower walls, where the contractor knows your local code, your existing plumbing and your walls, and Ella's technical support knows the product.

• Drain. The plumber runs a drain line to where the tub will sit and makes the connection once the tub is in place.
• Water supply. The plumber brings hot and cold water to the spot and makes the faucet hookup. The water spout ships loose and is mounted into the open hole in the deck during that hookup.
• Power. A licensed electrician installs and tests the dedicated line described below.

Your installer is the one who assesses the bathroom on a site visit and determines the actual scope of work, including any tile work. Installers can come to your home to measure and give their own estimate, or work from pictures and measurements if you would rather not start with a visit.

The Electrical Line Your Electrician Installs

A jetted tub needs a dedicated 20A/120V GFCI protected line, installed and tested by a licensed electrician. A model whose only electrical item is a heated seat is specified for a 15A/120V line. Therapy systems are wired by the electrician. On a tub with the heated seat and back option, for example, the two heater pads connect to a control box under the tub, and a licensed electrician is also the person who fits a replacement heated seat or back pad later on.

Grounding matters just as much in a new location as in a remodel. Ella's grounding video shows that the tubs come with ground wires on all electrical components and on the tub frame, and that the installer must secure a proper ground connection following all local and state electrical codes. Share the model's electrical details with your electrician before the rough-in so the line, the outlet position and the ground are planned together.

Who Is Licensed to Do the Install

A walk-in tub is installed by local licensed trades, not by Ella's Bubbles. There are no Ella installation crews.

• Licensed plumber. Handles the water supply, the drain connection and the faucet hookup.
• Licensed electrician. Installs the dedicated GFCI protected line and wires the therapy systems.
• Contractor or dealer crew. Where an Ella dealer sells and installs the tub, the dealer's crew handles the installation and the follow-up visits. An independent contractor can coordinate the plumber and electrician in the same way, and is the natural choice when a room is being converted and tile or framing work is involved.

Any licensed installer you already trust is welcome to do the job. Certification by Ella is not required. If you do not have someone in mind, the team can refer installers from its nationwide network, so reach out through ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850 with your installation address and the team can point you to people in your area.

Parts from Ella, Labor from the Installer

Keep the two warranties straight when you plan a new location. Labor is warranted by the installer who performs it, while Ella's warranty covers the parts. Ella supplies the tub, the documents and free lifetime technical support to whoever does the work: manuals, videos and a phone or video call while the installer is on site during business hours. Prior experience with Ella tubs is not required for the installer to get that support. Ella does not send technicians, so if anything needs attention later, parts ship under the warranty and a local licensed plumber or electrician does the labor.

Showering in the New Spot

Because a new location is often the household's main bathing spot, it is worth deciding early whether you also want to shower there. The Ella 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucet sets come with a hand shower on the tub deck, so you can rinse while seated, and a shower column kit can be added when you want a shower head above the tub. Can you take a shower in a walk-in tub? explains both options. Telling your plumber now avoids a second visit later.

How to Get Started

1. Choose the model, door side and therapy options with your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, since those decide the electrical line and the drain side.
2. Pick an installer you trust, or ask the team for referrals from its nationwide network.
3. Have the installer assess the room, either on a site visit or from your pictures and measurements, and confirm the scope, including any tile work.
4. Give your plumber and electrician the spec sheet and electrical details for your exact model before the rough-in.
5. Have your installer call (800) 480-6850 with any questions during the install.

Watch: Proper Grounding of Your Walk-In Tub with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Electrical requirements by model: dedicated GFCI circuits for your walk-in tub
• What Size Water Heater Do I Need for My Walk-in Tub?

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