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What Is the Pre-Installation Water Test on a 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

The pre-installation water test, also called the pre-install fill test or leak test, is the required one hour check every Ella walk-in tub receives before the walls are closed up. The installer fills the tub 3 inches above the highest jet, lets it stand for 30 minutes, then runs every electrical component for another 30 minutes while inspecting all unions. Shipping vibration can loosen unions and air lines, and the test finds a drip while everything is still easy to reach.

How It Works

The tub is placed on a flat, level surface, since an unlevel tub can leak at the door during the test; our leveling guide covers that first step. The door seal is wiped clean, the drains are taped shut, and the tub is filled to 3 inches above the highest jet, or to the bottom of the grab bar on a tub with no jets. The water stands for 30 minutes while the installer looks around and under the tub for any moisture. Then each electrical component runs on its rated 3-prong cord, plugged into separate outlets, for another 30 minutes, and every union is inspected again while the pumps move water. Pumps never start before water covers all jets, because running a pump dry causes permanent damage that is not covered. Ella strongly suggests testing outside, before the tub is carried in, as our delivery and moving guide explains.

Which Ella Models Have It

Every Ella walk-in tub goes through the same test; only the fill line changes. Jetted tubs fill 3 inches above the highest jet, and soaking-only tubs with no jets fill to the bottom of the grab bar. The full written procedure is in the pre-installation water test, and the planning items around it are in the installation requirements checklist.

What to Know as an Owner

A drip at a union during the test is a normal install-stage adjustment, not a defect: the union was over-tightened or its O-ring shifted, and the fix is to disassemble it, re-seat the O-ring and reassemble it snugly. The test flows straight into warranty activation, where your installer confirms a watertight door seal after a 20 minute fill and watertight connections with the pumps running, as described in what your installer should test before leaving. Ask your installer to confirm the test was done. If a leak ever appears later, note where the water shows up, take photos, and have your model and serial number ready when you open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call (800) 480-6850.

Common Questions

Is the pre-installation water test really required?
Yes. The one hour test is part of the published installation procedure for every Ella walk-in tub, and the warranty activation form has your installer confirm the same fill and pump checks. Skipping it is the usual reason a leak is found only after the walls are finished.
Why does the tub have to be filled 3 inches above the highest jet?
That level submerges every jet and puts water pressure on every joint in the hydro and air lines, so a loose union or air fitting shows itself while the water stands and again while the pumps run. If your tub has no jets, fill to the bottom of the grab bar instead.
Can the pumps be tested before the tub is full?
No. Water must cover all jets before any pump starts, because running a pump dry causes permanent damage that is not covered. Wait for the fill to reach 3 inches above the highest jet, then run the components on their rated 3-prong cords in separate outlets.
A union drips during the test, so is the tub defective?
A drip at a union during the pre-installation water test is almost never a defect. This is a normal install-stage adjustment, as shipping vibration or over-tightening can cause the O-ring to shift. To fix it, disassemble the union, re-seat the O-ring, and reassemble it snugly. If the drip is at the heater, also verify that the heater threads match the pipe threads.
Should the water test be done outside or in the bathroom?
Outside whenever possible, before the tub is carried in. Testing outside catches transit leaks before the tub is in a finished room; the tub is then drained and dried, moved inside, and tested again after the final connections.

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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