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How do you install a walk-in tub and what is needed?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. Who Does Each Part of the Job
  2. What Ella Provides and What Your Installer Provides
  3. Planning the Plumbing Before the Tub Arrives
  4. Help During the Job and After
  5. Related Guides
  6. Related Videos
  7. Common Questions

A walk-in tub is installed by local licensed trades, not by Ella's Bubbles. A licensed plumber makes the water and drain connections, a licensed electrician wires any therapy systems, and a contractor or dealer crew can coordinate the whole job, as Who Installs a Walk-In Tub: a Plumber, an Electrician, or a Contractor? explains. Ella supplies the tub, the spec sheets, the electrical diagrams for your therapies and free technical support to whoever does the work.

Who Does Each Part of the Job

  • Licensed plumber. Handles the water supply, the drain connection and the faucet hookup. The water spout ships loose and is mounted into the open hole in the deck during that hookup.
  • Licensed electrician. Wires the therapy systems you chose, such as hydro massage, air massage, microbubble or a heated seat and back. On a heated seat tub, for example, the two heater pads connect to a control box under the tub.
  • Contractor or dealer crew. Removes the old tub, sets the new tub and coordinates the plumber and electrician. Where an Ella dealer sells and installs the tub, the dealer's crew handles the installation and the follow-up visits.

Any licensed installer you already trust is welcome, and certification by Ella is not required. If you do not have someone in mind, send your full installation address, the model you are considering and the therapy options that interest you through ellasbubbles.com/support or by calling (800) 480-6850. The team identifies the partner installer closest to you and sends an email introduction, and that contractor reaches out to schedule a site visit, take measurements, review your doorway and bathroom, and provide an estimate for the work. Does Ella Install the Tub? How to Get Connected With a Local Installer in Your Area covers that process step by step.

What Ella Provides and What Your Installer Provides

Ella provides the tub, the specification sheets, the electrical diagrams for the therapies you choose, and free technical support by phone, email and live video for whoever does the work. The installer provides the site visit, the labor and any materials the job calls for. Installation pricing is set by the contractor and never by Ella, so questions about the cost of the work go to the installer. Partner installers are independent businesses, so any labor coverage on the installation comes from them, and it helps to ask for that coverage in writing before the work begins.

Planning the Plumbing Before the Tub Arrives

  • Know which side the drains land on. The door and seat are on one side and the drains are on the other, as you face the tub. A right side door means left side drains, and a left side door means right side drains.
  • Work from the spec sheet and drawings. The rough in dimensions your contractor needs come from the spec sheet and drawings for your model, so have them in hand before any framing or plumbing work.
  • Plan the piping under the tub. The leveling legs set the frame with about 3 inches of clearance beneath it, enough for 2 inch PVC. The T type drain body accepts the house connection from either direction, end caps close the unused ports, and a Y fitting is preferred over a T because fewer turns drain faster.
  • Decide on default height or recessed. The default install keeps all piping above the floor and needs no cutting. Lowering the tub means putting the drain below the floor and trimming the apron, which affects the warranty on the altered parts.
  • Check the house drain. It should flow well and be trapped and vented to local code. The tub does not need a special vent of its own, and its drain handles double as air vents on the tub side.

Slab floors follow the same rules, and Where Does the Drain Sit for a Slab Installation? shows how one drain line coming up through the floor can be run to either side.

Help During the Job and After

Lifetime technical support comes with the tub and is available to whoever does the work. The team answers questions from any licensed plumber, electrician or handyman by phone or video while they are on site during business hours, so prior Ella experience is not required. After the installation, Ella does not send technicians. If a part is ever needed, Technical Support diagnoses by phone, photos and video, the covered part ships after verification, and a local licensed pro fits it, as described in Who Can Come Out and Fix My Walk-In Tub?.

Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Pre-Installation Checks and Tips Before installation, the video emphasizes checking tub dimensions, inspecting for damage, and leak-testing the tub with water.
  2. 1:34 Dual Drain System Installation The video demonstrates how to install Ella's exclusive dual drain system, showing various configurations and recommending a two-inch house drain.
  3. 3:09 Leveling and Door Alignment The technician levels the tub, ensuring proper door alignment for a leak-proof seal, and advises leaving the door unlocked when not in use.
  4. 3:53 Water Supply and Electrical Connections The video shows connecting fast-fill faucets with three-quarter inch supply lines and emphasizes using GFCI-protected outlets and breakers for electrical connections.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Preparing for Your Walk-In Tub The video shows the removal of an old tub and the preparation of the space for a new Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub.
  2. 0:31 Unboxing and Leveling the Tub The installer removes the tub's panels to prevent damage and then levels the tub using its adjustable leveling legs.
  3. 1:00 Ella's Dual Drain Technology The video explains Ella's dual drain system and shows different drain configurations for efficient water removal.
  4. 2:03 Water Supply and Electrical Connections The video highlights the importance of shutoff valves, proper supply lines, and dedicated GFCI circuits for the tub.
  5. 2:31 Designing for Easy Access The video recommends incorporating access panels into the bathroom remodel for convenient future servicing of the tub.
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Ella Standard Walk-In Tub Overview The video introduces the Ella Standard walk-in tub, highlighting its size and design for average bathers.
  2. 0:27 Fitting Tub Into Alcove Tips are provided for fitting the tub into a 60-inch alcove, including trimming the apron or using the standard end piece.
  3. 0:49 Hydro Massage System Features The tub's 18-jet hydro massage system is described, including its intensity control dial and inline water heater.
  4. 1:14 Drainage And Adjustable Frame The oversized two-inch drain and adjustable frame with access points for door adjustments are showcased.

Common Questions

Does Ella's Bubbles install the walk-in tub for me?
No. Ella builds the tub and does not have installation crews or send technicians to your home. A local licensed plumber and electrician handle removing the old tub, making the connections and setting the new tub. If you need an installer, the team can introduce you to the partner installer closest to your installation address.
Do I need both a plumber and an electrician for a walk-in tub?
A licensed plumber handles the water supply, the drain connection and the faucet hookup. If your tub has therapy systems such as hydro massage, air massage, microbubble or a heated seat and back, a licensed electrician wires them. A contractor or dealer crew can coordinate both trades on one job.
Does my installer need to be certified by Ella's Bubbles?
No. Any licensed installer you trust is welcome, and certification by Ella is not required. Ella supports whoever does the work with manuals, spec sheets, electrical diagrams and phone or video help while they are on site.
What information does the installer need before the site visit?
Your full installation address, the model you are considering and the therapy options that interest you, because the electrical work depends on those choices. Ella shares the tub dimensions and the electrical diagrams with the contractor so they arrive prepared. The site visit then covers measurements, your doorway and your bathroom.
Which side of the tub do the drains go on?
The drains are on the side opposite the door, as you face the tub. A right side door tub has its drains on the left, and a left side door tub has its drains on the right. Choose the door side with your existing drain line in mind.
Can a walk-in tub be recessed into the floor during installation?
The default install keeps all piping above the floor and needs no cutting. Lowering the tub means putting the drain below the floor and trimming the apron, which affects the warranty on the altered parts. Talk it over with your contractor before deciding.

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