If you are asking where the drain sits for a slab install, the answer is on the side opposite the door. On every Ella walk-in tub the door and seat are on one side and the drains are on the other, as you face the tub: a right side door means left side drains, and a left side door means right side drains. On a slab the tub sits on top of the floor with its drain piping running under the frame, so the spot where your contractor brings up the house drain is more flexible than most people expect. The first thing to check is the spec sheet and drawings for your model, which carry the rough in dimensions your contractor needs before the pour.

Likely Causes

• The tub was ordered by door side without realizing the drains land on the opposite side.
• The contractor is pouring the slab and only has one drain line roughed in.
• The house drain stub is on the other side from the tub drain.
• The plan assumed the tub needed access from below, which it does not.

What to Check, in Order

1. Confirm which door side you ordered. A right side door tub has its drains on the left and a left side door tub has its drains on the right. Our guide to choosing a left or right hand configuration shows the layout from above.
2. Download the spec sheet and drawings for your model from its product page. The rough in dimensions come from those documents.
3. Plan the piping under the tub. The leveling legs set the frame with about 3 inches of clearance beneath it, enough for 2 inch PVC, so one drain line coming up through the slab can be run to either side.
4. Use the ports you need and cap the rest. The T type drain body accepts the house connection from either direction, and end caps close the unused ports. A Y fitting is preferred over a T because fewer turns drain faster. Details are in drain configurations and the house drain.
5. Decide on default height or recessed. With no access below, the default install keeps all piping above the floor and needs no cutting. Lowering the tub means putting the drain below the floor and trimming the apron, which affects the warranty on the altered parts, as explained in lowering the tub and recessed installations.
6. Verify the house drain flows well and is trapped and vented to local code. The tub does not need a special vent of its own, and its drain handles double as air vents on the tub side.

When to Open a Ticket

If the drawing does not answer the question, open a ticket with your order number, the model, the door side selected, and a photo or sketch of the slab with the drain stub marked and its distance from the nearest finished wall. Your Ella dealer or the team at (800) 480-6850 can confirm the drain position and email the drawing for your model. More planning for slabs and upper floors is in mobile homes, condos, slabs and upper floors.

Common Questions