Warranty Exceptions: The TCV One-Year Warranty, Non-Ella Faucets, and Water-Quality Damage

The main warranty exceptions on an Ella walk-in tub are the thermostatic control valve (TCV), which carries a one-year limited warranty instead of the lifetime term, damage to the TCV cartridge caused by water quality, which is never covered, and faucets that were not made by Ella, which are covered by their own manufacturer rather than by Ella's Bubbles. Everything else on the tub, including the shell, frame, door, door seal, finish and supporting equipment, is covered for life. This article explains each exception, how water quality affects the TCV, and what to do if your configuration has no TCV at all. For the full picture of what is covered, see what the Lifetime Limited Warranty covers.

First, Does Your Tub Have a TCV?

Depending on your faucet configuration, your Ella walk-in tub may include an Ella Thermostatic Control Valve that blends hot and cold water to your set temperature. Not every configuration includes one. For example, the dual-lever 5-piece fast-fill faucet uses separate hot and cold levers and is not thermostatic. If you are not sure which faucet you have, contact our team with your model and serial number and we will confirm it for you. The thermostatic control valve explained lists which faucet packages include it and what temperature it locks at.

The TCV One-Year Limited Warranty

The published warranty states it directly: "Lifetime limited parts warranty does not apply to thermostatic control valve (TCV)." The TCV instead carries a one-year limited warranty, and that warranty "does not cover cartridge malfunction due to contaminated water with calcium, iron or other found heavy particles in the water resulting in cartridge getting stuck and TCV not operating properly." In plain terms, the TCV is warranted for one year against defects, but damage caused by mineral-laden or contaminated water fouling the cartridge is not covered at any point.

Protecting Your TCV from Water-Quality Damage

Because cartridge fouling is excluded, prevention matters. Here is what the warranty requires and what we recommend:

• The TCV must be protected with a filter or mesh in the water lines, and that filter or mesh must be cleaned periodically.
• Removal and cleaning of the TCV should only be performed by a licensed and insured contractor or plumber.
• Ella's Bubbles offers a cartridge cleaning service at our facility for a nominal fee covering labor plus shipping. The team can explain the service on your ticket.

For a step-by-step look at cartridge care, see TCV cartridge cleaning and replacement, and for choosing and maintaining the inline filter, hard water and your tub: protecting the TCV. Keep in mind that alterations or improper maintenance can affect your broader coverage as well, as explained in what can void your walk-in tub warranty.

Watch: What Is Inside the TCV and Why Water Quality Matters

Watch: Ella's Bubbles: TCV Valve Replacement with chapters and a full transcript.

This video shows the parts the exclusion is about. With the water supply shut off, the control handle, cover plate, governor, washers and escutcheon come off, the metal collar is loosened at its flat wrench area and the cartridge is unscrewed. The intake screens and the bottom of the cartridge are then cleaned of sediment or calcification with a soft brush and a mineral remover, the gaskets are lightly lubricated with lithium grease, and the valve is reassembled without over-torquing. The video also points to the water intake screen and check valve on the bottom of the valve, which calcify in hard water just as the cartridge does. Seeing that mineral buildup is the best argument for the inline filter the warranty requires. Because this is plumbing work on the supply side, it should be done by a licensed and insured contractor or plumber.

Faucets Not Made by Ella

The warranty is equally direct here: "Non-Ella brand faucets covered under manufacturers original warranty and are not covered by the Ella Walk-In Bath Warranty." If your tub was fitted with a third-party faucet, warranty service for that faucet comes from its own manufacturer, so hold on to its paperwork. Everything else on your Ella tub remains covered under the Ella warranty terms. If you are planning to supply your own faucet, using your own faucet explains the no-faucet and pre-drilled deck options and what that means for coverage.

If Your Configuration Has No TCV

If your faucet setup does not include a TCV and you would like temperature-limiting protection, a qualified contractor can add an external temperature control valve to the hot water line. Be aware that adding one may reduce water flow and extend the tub's fill time, which is why we recommend having a licensed professional select and install it.

Related Guides

• Installing the Ella Fast-Fill Faucet on a Tub That Is Not an Ella
• What Should I Do When My Walk-In Tub TCV Fails After the Warranty?

Common Questions

Still have a question about your coverage? We are happy to help. Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850.