The water line before running the jets, sometimes called the fill line, the waterline or the minimum jet water level, is the amount of water each pump in your Ella walk-in tub needs before you switch it on. For hydro massage it is 1 to 2 inches above the highest hydro jet; Ella's operation video uses 2 inches. For air massage every air jet must be submerged, and for a foot-only session with independent foot massage the footwell is filled above the calf jets. Running a pump before water covers its jets can permanently damage it, and that damage is not covered.

How It Works

A pump is built to move water, not air, so the simple rule is: if you can see a jet above the water and its pump is about to run, keep filling. Hydro jets sit at several heights, so watch the highest one as the tub fills. Air jets sit low by the feet and up on the seat, so air massage needs a full-tub fill. Microbubble works like hydro: water must cover the port and the intake, and the prime port sits near maximum level by design. The upper limit is just as simple: never fill above the center of the drain handle, which is the overflow line. Levels by therapy are in how much water before turning on the jets.

Which Ella Models Have It

Every jetted Ella tub follows the rule; the difference is which tubs allow a partial fill. Tubs with the independent foot massage option, standard on the Ultimate (Model profile), have a second pump for the foot and calf jets, so the footwell can be filled to just below the seat and just above the calf jets while the seat jets stay dry and off. Single-pump hydro tubs must be filled fully before the foot jets run. The Standard60 (Model profile) uses diverter switches to choose foot-and-leg jets, back jets or both, and the water still needs to be above every active jet. The footwell-only fill is shown in independent foot massage.

What to Know as an Owner

Make the sequence a habit: step in, close the door and the drain, fill, watch the highest jet you plan to use, and only then press the control. When you finish, switch the pumps off before you open the drains, so a pump never runs as the water drops below the jets. The whole routine is in how to take a bath step by step. If a pump hums or does nothing, check the water level first, then see pump not working troubleshooting. For a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850, have your model and serial number, your therapy package, and how full the tub was when the pump started.

Common Questions