What tests does each Ella tub pass in Chicago before it ships?

Before any Ella walk-in tub leaves the Chicago production facility, an independent quality control team fills it with water and runs its motors for several hours, then puts it through mechanical, electrical and water tests and multiple inspections by the company's technicians. Only after the tub passes is it cleaned, crated and shipped by freight, or set aside for pickup. The facility and the company behind it are described in Where Are Ella Tubs Made? Chicago Assembly, Testing, and Company Background, and this page walks through the test sequence itself and what it means for the crate that arrives at your door.

Testing Starts with Your Order, Not a Shelf

Ella's Bubbles does not test tubs from inventory, because each tub is assembled, jetted and tested to order. The shell is pulled and drilled for the faucet and the features on your order, then jetted and wired to the electrical standard those features require. Different feature packages call for different wiring, so the test that follows checks the exact configuration you ordered rather than a generic sample.

The company describes this openly as "assembled and tested in the USA" rather than "100 percent made in the USA." According to its published FAQ, the acrylic shells are manufactured in partner factories in Asia, a company video mentions facilities in Mexico and Asia, and a 2018 company article notes that jetting components come from partner NuWhirl in California. Those parts come together in Chicago, and every test described below happens there.

The Tests Each Tub Passes

The published description and the company's production video agree on the sequence. An independent quality control team monitors every tub and every component so that each one meets the highest industry standard. The video on this page shows that work: tubs built to the customer's features and electrical standard, filled with water, run for hours, and inspected before packing.

1. The fill. The tub is filled with water at the facility, complete and assembled, not as loose parts on a bench.
2. The motor run. With the tub full of water, the motors are run for several hours. That is a full working session, not a quick switch-on to confirm that a pump spins.
3. Mechanical, electrical and water tests. Vigorous mechanical, electrical and water tests follow the run. Ella publishes these as three categories rather than a line-item checklist, and this page does not add items the company has not published.
4. Multiple inspections. The tub passes multiple inspections by the company's professional technicians before it is approved for packing.
5. Cleaning and packing. A tub that passes is cleaned, packed and crated as a ready-to-install unit.

What Happens After the Tub Passes

The crated tub ships by freight from Chicago, and tracking is emailed when it leaves. If you are near the city, the same tested tub can instead be picked up directly from the manufacturing facility at 2700 West Roosevelt Road. Shipping, Sales Tax, and Pickup for Your Walk-In Tub Order confirms that every tub is assembled and tested before it leaves the building, whether it is collected in person or sent out on a truck, so pickup does not skip any step.

Because every tub is built and tested to order, the time from paid invoice to delivery varies by model, options and stock. Ella does not publish a fixed production or delivery timeframe, and this page does not promise one. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm current timing for your specific order.

What the Testing Means for You on Delivery Day

• The tub arrives ready to install. Ella is a manufacturer. It assembles and tests the tub, but it does not install it and does not send technicians. A local licensed plumber handles the water supply and drain connections, a licensed electrician runs the dedicated circuit, and Ella's technical support helps that contractor at no charge by phone, email and video. How do I find a reputable walk-in tub installation company? explains where to look.
• Inspect within 48 hours. Factory testing confirms the tub was working when it was crated. It cannot rule out damage in transit, so give the shipment both a visual and an operational inspection for concealed damage, and file any freight-damage claim within 48 hours of receipt through ellasbubbles.com/support or (800) 480-6850. Save all packaging material until you are sure.
• Parts, not visits, if something fails later. If a part is ever needed under the lifetime parts warranty, Ella ships the part and a local plumber or electrician does the labor.

Seeing the Facility for Yourself

Ella's Bubbles has been family-owned and family-run in Chicago since 2005 and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Every model in the line of more than 25 walk-in tubs is on display in the Chicago showroom, and live video tours are available for customers elsewhere, so you can see the tubs without traveling. Is Ella's Bubbles a legitimate walk-in tub company? lists the other ways to verify the company, and Ella's Bubbles Walk-In Tubs: A General Overview introduces the product line that goes through this process.

Watch: Our Quality Walk-In Tubs Made in Chicago, IL | Ella’s Bubbles with chapters and a full transcript.

Related Guides

• Video Tour: How Your Tub Is Assembled, Tested, Packed and Shipped From Chicago
• Water in the Lines or the Crate of a New Walk-In Tub Is Normal: Every Tub Is Water-Tested Before It Ships
• Your walk-in tub has arrived, how to inspect the delivery before signing

Related Videos

Common Questions