What Is an S-Shape Inward-Swing Door on a Walk-In Tub?

The S-shape inward-swing door is the acrylic door on Ella's Standard, Standard60, Zen, Zen60 and Flow walk-in tubs. It is also called the inward acrylic door or simply the S-shape door, and its handle sits inside the tub. You step in through the opening, stay standing, and swing the door closed toward you before you sit down. Because it opens into the tub, it needs no floor clearance in front of the tub, which is a big part of why this platform suits smaller bathrooms.

How It Works

The acrylic door swings inward on its hinges. Once you close it and lock the interior handle, the seal is pressed against the frame, and as the tub fills the weight of the water pushes the door even more firmly into that seal. That is why an inward door holds shut so well, and it is also why the door will not open until the tub has completely drained. Closing the door from a seated position is much harder than closing it while standing, so the habit to build is simple: enter, close and lock the door while standing, then sit. The full routine is in how to open and close the inward-swing acrylic door.

Which Ella Models Have It

The S-shape acrylic door is fitted to the Standard and Standard60, the Zen and Zen60 and the Flow. The Zen and Zen60 use exactly the same S-shape door platform as the Standard; the U-shape wording on their spec sheets is a misprint. The Ultra is a little different: its inward door is brushed aluminum with frosted tempered glass rather than acrylic, and the Ultra brochure also calls it an S-shape door. If you are not sure which style you own, which door does my tub have lists every model by door type.

What to Know as an Owner

Never force the door open while there is water in the tub, and never lean on the door or put your weight on it, since the door and seal warranty is valid only when the alignment is correct and has not been changed by a bather's weight. Clean the seal with rubbing alcohol, check it now and then for grit or soap film that could keep it from seating, and leave the door open when the tub is not in use. If the door rubs the frame or water appears at the seal, check that every leveling leg is touching the floor, because a tub that is not level can warp the frame and throw the door out of alignment. For a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850, have your model name, your order details from where you purchased, and photos of the door edge and seal where the trouble shows. If you are still deciding between door styles, inward or outward swing door compares the two.

Related Guides

• What is the Ella Flow walk-in tub and what does it include?
• Do You Have to Sit in a Walk-In Tub While It Fills?
• How do the Ella Standard 30x52 and Ella Zen 30x52 compare?

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