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What Is a Soaking Walk-In Tub?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary5
  1. How It Works
  2. Which Ella Models Have It
  3. What to Know as an Owner
  4. Related Guides
  5. Common Questions

A soaking walk-in tub, often called a soaker or the soaker configuration, is an Ella walk-in tub ordered with no jets, no pumps and no therapy controls. It keeps the same door, seat, faucet, hand shower and drain hardware as the jetted version of the model, with a smooth interior and nothing to switch on: the quiet, simple choice for bathers who want safety and comfort without massage.

Ella soaking walk-in tub with a smooth jet-free interior, door and seat
A soaker keeps the door, seat and faucet of the jetted version with a smooth, jet-free interior.

How It Works

Every Ella therapy system is built into the shell at the factory, so a soaker is molded without jet openings and nothing is installed under the tub. The drains work by gravity, so a plain soaking tub needs no dedicated electrical circuit at all. Because the in-line water heater, ozone sterilization and Auto Purge all belong to the hydro and air systems, a soaker has none of them, and it does not include the LED chromatherapy light, which comes only with dual and triple packages. The one electrical item a soaker can have is the optional heated seat and backrest, which runs on its own keypad and needs a 15A 120V GFCI-protected line. The full package menu is in the therapy package inclusions cheat sheet.

Which Ella Models Have It

Most models can be ordered as a soaker, including the Elite, Petite and Royal with the stainless inward-swing door, the Capri, Monaco, Front Entry, Mobile and Lounger with the U-shape outward door, the whole Transfer family (Transfer26, Transfer30, Transfer32, Transfer60 and TransferXXL) and both LayDown sizes. A few models are always jetted: the Ultimate, Deluxe and Ultra, the Big4One and ShaK with their digital Air plus dual Hydro package, the Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow hydro platforms, and the two-seat tubs. The model-by-model list is in soaking-only walk-in tubs, and model selection common questions helps you narrow the size.

What to Know as an Owner

Decide on massage before you order. Jets cannot be added later, and a jetted tub cannot be turned into a soaker, because the package is part of the shell. Once installed, a soaker is the easiest Ella tub to care for: no monthly vinegar flush is needed because there are no jet lines, and bath salts and oils simply rinse away with the drain. Keep the door open when the tub is not in use to protect the seal, and clean the acrylic with approved non-abrasive cleaners. For a ticket, have your model, serial number, door side and whether the heated seat is fitted ready, so the team can go straight to the right schematic.

Common Questions

Does a soaking walk-in tub need an electrical outlet?
No, a plain soaking walk-in tub does not require an electrical outlet or a dedicated circuit because it has no pumps and its drains work by gravity. However, if you choose the optional heated seat and backrest, that heater needs its own 15A 120V GFCI-protected electrical line to operate.
Can I add jets to my soaking tub later?
No, you cannot add jets to your soaking tub later. Jets and pumps are built into the tub's shell at the factory, meaning a soaker is molded without jet openings and cannot be jetted after purchase. Similarly, a jetted tub cannot be converted into a soaker, so you must choose your desired therapy package when you order.
Is a soaker a different size than the jetted version of the same model?
No, a soaker is not a different size than the jetted version of the same model. The dimensions, door, seat, faucet, and crate size of a soaking walk-in tub match the jetted version exactly. The only differences are the equipment installed under the tub and the presence or absence of jet openings.
Does a soaker include the in-line heater, ozone or the LED light?
No. The in-line heater and ozone are part of the hydro system, Auto Purge belongs to the air system, and the LED light comes only with dual and triple packages. A soaker keeps the water at the temperature you fill it, and the heated seat option adds warmth at the back.
Which Ella models cannot be ordered as a soaker?
The Ultimate, Deluxe, Ultra, Big4One, ShaK, Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60, Flow and the two-seat tubs always include at least one massage system. In similar sizes, the Elite, Royal, Capri, Monaco and Transfer60 are the usual soaker choices.

Questions about a soaker? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850.

About this guide. Answers in the Ella’s Bubbles Support Center are compiled from real conversations with tub owners, our technicians’ notes and the product documentation, then reviewed by our team. Tub models and options have evolved over the years, so a detail here may differ slightly from your exact tub. If something looks different on yours, send us your serial number and a specialist will confirm it for your model.

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