What Is Ozone Sterilization on a Walk-In Tub?

Ozone sterilization is a built-in ozone generator on Ella hydro massage tubs that releases natural ozone into the water system whenever the hydro pump runs, eliminating mold and bacteria and preventing mildew and odor from developing in the lines. Also called ozone sanitation, the ozonator or the ozone sanitizer, it is a hygiene feature rather than a therapy, and it needs nothing from you.

How It Works

The ozone generator lives under the deck and is wired in line with the hydro pump, so it starts and stops automatically with the hydro massage and runs for as long as the jets are on. A small check valve on top draws air through the unit, where ozone is produced and carried into the circulating water. It draws only 0.04A, so it adds essentially nothing to your electric bill. That figure is easy to confuse with the LED chromatherapy light, which is a separate 0.5A line; the two ratings are different and should not be swapped. When the ozone unit runs by itself it makes a light humming noise, and a faint hiss from the check valve is air being drawn in. Both are normal and are listed in The Sounds an Ella Walk-In Tub Makes. The full write-up is in What Is Ozone Sanitation.

Which Ella Models Have It

Ozone sterilization is included with every hydro massage package on every Ella walk-in tub family, including the wheelchair Transfer models such as the Transfer30 (Model profile) and Transfer60 (Model profile), the Standard (Model profile) and the stainless-door tubs such as the Elite (Model profile). Air-only and soaking configurations have no hydro pump, so they carry no ozone generator. It can be excluded by special request on a new order; ask your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 before the tub is built.

What to Know as an Owner

There is nothing to switch on or off. Ozone sanitizes the water lines during use, but it does not replace the monthly vinegar flush and surface cleaning described in How to Clean and Maintain Your Ella Walk-In Tub: 2 cups white vinegar with 2 cups water, tub filled to 1 inch above the highest jets, jets run for 10 minutes, then drained. A slight clean scent after the jets run clears quickly with the bathroom fan. If you ever need to unplug the unit on an installed tub, the steps are in Disconnecting or Servicing the Ozone Generator. For a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support, have your model, serial number, therapy package, whether the hum is new or has changed, and a photo of the unit through the access panel if possible.

How to Tell It Is Working and Whether It Wears Out

You can confirm the ozone generator is running in a few steps. Fill the tub above the highest jets and turn on the hydro massage. Then look at the ozone unit through the access panel. A green light on the unit comes on while the water jets run, and the sound from the unit while the jets are on is the generator doing its job. The unit sits at the backrest end of the tub, away from the faucet-end plumbing controls, and you should not need to touch it during normal use.

Because it is tied to the hydro pump, running only the air massage does not start it. The air massage has its own blower and does not use the ozone unit. If you want ozone in the water, run the hydro jets.

The ozone generator is not a consumable. It makes ozone from ordinary room air each time it runs, and no water ever passes through it. There is no gas bottle, cartridge, filter, tablet or chemical inside that gets used up, so there is nothing to recharge, refill or swap out on a schedule. As long as it powers up with the water jets, it is producing ozone.

If the green light stops coming on when the jets run, first confirm the water jets are actually running. If the pump runs and the light stays off, open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support with your model and serial number. Replacement parts ship under the warranty and a local licensed electrician handles the swap. Ella does not send technicians.

Related Guides

• Why Does My Walk-In Tub Ozone Generator Run All the Time, and Can I Turn It Off?
• Ozone (O3) Button Does Nothing: Checking the Relay Click, the Air Tube, and Swapping Relays to Test
• Can I Use My Jetted Ella Walk-In Tub as a Plain Soaking Tub With the Jets Off?
• What should I use to clean, sanitize and whiten my walk-in tub?
• How Do I Tell If My Walk-In Tub Ozone Generator Stopped Working?
• How Do I Run the One-Time Vinegar Flush on a New Ella Walk-In Tub?

Common Questions