What Are the Supply Lines and Shut-Off Valves on a Walk-In Tub?

Supply lines are the two 3/4 inch by 5 foot braided stainless steel hoses, also called water supply hoses or faucet connectors, that carry hot and cold water from your home's plumbing to an Ella fast-fill faucet. They are included with every Ella 2-piece and 5-piece faucet set. They connect to shut-off valves, also called stop valves, which are not included and are supplied by your plumber and placed close to the tub.

How It Works

One end of each line threads onto the faucet tail under the tub deck and the other end onto a shut-off valve on the house side. Ella recommends 3/4 inch water lines with shut-off valves reachable through the front apron access panels or a wall access panel, so a future faucet or hose service does not mean shutting down the whole house. Your existing 1/2 inch house lines will work; 3/4 inch lines simply fill the tub faster. Connections are made hand-tight and then gently snugged with a wrench, never over-torqued, because over-torquing damages the internal gasket in the fitting and causes the very leak you were trying to prevent.

Which Ella Models Have It

Any Ella walk-in tub ordered with an Ella 2-piece or 5-piece fast-fill faucet receives the two supply lines, since they travel with the faucet set. A tub ordered without a faucet does not get Ella supply lines, so check the contents of that faucet purchase. The HomeCare 32x60 (Model profile) also uses two 5 foot braided 3/4 inch supply lines to shut-off valves that are not included. The crate inventory checklist confirms the lines ship packed with the faucet set.

What to Know as an Owner

Know where your shut-off valves are before you need them. During warranty activation your installer leak-checks the supply lines with the diverters on, so ask to see the connections while the access panel is open. A slow drip at the loop of a braided line usually means the line should be replaced rather than tightened further, and replacement lines are arranged through your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850. The installation steps are in installing the 2-piece and 5-piece fast-fill faucets, the fuller discussion of pipe size and fill speed is in water supply lines, shut-off valves and pipe size, and thread and drain questions are in common plumbing questions. For a ticket, have your model and serial number, whether your faucet is the 2-piece or 5-piece, and a photo of the fitting that is dripping.

Related Guides

• Why Is the Water From My Walk-In Tub Rusty or Brown?
• Do I Need 3/4 Inch Supply Lines for the Ella Fast-Fill Faucet?

Common Questions