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What can void my Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub warranty?

Updated September 2026

▶Glossary7
  1. The Complete List of Warranty Voiders
  2. Getting the Leveling Right
  3. Watch: Every Leg on the Floor
  4. Installing the Grab Bar the Right Way
  5. Protecting the Door and Seal
  6. Related Guides
  7. Common Questions

What can void your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub warranty? A few specific installation and ownership mistakes, and every one of them is easy to avoid once you know about it. The big three are an unlevel installation, installing the deck-mount grab bar without its large metal washer, and relocating or transferring the tub. The rest are misuse and modification issues such as running a pump dry, cutting a panel or packing insulation around the equipment. This guide lists everything on the list so you and your installer can steer clear from day one.

The Complete List of Warranty Voiders

ActionWhy it voids coverage
Unlevel installationMisleveling is the number one cause of leaks. It warps the frame and shell, misaligns the door, and leads to leaks.
Grab bar installed without the large metal washerOmitting the washers cracks the acrylic shell.
Relocating the tub or transferring ownershipThe warranty applies only to the original owner at the original installation address and is nontransferable. See warranty transfer and ownership.
Activation form never submittedActivation is required to put your coverage in force, and there is no published deadline. If the two-page form signed by owner and installer was never sent, activate your warranty now, and the team will help you complete it as part of any request.
Cutting the apron or end panel (for example, a below-floor drain custom install)The altered parts lose coverage. See lowering the tub and recessed installations.
Packing insulation around the tub equipmentPump and electronics overheating damage counts as misuse.
Running pumps before water covers all jetsRunning dry causes permanent pump damage, which is not covered.
Modification or repair by anyone other than Ella's BubblesModified or repaired products fall outside the warranty. Drilling new holes in the tub is a modification.
Leaning or applying the bather's weight on the doorThe door and door seal warranty is valid only when door alignment is correct and unchanged. The door holds its own weight only.
Running the TCV without an inline filter or meshThe TCV must be protected by a filter or mesh, cleaned periodically. Cartridge fouling from calcium, iron, or heavy particles is excluded.

General exclusions also apply: negligence, abuse, misuse, misapplication, improper installation, alteration or modification, chemical corrosion, and improper maintenance. A full walkthrough of the installation choices that affect coverage is in installation choices that affect your warranty.

Getting the Leveling Right

Walk-In Tub Installation and Delivery: Ella's Bubbles Transfer 60
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Unboxing and Initial Inspection The video shows the unboxing of an Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub and the initial inspection for any shipping damage.
  2. 0:49 Pre-Installation Leak Check The tub is filled outside to check for leaks and all pumps are run to ensure proper function before installation.
  3. 1:11 Drain and Water Supply Connections The installer modifies the floor for the oversized drains and connects the water supply lines with shut-off valves.
  4. 2:10 Electrical and Leveling A licensed electrician adds proper breakers and GFCI outlets, and the tub's adjustable legs are used for leveling.
  5. 2:47 Final Checks and Finishing Touches After all connections are secure, the tub is filled to check for leaks, and the side panels are replaced and sealed.

This real installation of an Ella Transfer 60 shows the habits that protect your coverage. Here is the guidance from the video, step by step: Watch: Walk-In Tub Installation and Delivery Ella's Bubbles Transfer 60 with chapters and a full transcript.

  1. Upon arrival, remove the case and all packing material and begin inspecting for any shipping damage.
  2. Remove all end and side panels before moving the tub into the home.
  3. Whenever possible, fill the tub outside, run all pumps, and check for leaks before installation. This external check prevents issues after the tub is in place.
  4. Have a licensed electrician make the additions to the breaker panel. Proper breakers with the appropriate amperage must be used, and GFCI outlets must be used when connecting the tub.
  5. Level the tub carefully using the adjustable leveling legs. If the tub is not level, the doors will not close properly and could leak.
  6. After all connections are secure, fill the tub, run all the pumps, and check thoroughly for any leaks before replacing the panels.

Remember the standard from the owner's manual: the subfloor must be level and rated for the tub plus water plus bather, and all leveling legs must be touching with equal weight. The tub is leveled at the factory, and the installer must re-verify it on site. The door should close smoothly into a watertight seal, and the legs can be adjusted to close any door-frame gaps. Leveling your walk-in tub covers the procedure leg by leg.

Watch: Every Leg on the Floor

Ella's Bubbles: Leveling legs are critical to a proper functioning tub
Chapters in this video
  1. 0:00 Leveling Legs Are Critical Many Ella's Bubbles walk-in tubs have up to eight leveling legs to evenly disperse weight and ensure proper function.
  2. 0:14 Secure Each Foot The technician checks if each foot is securely on the ground, as an unsealed door could leak.
  3. 0:28 Check Tub Levels The technician checks levels on all sides of the tub to ensure all feet sit securely on the floor.
  4. 0:41 Proper Door Alignment Proper leveling assures correct door alignment and closure for your walk-in tub.

This short clip makes the single most important point about leveling. Many Ella tubs have up to eight adjustable leveling legs, and every foot must sit securely on the floor. If even one leg is off the floor the frame can twist, the door will not seal and it may leak. Adjust each leg, check level on all sides, and confirm the door closes cleanly into its seal before the panels go back on. Watch: Ella's Bubbles-Leveling legs are critical to a proper functioning tub. with chapters and a full transcript.

Installing the Grab Bar the Right Way

The deck-mount grab bar kit includes the chrome bar, 2 escutcheons, 4 rubber washers, 2 metal washers, and 2 bolts. The order on each bolt is: metal washer, then rubber washer, up through the shell, then rubber washer, then escutcheon, threaded loosely and tightened with the supplied Allen wrench. The large metal washer under the shell is mandatory. Skipping washers cracks the acrylic shell and voids the warranty. Additional grab bars should be mounted to the surrounding walls rather than drilled into the tub. See grab bars: what is included and installing the deck-mount bar.

Ella deck-mounted grab bars with mounting hardware including bolts and washers
The deck-mount grab bar kit: the large metal washer under the shell is mandatory.

Protecting the Door and Seal

The door is designed to hold its own weight and nothing more. Using it as a handhold or leaning on it while stepping in changes the alignment and voids the door and seal coverage, so use the grab bars instead. Keep the seal clean, and leave the door open when the tub is not in use so the gasket is not compressed. Water at the door: what to check first explains why leaning is the habit to break.

Close-up of the rubber door seal and aluminum frame corner on an Ella Ultra walk-in tub
The door and seal are covered only while the alignment stays as installed.

Common Questions

Does installing the tub myself void the warranty?
No. You may install it yourself or hire any licensed contractor; enter your own details in the installer section of the activation form. The installation still has to follow the manual, since misleveling and improper installation are excluded.
Does drilling a hole for a new faucet or accessory void it?
Yes, drilling new holes in your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub for a new faucet or accessory is considered a modification and will void the warranty. Before drilling any holes, you should ask the Ella's Bubbles team, as tubs can be ordered pre-drilled for specific faucets to maintain warranty coverage.
I forgot the metal washer on the grab bar. What now?
If you forgot the large metal washer when installing the deck-mount grab bar, you should stop tightening immediately and reinstall the grab bar with the metal washer in place before using the bar. Omitting the large metal washer under the shell is mandatory for proper installation and skipping it can crack the acrylic shell, which voids the warranty. If the acrylic shell has already cracked, send photos on a support ticket so the Ella's Bubbles team can advise you on potential repair options.
Does adding insulation around the tub void the warranty?
Yes, packing insulation around the pumps and electronics of your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub will void the warranty. This is because the equipment requires adequate airflow to prevent overheating, and any damage caused by overheating is treated as misuse, which is not covered under the warranty.
Can I lower the tub into the floor?
If you lower your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub into the floor, a below-subfloor drain recess that requires cutting the apron or end panel will remove coverage from those altered parts. Before cutting anything, you should ask the Ella's Bubbles team about alternative installation options to avoid voiding the warranty on those specific components.
Do bath oils, salts or bath bombs void the warranty?
Oils and bath beads can clog and damage the pumps and jets in a jetted tub, and that damage is misuse rather than a defect. Dissolved Epsom salts are fine only when the jets are off, with the tub drained and rinsed right after.
I never sent the activation form. Is my warranty gone?
No, your Ella's Bubbles walk-in tub warranty is not gone if you never sent the activation form, as there is no published deadline for submission. You can submit the two-page activation form, signed by both the owner and installer, now at ellasbubbles.com/warranty-activation/. The Ella's Bubbles team will help you complete the activation process if you are opening a support request at the same time.
The installer leveled it but the door still rubs. Is the warranty affected?
Not by itself. A rubbing door usually means one leg, often the center one, is not carrying weight. Re-check every leg and see fixing tub bow with the leveling legs; the door and seal stay covered when alignment is corrected properly.

Still need help? Open a ticket at ellasbubbles.com/support or call your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850, and our team will be glad to walk you through it personally.

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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